The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-05

A week ago at Bloomington. ILL.,, Adlai
X. stevenson, talking about the tariff,
asked:
"IIas Il In q single instance given to the me-
chanic or laborer increased wages7"
This Is the same question that Cleveland
asked "on the stump" in the Rhode Island
state campaign in April: and he and
Stevenson again repeated it in their
speeches at the Democratic meeting in
Madison Square last month. This
brace of Democratic demsgogues have
just had an unexpected affirma-
tive answer in detail Nom one
of their Democratic friends. The
report of Charles 4. Peck. the Democratic
labor commissioner OF New York, gives
Se.7t7 instances OF individual increases of
wages in New York state alone during
1891. The actual net increse in wages for
the year was 1857 .925 %. Commissioner
Peck was appointed by Grover Cleveland IN
1883 on the Recommendation of Lieutenant
Governor David Il. Hill. who continued
him in Office. 1t is the statutory duty Of
the commissioner of labor 10 collect and
publish statistics showing the condition OF
tile laboring classes and the tendency of
wages. OF the effect of the tariff act of 1890
on wages in the state of New York during
1891. Commissioner Peck says:
1t is needless 10 comment upon the separate
figures or the totals included in the above table:
they tel, their own story simply and with ALSO
lutte truth II appears that there was q net in-
crease IN wages of ss.317,92ao9 in the year issi
as compared with the amount paid in lSs0. aud
q net increase OF production 81 &l,sl5 30 Is in
the yea. 1871 over that OF 1890 A simple anal
ysis OF this table further demonstrates the inter-
esiing fact that ~ the six;y-seveu industries
covered - per cent show sn increase either of
the wages or product. or both. snd that thsre
were no less than s9.7IT instances OF individual
decrease OF wages during che same year,
The returns OF Mr.. Peck cover {, 900 on Of
500 establishments in the state Of New
York. and the % industries involved LIN
distinct trades and employed ~. 90 work-
ingmen and women. OF the 81 industries
included in this inquiry rs per cent. show
Increased average yearly earnings in 1881,
and the total average increase OF the
yearly earnings Of the 2S5, 90 employees
WAS S2&I. The average increase of yearly
earnings in the titiy-one trades showing an
with ls91. The total number OF strikes re-
ported for the year 1891 Was +,5l9. as
against 6.2SS occurring in the year 1890. a
decrease Of l.7Ia. or the total number.
4,5i9. a.475. or 50 per cent of them, were in
the building trades, which were in no way
affected by ths Mckinley law.
Clevelsnd's friends in New York de-
noance this report ~ inspired by Senator
David Il. niu, and As intended 60 defeat
the Democratic ticket in November. Sena-
Tor nili. IL will be remembered, when she
free trade plank WAS adopted at Chicago,
said:
TIE tariff plank 81 the Platform adopted st
Chicago has made every workshop and factory
sn tae United states Republican Campaign
headquarters
Labor Commissioner Peek .soutly main
tains that he had no other motive In the
preparation and publication OF his roper.
than 90 perform his duty as required BY
Law. lie says on this point:
Am Democrat. ssa began tsis inquiry
WIZ Tie es4.si tas,s lie sssals would wildcats