Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-09-21
PECK'S LABOR REPORT.
AN OFFICIAL SUMMARY OF STA
TISTICS TOUCHING LABOR.
a Non-Partisan Report from Promi-
nent Democrat-New York's Labor Com
missioner Tells a Few Facts About the
Mckinley Bill.

mas Oeen received Oy mail. Inns sum-
mary, prepared by Commissioner Peck,
says, IN opening:
IN pursuance of law. the undersigned
has completed the work attendant upon
the issuing OF the ninth annual report Of
the Bureau of Statistics of Labor, and
herewith gives a brief summary of the
contents of the same. Its completion has
been necessarily delayed by reason of the
unusual amount and important character
OF the work undertaken. Of all the varied
subjects investigated and reported upon
during the bureaus nine years existence
none has borne closer relationship to the
welfare Of the WaGe-earnerS Of the state
OF furnished the public in general with
statistical data so valuable TO a compre-
henSIVe understanding OF the practical
working of the one great economic QueS-
ton OF the present day, than the tariff.
Tariff, whether levied for revenue only"
or for revenue and the incidental protec
ton Of American manufacturers and
American labor" IS certainly a question
OF such vast import as TO enlist the most
thorough and diSpaSSionate investigation
at the hands of the American people,
And while the present report has, under
the law been confined to the state of New
\ ork, its results can but be taken as in
dicatiye Of the conditions existing III ev-
cry section Of our country where manu-
featuring and industrial pursuits are fol-
lowed.
With the exception of a limited number
OF the great industries that are carried on
IN our country. no state in tie Union offers
a field SO varied or extensive within which
the Statlstlcian can carry on his work with
greater assurances of intelligent success
than is carried on in the state Of New
DIRK. Within its borders are to be found
by Tar the greatest number OF manufacture
ing establishments. the most varied indus
tries and the largest number Of individual
employers and Wage-earnerS Of any Of the
TOrTy-f0ur commonwealth embraced in
the United States So that whatever the
statistical data collected and tabulated
may prove relative to the effects of pro
tecton'' on labor and wages in New \ ork
may justly be taken as fairly representa-
tive Of the conditions throughout the
whole country.
INQUIRIES ABOUT THE TARIFF.
Not FOR many years had the subject of
the tariff assumed such great proportions
as attached to 1t III 1888. Always an i'm
portant and interesting question of polit-
zeal economies for discussion by our states
men, yer, oy reason OF the President OF
the United states making 1t the sole sub
ject of his annual message to Congress in
December, 1887, interest in it became gen
eral among the masses. and a men,
CRADLE camp aign OF education" followed
during the ten succeeding months OF 1888.
1t is not the province of the under
signed to here discuss the merits OF a
protective tariff or to pronounce for or
against the public policy Of a tariff for
revenue only" A majority OF the Amerl-
can people declared by their votes in 1888
IN favor Of the latter policy, aGd yet their
candidate was deIeated by reason Of our
electoral system, the minority candidate
and Congress IN sympathy with the chief
executive being erected. The canvass was
carried on with relentless VIgOr by both
sides, ana public interest was unusually
aroused II a question OF great public poll
cy, rather than as to the personality OF can
didates The selfish business interests of
the manufacturers and their employees
We're appealed TO; larger production, wider
markets and increased profits were prom
iSed the employers. More work higher
wages shorter hours of labor and uneXam-
pied prosperity were among the induce
mentS held out to the wage earnerS by the
advocates OF ''prOtecuOn.' On the other
hand the advocates OF the policy OF a tar
If for revenue only cOntended that only
through reform of our tariff laws, l. e.,
reduction OF our revenues to a basis of
raising Just sufficient money 10 defray the
expenses OF the government honestly and
economically administered, could all of
these desirable results be attained.
Almost lnnumerabIe queries were made
Of this bureau by the great writers upon
economic subject. the leaders Of thought
and discussion IN our pulpltS, on the r0S-
trum and through the public press, for reIi-
able data and statistics bearing upon this
very important subject. And it was by
reason OF this situation, no less than with
a view 10 establish the truth or faISity of
the premises taken by the two great pOliti-
cal parties OF the country, that the under
signed finally decided to make the subject
OF The Effect OF the Tariff on Labor and
Wages one of special Investigation. 1t
may be urged by some that the inyeSUiga-
ton made has not been broad enough or of
sufficient scope to fairly warrant the de-
ducuOnS arrived at, by reason OF the fact
that the cost of living, including the neces-
SaTleS that 90 to make 1t up, have been
given no place IN the work. Lit should be
borne III mind, however, that 1t has been
my endeayOr to investigate only that phase
of the subject which relates simply to the
increase or decrease Of production and the
rates OF wages paid
COVERS THE NJ KINLEY BILL PERIOD.
The period covered by investigation in
clUdes the year immediately prior to the
enactment OF what is termed the ''McKln-
ley blll,'' and the year Immediately follow
ing its becoming law. That is the data
upon which the report has been made was
for the year commencing September l, 1889.
UP to and including the 3lSt of August,
1890, and the year commencing September
/, 1890, I'D to and including the 31st OF Aug
usJ, 1891. The methods employedto secure
the necessary data were almost entirely
those OF the blank system, which has prov
en- SO satisfactory Id nearly all OF the pre-
ylOuS Investigations carried on by the bu-
reau since 1883. 1t was not the original
purpose. nor IS It now pretended, that the
data and statistics here presented represent
any but purely wholesale manufacturing
establishments. TO have undertaken Go
cover the retail and custom manufacturing
establishments OF the state would have been
physical and financial imp0sslbility IN
che present status OF this bureau. Some
5000 blanks were addressed and mailed TO
as many separate establishments through
out the state, ana of this number 5000 or
IS per cent, were returned fully and cor
rectl5 answered. The figures contained in
the following tables are based entirely up
on the returns furnished this bureau by
over 900 substantial, representative and
5eadIng business firms of this state.
Increases.
Industries. Wages Product
Arms AID ammunitonS 630l7 95 $3.50 $50 IS
Artificial tee I'll .............. J. 263 90 l143 90
Artisans tOols............... As 464 % ........
Boots and shoes. 202. 1856 50 425699 20
Brooms and brushes. 20, SOB SO 49444 "a
Burial cases, caSkets,
collins, etc......... ....... PAT 46 34S 772 SIS