Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-12-16

L
of the American farmer. and the Man
| chester worknen their wages for those
OF their fellows at Fall River.
4 / believe that the protective system,
| which has now for something more than
| thirty years continuously prevailed In our
legislation, has been mighty instrument
wealth and a most powerful agency in
| protecting the homes OF our worklngmen
! from the Invasion OF want. have felt
amsIe sollcitous interest TO preserve TO
our working people rates OF wages that
would not only give daily bread. but sup
ply comfortable margin for those home
| attractions and family comforts and en-
! ioyments without which life is neither
hopeful nor sweet.
THE TARIFF.
II is not my purpose TO renew here the
| The result of the recent election must
be accepted as having introduced a new
policy. We must assume that the pres
| of protection. is TO be repealed. and that
| there Is 10 be substituted for II tariff
law constructed solely with reference to
revenue.
| / recommend that the whole subject o,
tariff revision be left TO the Incoming Con-
| gress. 1t is matter OF regret that this
| work must be DELAYED for at least three
| months: for the threat of great tariff
| changes introduces so much uncertainty
| that an amount, not easily estimated, OF
| business inaction and of diminished pro-
duction will necessarily result. Ii is pos
! sible also that this uncertainty may re-
! suit in decreased revenues from customs
duties, for our merchants will
make cautious orders for foreign goods
| in view OF the prospect of tariff reduc-
/ tions and the uncertainty as To when
! they will take effect. Those who have
advocated n protective tariff can well af-
! ford 20 have their disastrous forecasts OF
change OF policy, disappointed. If
! system OF customs duties can be framed
| that viii set the idle wheels and looms OF
! Europe in motion. and crowd our ware
houses with foreign made goods, and at
I
that will give us an Increased participa-
ton in the markets OF the world OF
greater value than the home market we
surrender; that Will give increased work
to foreign workmen upon products to be
consumed by our people without dimin-
fishing the amount of work 10 be done
here; that win enable the American man.
ufacturer to pay his workmen from 80
TO 100 per cent more in wages than is
paid in the foreign mill, and yet compete
In our market and in foreign markets
with the foreign producer; that Will fur
ther reduce the cost Of articles OF wear
aud food without reducing the wages OF
celebrated, after its effects have been
realized, as its expectation has been, in
European as well as in American cities
the authors and promoters OF IL viii be
entitled 10 the highest praise. We have
had in our history several experiences OF
the contrasted effects of revenue and of
protective tariff; but this generation
has not felt them, and the experience OF
one generation is not highly instructive
to the next The friends OF the protec-
tive system. with undminishcd CONT
dence In the principles thcy have advo-
Gated, will await the results OF the new
experiment.
WAGES AND THE PROTECTIVE sYs-
TEN.
The strained and too often disturbed
relations existing between the employees
aud the employers In our great manu-
featuring establishments have not been
favorable 10 q calm consideration by the
wage Garner of the effect upon wages of
the protective system. The facts that his
wages were the highest paid in like call
ings In the world. and that n mainte-
nance of this rate OF wages, in the alb
sence of protective duties upon the prod
uct Of his labor. was impossible. were
obscurcd by the passion evoked by these
contests. general process OF
wage reduction cannot be con-
tempated by any patriotic citizen
be- indeed believe is possible for the
American manufacturer to compete sue
cessfully with his foreign rival in many
branches of production without the de-
Tense of protective duties, If the pay
rolls are equalized: but the conflict that
stands between the producer and that
result, and the distress Of our working
people when it is attained, are not pleas
ant 10 contemplate. The Society of the
Unemployed. now holding it's frequent
and threatening parades in the streets of
foreign cities, should not be allowed to
acquire an American domicile.
WORK OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS.
The reports Of the heads OF the several
executive departments. which are here
with submitted, have very naturally In
Guided resume OF the whole work Of the
ADMINISTRATION with the transactions OF
the last fiscal year. The attention not
only OF Congress. but of the country, is
again invited 10 the methods OF adminls-
tration, which have been pursued, and to
the results which have been attained.
Puollc revenues amounting TO N,4li,01y.-
" - have been collected and disbursed
without loss from transportation. with
out a single defalcation of such import
ance as TO attract the public attention,
and at diminished per cent of cost for
collection. The public business has been
transacted not only with fidelity. but pro-
the people in the fullest possible degree
the DEMENT'S or service established and
maintained for their protection and com
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with other nations are
now undisturbed by any serious contro-
versy. The complicated and threatening
difference with Germany and England re-
latng TO Samoan affairs. with England
IN relation to the seal fisheries in the
Behring Sea, and with Chilli growing ont
Justcd.
RECIPROCAL TRADE RELATIONS.
There have been negotiated and con-
Guided. under section 3. of the tariff law,
commercial agreements relating 10 reeip-
rocal trade with the following countries:
Brazil, Dominican Republic. Spain for
Cuba and Puerto Rico Guatemala Saliva
dor, the German Empire, Great Britain
for certain West Indian colonies
and British Guiana, Nicaragua
Honduras. and Austria Hungary. OF
these. those with Guatemala, Sal
vador. the German Empire. Great Brit
ain, Nicaragua, Honduras and Austria
Hungary, have been concluded since my
last annual message. Under these trade
arrangements, a free or favored admission
has been secured in every case for an
important list Of American products. Is
pecial care has been taken to secure
markets for farm products. in order TO re-
lieve that great underlying industry OF the
depression which the lack OF an adequate
foreign market for our surplus often
brings. An opening has also been made
for manufactured products.
BEHRING SEA DISPUTE.
A treaty providing for the arbitration
OF the dispute between Great Britain and
the United States as to the killing of
seals in the Behring Sea was concluded
on the 10Th of February last. This treaty
was accomplished By an agreement pro-
hibiting pelagic sealing pending the ar
bitration. and vigorous effort was made
during this season TO drive out all poach-
ing sealers from the Behring Sea. Six
naval vessels, three revenue cutters and
one vessel from the Fish Commission All