Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-04
rorsrnmsnt with the pensiOns added. .

government with the pensions added. "
He adds:
In justification of this estimate will give
a few examples:
First-In respect 10 the maintenance Of
the prices of tho most important crude
materials above those in other countries.
Since 1850 there has been a very great re-
ductiou in the cost Of producing iron ana
steel in this and all other countries, accom-
panied by a very great reduction in prices
By a very careful computation made oy
myself and Oy Mr.. David a. Wells, the
disparity in the cost of pig iroa only 10 the
consumers of this country as compared 10
consumers supplied by other sources m
other countries has amounted 10 t'o,OVO,OOO
a year. The workmen in mines and iaoor-
ers in furnaces have received no oenent
from this interference; their actual
earnings as BODY are barely sufi-
Cient TO support the life even
Of the imported laborers who
constitute the majority Of their NUMBER:
There are few exceptionally hign-prlceo
men in nearly every establishment Inc
disparity in the price of the higher forms
of iron and of steel, as compared to the
lower prices in Great Britain, has been
much greater than on pig iron. The evil
effect Of this tax upon coal, ores and crude
iron cannot be fairly estimated at less tnan
SlOO, 0O0, 600 a year, which is handicap on
all iron and steel consumers.
The effect of duties upon ores, coal and
crude iron has been TO keep the average
price Of pig iron several dollars per ton
above the price in other countries, varying
year by year with the urgency OF the de-
mand.
The excess of price has been in some
years more than the duty in such years
being accompanied by imports in Such
wears. In some years the excess OF price
has been less than the duty-then without
imports, except Of some special qualities
the general result has been low wages to
the miners and furnace wOrkmen as BODY
aud large profits to very limited number
Of iron masters. In the census year Just
reported, the iron miners of Pennsylvania
secured intermittent work, by which they
earned on the average $3.50 each.
SecOnd-The effect of the duty upon wool
has been very different. Wool is produced
by very many flock owners and IN many
places throughout the world; there is no
such limit of numbers as that which arfects
iron mining, and no limit 10 few places.
Hence, when the imports of the wool OF
South America ana Australia were 90
structed by the duty imposed IN the original
wool and woOllen tariff of 1860, the precise
effect followed which was foretOld by the
opponents of the measure. the prices OF
wool in the two great markets Of London
and Antwerp were reduced in the lack OF
our demand-the manufacturers OF Europe
were promoted at the expense Of our own
the cost of foreign wOrsted and wooden
goods was thereby reduced, while our man
ufacturers, being deprived OF a proper mix
INK of wool, were limited TO the fabrics
70 which American fleeces are adapted,
which are also limited in variety. The
price Of American wool was lowered, and
vet the manufacturer was not protected.
Imports of wool and Of fabrics at the artl-
fcially lowered prices, but at very high
rates Of duty. increased. These conditions,
varying in different seasons, have contin-
ued TO the present day. Thus the farmer
has paid the cost Of bad legislation by being
forced % take q lower price for his wool,
and also 70 pay a higher price for his
clothes. How much this double disadvan-
tage costs in money cannot be even approx
imately computed, but IL must come to
large sum annually.
This is not a theory, but matter or
observation and experience and cold
facts and figures. The disadvantages
under which we exist from our in
iquitjous tariff system are mainly con-
fined 20 the two classes Of duties here
treated by Mr. ATKINSON, namely, the
taxes upon crude and partly manutac-
tured articles. When these are re-
moved, the manufacturers Of the coun-
try will, for the first time in the pres
ent generation, be enabled to measure
their own power.