Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-07-27
HALE'S RESOLUTION
On Relative Effects Of Protection
and Tariff for Revenue Only"
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wAsnlxsToS. July s6.-In the Senate,
after the i've minutes executive session al
" whiei the nomination Of MIR. Shiras as JUS
tice of the supreme court was confirmed.
the doors were opened. The two House
bills anlendatory Of the laws ~ to the re-
,iempsion of stolen national bank notes and
receivers for national banks were passed.
also the House bill to requisite promotions
in the marine corps.
resolution WAS Offered by Chandler,
and referred TO the committee ON interstate
commerce, rs to the unjust Determinations
against American commerce made by the
Grand Trunk Railroad Company of Canada
Hale's resolution as To the relative effects
of Protection and Tariff for revenue
only was laid before the Senate this af-
ternoon, and MIR. Aldrich proceeded to ai-
dress the Senate upon it.
The senator said at is shown as net
result Of the investigation that prices and
cost of living, based ON the expenditures Of
a family in ordinary circumstances, de-
eiinei 3-4 per cent. in May, ls92, as COM
pared with the period prior to the aecepta-
ton Of the tariff act of ls9O. II has. 1
believe. been for many months apparent to
the great mass of the people of the United
States that none of the Democratic predic-
tions in regard to higher prices and greater
cost of living as result of tariff legislation
of 1880 has been fulfilled.
The decline in the cost of living from
June. 1859. to May. 1899, as per the report
OF the finance committee, was 34 per cent.
and the advance in wages. as shown by the
/ 4 ~
makes an average advance in the purchas-
ing power of 1. Is per cent: and assuming
5000 us an average income of the families
of the country, this would be equivalent TO
So, family, or an aggregate saving for
Is. 900 900 families of S325. 900 900 each
year
The addition of this vast sum annually 10
the national earnings and wealth is an a.
chievement which speaks with a more elo-
quent voice than | can command, in behalf
of policy under which such results are
possible. II is very significant that while
the cost of living declined for the period
covered by the investigation of the finance
committee, the cost of living in England in
creased - per cent.
While an attempt to compare the average
retail prices in England and the United
States is not satisfactory, am convinced
that for family buying the same quantity
and quality of articles at retail in the two
countries, that the cost of living will not be
higher in America. These relative con-
ditions do not exist, as the scale of living
for the masses of the people in the respec-
tive countries are vastly different.
AT no time in our history had the earn
ings of the American people been as great.
measured by their power TO purchase COM
forts and necessaries of life as today.
Measured by the same standard, they are
vastly greater than any other people in the
world"
Having analyzed some of Vests state
ments at length. Aldrich asserted that those
failed in every respect 10 estab-
lish the claim that articles in general use
had advanced in price as result of the tar
if legislation of two years ago. Aldrich
asserted that the recent investigation of the
finance committee showed that in general
occupations wages in the United States were
Il per cent higher than in England.
He had submitted tables showing the rela-
tive wages in cotton and worsted mills in
the two countries. with American wages in
many cases more than 100 per cent. higher.
The tables in reference TO wages in the pro-
duction of tin plate showed a difference of
452 per cent. in favor Of the United States
as compared with Wales. Similar statistics
are abundant.
Wages in the United States showed
still greater excess when compared
" ith the countries of continental Europe,
Tariff reformers as a rule, have admitted
that American earnings are greater than any
others. and assumed that higher rate Of
wages insured lower cost of production, on
account of the greater skill and efficiency
of American workmen. This. they asserted,
was necessary result of general
economic law that higher wages result in
low cost of production.
There were many instances in which the
producers of the United States, through
superior energy. skill and genius of our
mechanics and inventors. or by the greater
or more effective use of machinery, had re-
duced the production to point lower than
that in competing countries. In these cases
import duties of course were imperative.
The number of cases in which this is true
was constantly increasing.
Referring TO Vests assertion that never
before the present time had there been such
disturbances of labor, or such hostile and
inimicaI relations between employer and
employee, Aldrich presented statistics OF
strikes in each year. 1870 to 1890. inclusive,
in the nited States These strikes varied
from Gi0 in 1850 to 72s in 1890. In Great
Britain, the paradise of tariff reformers,
3164 strikes occurred in 1890
As to the prostration of agricultural in
terests about which Vest said so much, Al
liametrically opposed to the actual facts OF
the case The farmer today with an equal
number Of bushels of grain or pounds OF
meat could buy more AMI better clothing
machinery or supplies than ever before
BY operations of the act Of 1890, the farm
ers are given larger and more profitable
markets both at home and abroad.
As to foreign commerce, Aidrich submit
ted tables which, he said, furnished con
vincing evidence to disprove the statements
80 freely made as to the restrictive effee'
of tariff legislation on foreign commerce
An ANALYSIS of both imports and export
would develop the fact that desirable
changes had taken place in the character
of each Exports Of manufactured an,
other articles. exclusive of all farm an,
agricultural products and petroleum
amounted in value in 1899 to s233 .6G5 $40
This value of expectation Of manu-
f,c,ured articles. etc. was a.. 200 .0ss
greater than the total average of the appua
y,lne of ali exports for the period of ls4,
IN 1ssI The amount of duty per capt.,
co,ler,ea dur;ug the fj.caI wear Of 1899 wa,
- 60 less than half the relative amoun
collected in 1872. the amount for the latte
ve.r HAVING been Z, - rer cap;ta. Thes,
.,a,..men,s and compar;son. showed tha
beyon,I i possibility Of doubt the expansion
of onr foreign commerce was accelerate,
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