The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-09-16

1nrt Hfe ~ t4cf Wage Reductions - no
latest Mckinley indn'1sy Consists ~
Mn,n'netnri,y >ampaiyn Material Out
NJ whole Gath.
The New York Tariff Reform club
has compiled list Of about FIVE hundred
wage reductions which have occurred
In protected industries since the Me-
kinicy tariff net began 10 boom busi-
ness and raise wages The projections
lists last spring thought II time 70 begin
a. demonstrate the good effect upon
wages Of their panacca for all ills, and
they published what purported 70 be o
list Of twcnty-seven protected firms
which have raised wages since October.
1890. The American Economist has
published this same list several times
and refers to II nearly every week with
pride. II has been copied and recopicd
In thousands Of republican papers
After senator Aldrich and the American
Economist had criticised the list 81 five
hundred wage reductions because there
appeared 70 be "a few repetitions " items,
and because some Of the reductions had
occurred in Industries and states where
statistics indicated that on the whole
average wages had not declined since
1890, the reform club concluded To see
II the protectionist list was all genuine.
II sent man over into brooklyn to
inquire into the general advance Of five
per cent credited 10 the Kings County
knitting Co After long hunt the
firm was located on the top floor Of q
building in 4 remote part Of the city.
The employees consisted Of three men
and from ten 70 fifteen girls The first
person met was the employer, who
failed To remember anything about the
said general advance" until reminded
Of the American Economist article. But
even this stimulus to the memory could
not make the three factory girls who
were interviewed recall time when
their wages had been advanced; they
could. however, easily remember times
when they were earning more than
now.
The club has since continued its in
vestigation. II sent another man TO
Orisl<any Falls. n. u. where Langley
& Davis had advanced wages % and so
cents a day it was alleged II was
learned that this firm makes skirts for
ladies dresses. and that they employ Is
hands, wcavcrs. carders. .spinners.
dyer and finishcr. The boss weav-
er's wages were advanced last spring
from - to g. % per day. to keep him
from going To other mills. The others
in his department tive women and one
mani were re- luced last June from 4 Y
to cents per cut for weaving. They
were then earning about 81 per day,
though their average for last winter
did not exceed 90 cents The boss carder
was also advanced from 81 10 81. - for
the sarEc reason One Of the young
men in his department had his wages
raised last May from $3.50 to IS per
week because he was likely To get the
''spring fever and leave. The company
thought IL better to retain man
who had been with them through
the winter at 81 rather than to break
in new man. The finishcrs' wages
were reduced last spring from $3.50 "a
a. p per day The wages Of the other
employees have not suffered from me.
Kinlcy" advances, but remained sta
tionery-from so cents to one dollar OF
more per day.
Two other firms visited were those o.
Wilkins 4 Close, and Close 4 Christie,
glove manufacturers at Mayiield, n. Y.
Mr.. Wilkins said that he had read the
report that wages had been advanced
from Is to ?, per cent in his factory,
but that he did not know how such a
statement had gotten into print, as
there was really no basis for it. liz
said that they employed 100 men and
twenty-five girls in their glove and
leather dressing factories, and that
wages were no higher than for several
years previous They take on thirty o.
forty new hands year from the farms
round about These hands are paid
scvcnty-fve cents day for the first
month: then one dollar for some time
and il they become proficient their
wages are advanced To 81. %. Mr.. viii
kins said There has been no more
advance this year with us. or anywhere
in the county Fulton county. n. ~,
which produces two-thirds Of our glove
product than has been customary foi
seven or eight years The Mckinley
bill has had no material effect on bust
ness. Five-sixths Of our gloves 20 west
md the demand for them depends on
the crops and the weather. A warn
winter and short crops will lower wages
and cold winter and good crops will
raise them slightly"
The situation AZ the factory Of Close
4 Cristie. just across the street, was
about the same.
The factory Of Alfred Dodge. Of Dodge
Vile. ~ ". was also visited. The re-
port said that wages had been advanced
20 per cent. here. Dodge manufacture.
piano fcl,s. sounding boards. ease, and
other piano supplies. ne also makes
felt shoes and slippers. lie employs al
together nearly 500 persons II is thu
custom at Dolgcvillc 20 hold an annual
reunion. At such time Mr.. Dodge. thu
paternal proprietor oi the place. makes
an address and announces the promo
tons and advances in wages to be made
for the ensuing year The employees
who have been earning what may b
regarded rs apprenticeship wages. ant
some of the older employees, who have
served their employer most faithfully
expect 10 have their wages advanced al
fhi4 titnp IL II Dplre'S bna~f that ii