The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-10-21
PROFITS OF THE FARMER.

distribution. Those who have once
entered upon given line of work do not
readily change to something else. But
new generation is constantly coming
upon the stage, and they are turned this
way or that, to-the farm or the factory,
according to the combined influence of
attractions or repulsions and emoluments
in the various occupations. Here is
force necessarily tending to equalize the
status of the several classes of workers.
The only question for the farmer to set
tie is, whether he is likely to Improve his
condition by striking balance with the
inferior workman of Europe, mourning
the expense of ocean transit, and suffer
ing annoyance from the uncertainty of a
foreign market; or, whether he is best
off as he is, averaging up his lot with
that of the superior American artisan,
and finding a constant and reliable
market for 95 per cent. of his products
right at his door. He will also take into
account the fact that great part of his
most lucrative crops would be absolutely
woI thless but for the presence of the
neighboring factory town.
BY the combined influence of almost
unlimited land, highly perfected machin-
cry and cheap transportation, the Dakota
wheat grower can undersell his York
shire contemporary in the markets of
Liverpool. Does any one imagine that
the great railroad system which makes
this possible would now egist, had our
country not possessed an'army of trained
artisans when the locomotive made its
advent?
THE WAGE QUESTION.
Another phase of the relation of con-
sumner and producer is met in the ques-
ton of wages, or the share of the work
man as compared with that of his en-
ployer. This, also, is a question not to
any considerable extent determined by
tariff regulations. But the absolute re-
turns of the laborer or relative to those
of other countries are at least influenced
by the tariff. In order that the forces
tending to keep our wages above those
paid elsewhere may operate, we must be,
to some extent, isolated from the rest of
the world. Trade is great leveler. I'm
restricted, it tends to equalize the con-
dition of all those among whom it opel-
ates. The Protection argument is not in
validated by the admission that it is
scarcely probable that Free Trade would
reduce wages absolutely to the European
standard. The tendency would be in that
direction, and this tendency is enough to
lead us to set our faces against the Free
Trade policy.
THE MCKINLEY BILL.
In the application of the general prin-
ciple of Protection to the several provis-
ions of the Mckinley law, we must bear
in mind that protective tariff, satisfac-
tory in most respects, already existed.
Our main work, therefore, will be to crit
icise the changes authorized by this
measure.
The distinguishing features of the Nc
Kinley law may be grouped under seven
heads ~ An increase in certain duties;
(2) a reduction in others; (3) an extern
sion of the free list; (D provision for
drawbacks; (5) a system of bounties
(6) reciprocity clause, and O certain
changes in the internal revenue regula-
lions, which we have already considered.
DUTIES UPON WOOL AND TIN.
Under the first division the changes
that have excited most comment have
been those in the duties upon wool and
tin.
In the year 1890 we imported wool and
manufactures of wool to the value of
ST. ,846,5 15, about nine per cent. of all
our imports. Only two other classes of
imports exceeded this sum in value
sugar and coffee, neither of which falls
within the pale of protective operations.
Now, why should we import all these
goods? You have heard it said that the
finest grades of wool cannot be raised in
the United States. Perhaps not in New
York, OF Ohio, or Michigan; but the fact
needs to be pretty carefully demonstrated
before we conclude that nowhere in our
vast country, with its great variety of
soils and climates, can as fine wool be
grown as cheaply as anywhere in the
world. doubt if such proof is yet forth
coming. However, the Mckinley law
made very little change in the rates upon
the higher grades of manufactured
WOO, so that the most that can be charged
against it here is negative attitude. On
very cheap grades of wool, valued at
thirteen cents pound (more or less). the
duty was nearly doubled. But these GER
tainly cannot include the finer grades
that cannot be raised in this country.
The rates on wooden goods were mater
tally raised. No one, however, can show
why our WOODEN fabrics should not be
manufactured at home. The critic can
only recite the general Free Trade argu-
ment, applicable to the greater part of
our Industries, that our superiority in
this field is less pronounced than in agri-
culture.
In the case of tin plate similar consid-
erations might be urged. The bulk of
such plate is steel, which we can as we'll
prepare at home as to import it, while
the thinning is also process for which we
are entirely competent
The tariff on the ore (cassiterite), and
on pig tin will not go into effect until
July /, 1893; and if, after two years
trial, the total output has not reached
5000 tons the duty will be discontinued.
Such an addition to the comparatively
limited tin supply of the world may be
confidently expected to reduce its price.
IRON AND STEEL.
The most important reductions were
those in the duties upon iron and steel.
This reduction was very general through
out this class of manufactures, amount
ing to nine per cent. of the duty upon
sheet iron, twenty per cent on common
nails, from six to thirty-thre per cent.
on steel rails and so on. This, however,
involves no abandonment of protective
principles. For several years our output
of iron and steel has fallen little short of
the English product, and finally America
has taken the lead. This gives one rea-
son for believing that our iron industries
can stand considerable competition. A
second consideration is the confessedly
great resources of America in this iue.
Finally, these goods are so heavy that
transportation charges form an impor-
tant addition to the cost of foreign wares.
WHY A TARIFF is NECESSARY.
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