Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-09-06

Ihlrd-There has been an advance In
the price of all farm products of IL. per
cent, and of all cereals 33. 90 per cent.
The ninth annual report of the chief of
the bureau of labor statistics of the State
of New York-a Democratic ofIicer-very
recently issued, strongly corroDorates, as
to that State, the facts found by the SEN
ate committee. His extended inquiry
shows that in the year Immediately fol-
lowing the passage of the tariff act of
1890 the aggregate sum paid in wages in
that State was Sc, SIT, 925 in excess, and
the aggregate production $31 ,315, 1870 in
excess of the preceding year.
In view of this showing of an increase
in wages, of a reduction in the cost of ar
ticles of common necessity, and of
marked advance in the prices of agricul-
tural products, it is plain that this tariff
law has not imposed burdens, but has
conferred benefits, upon the farmer and
the workingman.
Some special effects of the act should
here be noticed. 1t was a courageous
attempt to rid our people of long main
tanned foreign monopoly in the produc
ton of tin-plate, pearl buttons, silk
plush, linens, lace, etc.
Once or twice-in our history the pro-
duction of tin-plate had been attempted
and the prices obtained by the Welsh
makers would have enabled our makers
to produce it at profit. But the Welsh
makers at once cut prices to point that
drove the American beginners out of the
business, and, when this was acc ON
plished, made their own prices.
The official returns to the Treasury
Department of the production of tin and
terne plates, in the United States during
the last fiscal year, show total produc-
ton of 13, 240, $40 pounds and compari-
son of the first quarter 926, 922 pounds,
with the lasts, 900, 900 poands-shows
the rapid development of the industry
Over 5000, 900 pounds during the last
quarter We're made from American black
plates, the remainder from foreign plates.
Mr.. Aver, the Treasury agent in CHI arge,
estimates, rs the result of careful inqu Try,
chat the production of the current ear
will be 100, 0O), 900 pounds, and that by
the end of the year our production will be
at the rate of 200, 100000 pounds per
annum.
Another industry that has been practi-
cally created by the Mckinley bill is the
making of pearl buttons. Few articles
coming to US from abroad were so dis
tinctly the product of starvation wages.
This tariff law has given employment
to many thousands of American men and
women, and will each year give employ
ment to increasing thousands. Its repeal
would throw thousands out of employ
reduced wages. The appeals of the free
trader to the workingman are largely ad-
dressed to his prejudices or to his passions
and not infrequently are pronouncedly
communistic. The new Democratic lead
ership RACES at the employer, and seeks
to communicate this rage to the EN- ploye.
I regret that all employers of labor are
not just and considerable and that capital
sometimes takes too large a share of the
y R,7tT do hot Aha.a l.
!, wsll be ameliorated by tariff policy, the
first necessary step of which is a severe
| wage cut and the second large diminu.
| ton of the aggregate amount of work to
be done in this country. If the injustice
| of his employer tempts the workman to
| strike back, he shonld be very sure that
his blow does not fall upon his own head,
| or upon his wife and children.
| The Southern States have had liberal
| participation in the benefits of the tariff
| law, and, though their representa-
| tives have generally opposed the protec-
| zion policy, rejoice that their sugar,
rice, coal, ores, iron, fruits, cotton cloths,
and other products, have not been left to
| the fate which the votes of their represen-
tatives would have brought upon them.
In the construction of the Nicaraugua
canal, in the new trade with South and
| Central America, in the establishment OF
American steamship lines, these States
! have also special interests, and all these
| interests will not always consent tc
be without representation at Washington.
| FREE COINAGE OF SILVER
The resolution of the convention in
/ favor of be- metallism declares, l think
| the true and necessary conditions of q
movement that has, upon these lines, my
| cordial adherence and support. l an
| thoroughly convinced that the free coin
1of - i
| will maintain the equality in their com
mercial uses of the two coined dollars
i would conduce to the prosperity of all the
| great producing and commercial nation!
of the world. The one essential condi
tion is that these dollars shall have anC
retain an equal acceptability and value il
all commercial transactions.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The Civil Service system has been ex
tended and the law enforced with vigol
and impartiality There has been no par
tisan Juggling with the law in any of tn,
departments or bureaus, as before hap
pened-but ap pointments to the classi
fed service ha We been made impartially
from the eligi BILE list. The system in al
the departments has for the first tim,
placed promo tions strictly upon the basil
of merit.
HONEST ELECTIONS.
1t seemed to me at the time of writing
my last annual message, that an appea
to our people to consider the question o.
read justing our legislation upon alb
solutely fair non partisan lines nigh
find some effective response. Many time
l have had occasion to say that laws ant
election methods, designed to give unfai
advantage to the party making them
would some time be used to perpetuate il
/ power faction or party against thu
will of the majority of the people. o
this we seem to have an illustration il
the recent State election in Alabama
There was no Republican ticket in tn
field. The contest was between whit
Democrats.
The Kolb party say they were refuse
the representation guaranteed by lay
upon the election boards; and that, whel
the courts by mandamus attempted t.
right that wrong, an appeal that coul'
not be heard until after the election mad
l ;,,of Dn1l HNx