Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1892-09-22
ADVANCES In WAGES.
INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT THEY
ARE REDUCTIONS INSTEAD.


ARE REDUCTIONS INSTEAD.
Protective Tarifiites, which Consists Of
uasnfacturing Campaign Material Out
4 The whole Cloth.
The Tariff Reform club has compiled
aEst Of about 500 wage reductions which
have occurred in protected industries
tnce the cKinley tariff act began to
ban business and raise wages. The
rotsctionists last spring thought it
kme TO begin to demonstrate the good
uBect upon wages Of their panaeea for
u us and they published what pur-
bRted to be list of twenty-seven pro-
ected firms which have raised wages
Lince October. 1890. The American
Economist has published this same list
sFsral times and refers to it nearly
may week with pride. It has been
topisd and recopied in thousands Of Re-
bublican papers. After Senator Aldrich
md The American Economist had criti-
tised the list Of 500 wage reductions be-
cause there appeared to be several repe-
htions of items and because some Of the
feductions had occurred in industries
md states where statistics indicated that
b the whole average wages had not de-
plined since 1890, the Reform club con-
Guided to see if the protectionist list was
al genuine.
Hsent a man over into Brooklyn to in
quire into the general advance of per
eent. credited to the Kings County Knit
ing company. After long hunt the
INN was located on the top floor of q
building In remote part of the city.
The employees consisted Of three men
md from ten to fifteen girls. The first
person met was the employer, who failed
b remember anything about the said
general advance" until reminded Of
The American Economist article. But
sven this stimulus to the memory could
hot 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 inves-
tigation. 1t sent another man to Oris-
kany Falls, N. Y, where Langley g Da-
Sis had advanced wages 25 and 80 cents
day. SO it was alleged. 1t was learned
that this firm makes skirts for ladies'
dresses and that they employ fifteen
hands-seven weavers, four carders, two
lpinnere, one dyer and one finisher. The
boss viewers wages were advanced last
spring from 50 to 1926 day to keep
him from going to other mills. The
others in his department-five women
and one man-were reduced last June
nom ~ to cents per cut for weaving.
They were then earning about 81 per
day, though their average for last win
ter did not exceed go cents.
The boss carder was also advanced
nom 50 to $2.c5 for the same reason.
One Of the young men in his department
had his wages raised last May from 3 80
to . per week because he was likely to
BET the "spring fever" and leave; the
company thought it better to retain Q
man who had beea with them through
the winter at IS rather than to break in
} new man. The finishers' wages were
reduced last spring from $1.60 to $1.26
per day. The wages Of the other en-
ployees have not suffered from "MoKin-
Icy" advance, but remained stationary,
lrom 80 cents to 81 or more per day.
The employees smiled an anti-McKin-
ey smile when they were informed OF
he Republican material that was being
'upplied at their expense. Some OF
hem suggested that it might be .
'cheme Of Langley s. Davis to attract
aborers to Oriskany Falls, SO that cheap
abor could be obtained when the firm
'tarts its new mill in few weeks.
Other interesting information was OBJ
aimed in regard to this firm and the
used by it, but it would be
nut Of place here, even If there were
pace for it.
Two other firms visited were those Of
Wilkins g. Close, and Close g Christie,
ylove manufacturers at Mayfeld, New
York. Mr.. Wilkins said that he had
cad the report that wages had been ad-
vanced from IS to 25 per cent. in his
actory, but that he did not know how
uch q statement had got into print,
IS there was really no basis for it. He
aid that they employed about 100 men
md 25 girls in their glove and leather
lressing factories, and that wages were
10 higher than for several years previ-
,us. They take on 80 or 40 new hands
year from the farms round about.
These hands are paid % cents q day for
he first month, then 81 for some time,
md if they become proficient their
wages are advanced to $1.25. Mr.. VIII
rius said: s'There has been no more ad-
rance this year with us, or anywhere In
he county Fulton county, N. T., which
PRODUCES two-thirds Of our glove prod
,ct), than has been customary for
even or eight years. The Mckinley
ill has had no material effect on bust
less. Five-sixths Of our gloves go west,
md the demand for them depends on
he crops and the weather. A warm
winter and short crops will lower wages,
md cold winter and good crops Will
,aise them slightly"
The situation at the factory of Close q
Christie just across the street was about
The same. The gloves made by both
these firms are mostly heavy, cheap, un-
lined gloves, sold largely in the west to
drivers, etc. No similar
gloves are made or used to any extent In
any other country, and there is abso.
solutely no competition from abroad and
therefore no protection to this industry
from any tariff. Close & Christie employ