The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-03-19
WORKING ADMIRABLY.
Higher Duties and Lower Wages TndP
the Mckinley Bill.


Following Is IN extract from the speech
Of Hon. Benton McNIillin, Of Tennessee,
in auening the tariff debate in the House of
Representatives on Wednesday, March .:
HIGHER DUTIES AND LOWER WAGES,
Sir: have stated that the cunSumers
were not consulted, but that the manutac-
lurer made his demands and obtained them.
In proof of this | read the statement made
by Mr. Swank. who is the rcpr, sentative
nfthe American Iron and Steel Association
to b. +. Jones, president, concerning it.
1t is as follows, in May. 1891
Ia additiouIo the statistical and other work
above referred to q great deal OF attention was
given during the past year to the question Of
tariff revision. which was one of the first sub
iects to be considered by the Congress which
wa, elected in 1855. which met for the first
time on the first Monday in December, 1889.
The. deliberations of Congress on this subject
finally resulted in the passage Of the tariff act
known rs the Mckinley bill, winch was signed
by the President on the lsi day of October
last, and went into effect on the 9TH day OF the
same month. During the long period IN
which this measure received the consideration
of Congress. the views OF this association con
ttItll4 Aut proper "a 'uN 'tfai H''i'''
ulc of the new tariff were frequently solicited
and were promptly given.
This schedule. as It was finally adopted is,
in nv Judgment. the most harmonious and
most completely protective Of all the metal
schedules that have ever formed part Of our
tariff legislation. Notwithstanding the fact that
many it embodies reductions in duties. But
these reductions. which would have been dSas
,ruus ten ortwenty years ago, our iron and steel
industries can now afford to accept. pom
the other hand a few duties in the metal
schedule of the old tariff which were too low
to be protective have been increased IN the
new tariff aud many duties in the old tariff
were left unchanged in the new tariff. Oar
iron and steel manufacturers have reason to
be thankful that the new tariff adequately pro-
tects their interests from injurious foreign
competition and also adequately protects all
other American interest. 1t is working ad-
mirably.
It is working admirably Laughter
and applause on the Democratic side
Now. Mr. Chairman, bear with me while
read from the same authority to show
that the laborers demand for part of the
increase of duty went unhceded,
Two strikes occurred dnrng the close OF
the year 1890.
After the tariff act, mind You.
On the first Of December four thousand coal
sniners and coke workers in Alabama de
manded an advance in wages which was re-
fused aud a general strike WAS ordered which
lasted until the middle of January, gben the
men returned to work at the old wages. Dur,
ing the strike many blast furnaces were banked
or blown ont. On the last day OF The old yeai
several hundred Hungarans and others'at thu
Carnegie Edgar Thompson blast furnace
struck for an increase of wages. which was re
fused, whereupon a rjot was pfecipitated
One innocent man was killed aud others serl
ously injured. Several Of the furnaces geTi
banked In the end order was restored, bui
the wages were not advanced.
1t was working admirably
Mr.. Chairman, listen again to this rep
resentative:
Since the beginning OF the present yea
1891. the most serious labor difficulty that ba
occurred has been in the Connellsville COX
region, where general refusal by the miner
TO accept u reduction Of 10 per cent IN thel
wages, coupled with demand for an increas
~ l2I per cent. resulted in strike of 1000
rnin<vs Nearly all of the coke ovens in tn
district haze since been idle, and consequent
ly the supply OF coke for the blast furnace
has been greatly curtailed, and many furnace
from liilS Eluet nave DNNu ffAhhNN ~ F4N''
out.
1t was working admirably!
But, Mr.. Chairman, remember that thi
advance also demanded was not granted
and that this bill, admitted--aye boasted-
by Mr.. Swank to be the most protectiv
ever enacted, resulted in no benefit to th
laborers in the iron works named.
Thus spoke the highest authority o
iron manufactures, and since that day on
of the largest iron-manuiacturing estat
lishments in this eountry-that with whic
SIR. Andrew Carnegie is conneeted-ha
uiven notice of q reduction of the wages c
the laborers engaged in iron-making. TIL
same is tue of other industries and othl
establishments. Not only have the wage
not advanced, but in hundreds of instance
they have in one form or another been r.
duced since the present tariff law went ii
TO operation.
But, Mr.. G Hartman, lest should b
charged with dealing swith ancient histor.
on this question, read from the New Yor
World of Monday last, the following state
meut:
The heavy end Of the protection law.
/ think that is a very good heading.
LEBANON, Pa, March ,.
Notices gere posted today in thethree roll
ing mills Of this city Of reduction of wage
l2iper cent, TO 60 into effect March y.
That lis working admirably.
READING, Pa. March .
The Brooks Iron Company. at Birdsboro
has this notice posted in its large puddia
mills: ''Reduciion in pudders wages fror
81 % 10 So per ton, and all other employees
proportion.
'Jt is working admirably.