Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-01
a RrmARKAnLE nEPoRT.

Labor Commissioner CHARLES f.
PECK, Of New York, has made up q re-
markable report bearing on the relation
of the tariff TO wages, in which report
Mr. PECK alleges to show that wages
have increased in the State Of New
YoA since the enaction of the new
tariff.
There are three peculiar things
about this report. First, Commissioner
PECK accepted the figures Of the pro-
tected manufacturers without question,
or attempt at verlfcation, and, second,
he refuses to specify the establishments
from which he got them, and, third,
the workingmen themselves in whose
wages Mr.. PECK attempts to show an
increase were left out entirely. Their
side of the case was totally ignored.
The workingmen, themselves, ought to
know if their wages have been increased
by the tariff, but diligent New York
newspapers have been unable TO find
one who does not emphatlcally deny the
truth Of PECK's statement.
MATHEW BARR, Of the Tin and Sheet
Iron Workers Of New York, says:
ssWhat strikes me as very peculiar is the
figures on the building trades. They seem
SO incOngruous that l must pause before
90 any further. There is scarcely a strike
in this line but what has oettered Its con-
dition since 1889. And yet with al this
the returns show q decrease in wages OF
$50. S29.
"This industry IS outside the reach ofthe
tariff. and whatever figures may be put
down, there is only one thing that has gam
ed il any advantages and that is us organ
iZations. Every concession has Deen fought
inch bv inch. Where the tariff does Affect
any branch Of the trade, SUCH as mine, we
have certainly suffered. No tin and sheet
iron worker in this city, TO my knowledge,
and know them nearly all, has yet used a
sheet of native tin. Before the Mckinley
bill was passed we had considerable work
on tin roofs In many cases gravel roofs
had an equal competition with US, but since
the higher duty on tin was imposed In every
case where a gravel roof can oe utilized II
takes the place Of tin, ana there IS less
work for US. We have been injured
bv the tariff ard our wages may have de-
creased. but the other trades are not so
affected, and believe they have been IN
dividual gamers"
GEORGE WARNER, Of the House
smiths Union and the Central Labor
Union says:
"You can make figures prove anything
z D.. 60. mo az
trade who viii show me that their wages
have been raised by the tariff. II any trade
has increased its pay you can rely upon It's
being on account of organization. LOOK al
our trade. We work 90 the buildings ana
are not affected by the tariff, but the men
who manufacture the iron ana steel are
highly protected. During the past four
wears the men who have been protected
have been reduced in wages and we have
been obtaining al increase. Mr.. Peck s
returns scarcely seem consistent. He gives
decreases in wages and production in build
ing. brick tile and Sewerpipe, but IN cement,
lime and plaster there is a vast increase.
As the business Of one is totally dependent
on the other, aud one could not be brisk
without the other, his figures certainly
need some explanation.
These are sample interviews with
representative workingmen. They all
fatty give the lie TO PEcK's figures.
"Mr. PICKS report" says the New
York World, "was made, like the Nc
Kinley tariff law, by the manufacturers
by the people who expect to reap the
benefits. They first prepared the bill,
and are now reporting on its effect in
the State of New York. In aid Of this
pretty scheme Mr.. PECK refuses to
make public the letters on which he
bases his assertion. His figures" the
World continues, do not attempt TO
show that the rate of iCGgeS has been I'M
creased IN q single instance; that a sim
gle additional cent is paid in this State
to any individual for any stated piece
of work. They are declarations made
In secret to an apparently willing tool
by persons who are pecuniariiy inter-
ested in causing the public to believe
them"
The charge is made that Mr.. PECK is
either grossly incompetent official, or
else, a purchasable man. The New York
Evening Post says:
1t requires a man Of considerable ability
10 handle statistics so that he will not con-
tradict himself or contradict higher 6U-
thorities than himself. Peck became the
laughing stock of statistcians when he
made his first report i've or six. years ago.
Since that time he has scarcely been no
ticed, having fallen beneath contempt. His
present publication is noticeable only as
studied attempt 20 help the Republican
party over a difficult piece OF road.
Whoever is responsible for them there
is 10 doubt that PECK'S false figures
are harmless. He has contradicted
Senator ALDHCH, the chief Repubi-
can wage statistician, to such degree
that his report is made ridiculous.
Commissioner PECK should be inves-
tigated.
THE action Of the Ohio State Board
Of Health yesterday is proper aad time