The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-11-11
IN WAGES.
INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT THEY
ARE REDUCTIONS INSTEAD.

A. sInf.nt Industry" of the Mckinley
Protective Tsrimtes. which Consists ri
Msnufscsur,ng Campaign Material Out
oe the whol Cloth.
The Tariff Reform club has compiled
a fiat OF about 500 wage reductions which
have occurred in protected industries
since the Mckinley tariff act began 20
boom business aud raise wages Inc
p~roteciionists last spring thought
time 70 begin 10 demonstrate the good
effect upon wages OF their panacea for
ali ills and they published what pur-
ported 10 be a list of twenty-seven pro-
fected firms which have raised wages
sipce October. 1890. TIE American
Economist has publ,shed this same list
seyera times and refers to II nearly
every week with pride. IL has been
copied and recopied in thousands OF lie
uublican papers. After Senator Aidrich
and The American Economist hal criri-
cised the list Of 500 wage reductions be-
cause there appeared 10 I've several repe-
titions Of items and because some OF the
reductions had occurred in Industries
and states where statistics Indicated that
On the whole average wages had not de-
cliued since 1890. the Reform club CON
cluded to see if the protectionist LIST was
all genuine.
II sent a man over into Brooklyn to in
ouire into the general advance Of ) per
cent. credited to the Kings County Knit
ting company. After "a long hunt the
Arm was located on the top floor OF a
building in a remote part OF the city.
Tn EMPLOYEES consisted ~ three men
and from ten to fifteen girls. The first
nerson met was the employer, who failed
10 remember anything about the said
.sgeneral advance until reminded OF
The American Economist article. But
even this stimulus TO the memory could
not make the three factory girls who
were interviewed recall q time when
their wares had been advanced; they
could. however. easily remember ume
when they were earning more than now.
The club has since continued its inses-
firation. II sent another man 10 Orls-
kany Falls. n. Y, where Langley & Da-
Wis had advanced wages ~ and 90 cents
a day, so it was alleged. IL was learned
that this firm makes skirts for ladies
dresses and that they employ fifteen
hands-seven weavers. four carders, two
spinners. one dyer and one finisher. The
hoss ,x..,yer's wages Were advanced last
spring from e. t. S2.25 a day to keep
him from going TO other mills. Inc
Others il his departTent-five women
and one man-wrre reduced last Jun
from Az to 4 cents per cut for weaving.
They were then earning about 81 per
day. though their average for last win
ter did not exceed 90 cents.
The boss card-r was also advanced
from So 70 So.25 for the same reason
One Of the young men in his department
had his wages raised last May from go
to 81 per wee.s because he was hkely e
ret the .sprlng fever" and leave; IN
s,omranv thought 1t better to retain
man who had beel with them through
the xir.ter at IS rather than to break Il
n new man. The hnishers' wages wer'
reduced last spring from Sl.oo to Sl.@
DER dav. The wages Of the other EN-
nloyeee have not suffered from "Mckin
lev" advance, bnt remained stationary
from 80 cents to 81 or more per Gay.
The employees smiled an anti-Mckir
lev smile when they were informed 9
the Republican material that was bein
supplied Mt their expense. Some {
them suggested that II might I've
scheme of Langley d Davis 10 attras
laborer. to Oriskany Falls. 30 that chea
labor could be obtained when the frl
starts lis new mill in a few week
Other interesting information was o.
-.--l - ~x~.~l ~ tina firm und ~
materials used by il. but 1t would
out Of place here, even If there we
space for it.
Two other firms visited Were those
wilkins a. Close, and Close * Christi
glove manufacturers Mt Mayfield, Ne
York. Mr.. wilkins said that he h
read the report that wages had been 2
yanced from Is to % Ter cent. III
factory. but hat he did not know he
such n statement had got into prii
M there was really no basis for II.
said that they employed about 100 m
and % girls in their glove and leatl
dressing factories. and that wages w
no higher than for several years pre-
Gus. They take on 80 or 40 new hai
\ year from the farms round abo
These hands are paid 70 cents a day
the first month, then IL for some TN
and ii they become proficient u
q are advanced TO $l.25. Mr.. V
kins said: There has been no more
n this year with us, or anywhcr'
the county Fulton county. n. y. WI
produces two-thirds Of our glove ~
uct), than has been customary
seven or eight years. The Mckii
bill has had no material effect on .
ness. Five-sixths Of our gloves 90 "
and the demand for them depend
the crops aud the weather. a W
winter and short crops Will lower wa
and a cold winter and good crops
raise them slightly
The situation at the factory OF Cio
Christie just across the street was a
the I'M The gloves made by
these firms ere mostly heavy, cheap
lined gloves, sold largely in the we
harvesters, drivers. etc. No sii
xxa. 40 mnda ar teed to any exte