Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-10-14
PECK RIDDLED.
a DISSECTION OF THE NEW ronN LABOR

a DISSECTION OF THE NEW York LABOR
COMMISSIONERS REPORT ON THE
EFFECT OF THE TARIFF ON LABOR
AND WAGES.
Labor Commissioner Peck, OF Now
York, having made an alleged investi-
CATION of "the effect of the tariff ON
wages" has Issued a one-sided report in
which he claims that protection is boon
aud the Mckinley law blessing. MIR.
J. Schoenhof, we'll known writer on the
tariff, thus riddles PecS's peculiar re-
port in the columns of the New York
World:
Mr.. Peck's totals show net increase
in wages for 1891 over 1890 of S6,377,-
925, and a net increase in products in
this State during the same period of
S31, 315.13O.
will not inquire into the relevancy of
the statement to the Mckinley bill or any
other tariff measure. II tho increase dor,
not show more than the ordinary ratio,
tine report falls short OF its purpose. So
long as no data are furnished, as by the
United States Census. covering all iu-
dustrial occupations. the Inference is not
view to covering certain end in view.
Many very important industries are left
out. Cotton, woolens aud other tex.
tiles, iron and steel products, etc., are
not mentioned at all. Did they not
show sufficient increase in wages To
parade them us glorious examples OF
tnriH benefits! Yet these are the prin.
cipal industries which have received
tariff favors.
will show, in round figures, their
rates of increase, under the beneficent
protective tariff, from .he census of 1870
to 1850 lin thousands):
PRODUCTS.
1870. 1881. S DE
Cotton goods. rs S9,7OJ si,45s
ht aeSiai eaps and ma 10 7co r5oo ? ooo
Iron and steel anu
manufactures 100. $1,000 $1,000 20 olo
Here we have the principal industries
which eau be classed pre- -eminently rs
protected industries suffering decirc
within one brief decade Of 500, 600, 900
from $50 900, 900 in 1870 to $50 ,O0O,-
900 in 1880. Ir the cruder iron and
steel products and manufactures New
York State, in 1870, contributed over
15 per cent. to the total product of the
United States. In 1880 the percentage
of the State of New York had gone
down to per cent. in the total of these
industrial products. Under the blight
ing influence Of the tax on the raw ma
tcrial the industries falling under these
headings have become tranferreI from
the Democratic State to the Republican
State of Pennsylvania.
1t is noe known to the writer that
perceptible Increase has taken place IN
the succeeding decade, which is to be
covered by the expected returns Of the
eleventh census. All reports have so
far tended to advertise further decline
in these industries in this State. IL proof
were required further than that of the
generally known condition of these in-
dustries i'll New York State, the omis-
sion of MIR. Peek to inc,osc them in his
calculations would have furnished it.
Cotton goods have not increased
either, rs is well known. Their manu-
facturc becomes more and more concen-
trated in certain favored localities from
natural causes, the same as in England
In all WOOL goods the decline is general
and alone due to the tariff on raw wool.
The decline in the consul nption of wool
in proportion to the growtn of the popu-
lation, aud the corresponding increase
in shcddy and wool substitutes to make
up the deficiency, give full evidenc, OF
the benefits OF 4 tariff on raw materials.
The increase in sholdy goods, of course,
would make up for the difference. But
the silence OF Mr.. Pee, does not seem TO
warrant the as,u np.ion thai increased
prosperity came to the working people
i'll 1891 in excess of that enjoyed in
1890. against the general depression in
woollens everywhere else, facs so well
known to everybody at all familiar with
the trade. The three branches cited
suffered decline in wages paid OUT and
IN the number OF work people employed,
according tn the census tables, as fol.
lows lin tinmsandsl:
WAGES AND HANDS.