The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-02

Charles +. Peck was appointed com.
missioner of labor statistics by Grover
Cleveland when governor on May A,
1883. He was recommended for the
place by David h. Hill, who was at the
time lieutenant governor. Followingis
Mr.. Peck's ninth annual report, just
issued, extracts from which have ap'
peared before in the ISTELIGEScEE,
and which have caused much consterna-
ton in the Democratic ranks. He took
for his subject the tariff, for the reason,
he explains, that it above all other ques-
tons interests the lAboring man. His
Investigations began last December, and
as he says overthrows the arguments
advanced BY Democratic speakers that
the wages OF not single workingman
has been increased as result OF the
mckinley bill" Hero is tho report:
In pursuance OF law, tho undersigned
has completed the work attendant up
on the issuing OF the ninth annual re-
port OF the. bureau OF statistics of la
Dor. and herewith gives q brief sum-
mary OF the contents OF the same. lts
completion has heeunecessarily delayed
by reason OF the unusual amount and
important character OF the work under
taken. OF all the varied subjects inves-
tigated and reported upon during the
bureaus nine years OF existence, none
11a ,.nlnNtnnuhiFN n thn
welfare OF the wago-earners OF the
state or furnished the public ngeneral
with statistical data so valuable to o
comprehensive understanding Of the
practical workings Of the one great eco.
nomic question Of the present day than
the tariff.
QUESTION OF VAST IMPORT.
Tariff, whether levied "for revenue
only" or for revenue and the inciden.
tai protection of American manufactur'
ers and American labor" is certainly q
question Of such vast import as to enlist
tho most thorough and 6ispassionate
investigation ut the hands OF the Amer
Jean people. And while tho present re.
port has, under tho law, been confined
TO the state OF New York, its results
can but be taken as indicative OF the
conditions existing in every section OF
our country where manufacturing and
industrial pursuits are followed.
With the exception OF n limited mum.
Der OF the great industries carried on in
our country, no state in the union
offers a field so varied or extensive
within which the statistician can carry
on his work with greater assurances OF
intelligent success than is presented by
the state OF New York. Within its Dor.
bers are to be found by far the greatest
number of manufacturing establish.
ments, the most varied industries and
the largest number OF individual en-
ployers and wage-esrners OF any OF the
forty-four commonwealth embraced in
the United States. So that, whatever
the statistical data collected and tabu'
lated may prove, relative to the effects
OF "protection" on labor and wages in
New York, may justly be taken rs fair
" representative of the conditions
throughout the whole country.
DEMOCRATIC PROMISE OF 1883.
Not for many years had the subject
OF the tariff assumed such great proper
, tons as attached to it in 1855. Always
an important and interesting question
OF political economics for discussion by
our statesmen, yet by reason OF the
President OF the United States making
it the sole subject OF his annual message
10 Congress in December, 1887, interest
in 1t became general among the masses
and memorable campaign OF educa-
ton" followed during the ten succeed.
ing months OF 1883. It Is not the pro-
vince of the undersigned to here discuss
the merits OF protective tariff" or to
pronounce for or against the public
policy OF a tariff for revenue only"
A majority OF the American people de-
claFed by their votes in lSsS in favor
Of the latter policy, and yet their candi-
date was defeated by reason OF our cleo
toralsystem, the minority candidate and
Congress- in sympathy with tho chief
executive being elected. Tho canvass
was carried on with relentless vigor By
both sides, and public interest was I'M
usually aroused in question OF great
public policy, rather than as to the per-
sonality OF candidates. The selfish bust
ness interests Of the manufacturers and
their employees were appealed to; larger
production, wider markets and increns.
cd profits were promised the employers.
More work, higher wages, shorter hours
OF labor and unexampled prosperity
wore among the inducements held out
to tho wage-earners by tho advocates Of
"protection." On the other hand, the
advocates OF the policy OF ia tariff for
revenue only" contended that only
through reform" of our tariff laws, |,
e., reduction Of our revenues to basis
Of raising Just sufficient money to de-
fray the expenses OF the government,
honestly and economically administer.
cd, could all OF these desirable results
be attained.
INVESTIGATION AND REASONING.
Almost innumerable queries we're
made OF this bureau by the great writ.
ers upon economic subjects, the leader:
Of thought and discussion in our pull,
pits, on the rostrum and through the
public press, for reliable data and sta