New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-29
bcKTNLEY STUDIES.

TIE TRIBUNE investigation of the indrstsie
directly affected by the Mckinley act is eX-
tended this morning in two directions Troy and
Bridgeport. Two industries in which the duties
were increased in 1890 are described and in
each instance the tariff is shown not to have been
a tax upon consumers. The great industry Of
Troy is the manufacture OF collars. cults ana
shirts There was volume of loose Democratic
talk two years ago about Mckinley prices in
these goods. A great deal of eloquence was ex-
pended in proving that Republican legislation
had put a taxed shirt upon the back OF the
suffering workingman and that the prices OF
collars and cuffs would be doubled. Well,
nothing of the kind has happened. The work
ingman has better shirt and it has cost him
less Consumers pay less for their collars and
cuffs to-day than they did in October, 1890,
and the quality of the goods has improved.
This effect has been produced although the
linen industry has not yet made sufficient prog
ress to lower the cost Of the material In the
same way. the Democratic bubble respecting
an advance in the prices OF pushes and velyets
has been prcked. The reduction in pushes has
been 40 per cent-an effect with which change
of fashion has had Of course. something 10 do.
Since the consumer has not suffered from the
increased duties in these manufactures, there
is no offset to the gain made by the producing
classes In Troy it is found to be a substantial
one and the manufacturers benefit is largely
shared by the workmen. A great industry
there was menaced with ruin by importations of
collars cuffs and shirts from European countries
where labor was very cheap. The difference
in the level Of wages in this trade was very
striking. 1t lay between 20 cents day for
woman in Germany and 81 80 in Troy. MIR.
Murphy ana his Democratic associates at Chicago
repudated the idea that such a difference
in wages ought to be considered in the revision
of the unconstitutional robber tariff" But
it was considered when the Mckinley act was
passed and the result is that the Working
people of Troy and the farmers families near by
have all the work they want at high wages and
are swelling their savings bank accounts. Be
fore the Mckinley act. halftime was the rule ;
now all the factories are running on full time
That alone amounts to doubling OF earnings
and wages are tending upward with the in
creased demand for operatives.
The details given in our Bridgeport letie:
of the transfer Of portion OF
the plant of Sir Titus Salt, Sons
& Co. from Bradford, England, to Con
necticut supplement- the London dispatch,
printed in catui days TRIBUNE, announcing the
retirement Of the English house from business
The Mckinley act cut off its American trade
and caused it to suspend business operations
The American branch of the firm found very
sharp competition amofS manufacturers in this
country, and diminished demand for the
goods in consequence of a change of fashion
1t is consequently converting its plush into a
velvet business. Thereon hangs a tale OF Eng
lish free t. ade. The manufacture of velvetS has
practically been abandoned in England, owing to
competition from Germany and France. The
| Bradford house. not having any degree OF pro-
lection in a free trade country, has not substi-
tuted vcvets for pushes. II could not do so,
| and 50 has retired from business. But in
| America there is encouragement under the
tariff for the introduction Of the velvet industry,
and new source of employment is provided at
good wages in Connecticut. Perhaps some OF
our freetrade opponents will be kind enough TO
explain how vclvets can be manufactured here
without n tariff. if the business is declining in
England under competition from the Continent.
| Or perhaps they will prefer to reply that it is
| not worth while to make vevets here when
labor is cheaper abroad. But if it comes to
that, Americans would have to give up nearly
everything in the way Of manufacturing.
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