Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-07

| tn st In every case such a rate Of duty is
| 10 be imposed as will bring
to the treasury of the United States
! the largest returns of revenue.
/ The convention has not been between
schedules. but between principles, and
1t would be offensive to suggest that
the prevailing party will not carry into
legislation the principles advocated by
1t and the pledges given to the people.
The tariff bills passed by the House Of
Representatives at the last session were,
as I suppOse-even in the opinion sof
their romOters-inadeQu and justi-
fed only by the fact that the Senate
and House Of Representatives were not
/ IN accord, and that general revision
could not, therefore, be undertaken.
I recommend that the whole subject
of tariff revision be left TO the in
| coming Congress. 1t is matter OF
regret that this work must be
! delayed for at least three months for
] the threat of great tariff changes intro
\ duces so much uncertainty that an
| amount, not easily estimated, OF busi-
ness inaction and of diminished produc-
ton will necessarily result. 1t is posi-
/ suit In decreased revenues from Gus
toms duties, for Our merchants will
make cautious orders for foreign goods
/ in view Of the prospect of tariff reduc-
/ ton and the uncertainty as to when
| they will take effect. Those who have
advocated q protective tariff can well
/ aft I'd to have their disastrous forecasts
| OF a change Of policy disappointed. If
a system of custom duties can be
framed that will set the idle
wheels and looms of Europe in motion
and crowd our warehouses with foreign
made goods, and at the same time keep
our own mills busy; that will give us an
| Increased participation in the markets
of the world Of greater value than the
home market are surrendered; that will
give increased work to foreign workmen
upon products to be consumed by our
people without diminishing the amount
of work to be done here; that will en-
able the American manufacturer TO pay
to his workmen from fifty TO q hundred
per cent. more in wages than is paid in
the foreign mill and yet TO compete in
our market and In foreign markets with
the foreign producer; that will further
reduce the cost OF articles and food
without reducing the wages Of
those who produce tn EN-; that can be
celebrated, and its effects have been
realized, as it's expectation has been, in
European as well as in American cities,
the authors and promoters OF 1t Will be
entitled to the highest praise,
We have had in our history several
experiences of the ContraSted effects or
revenue and protective tariff, but this
generation has not felt them, and the
experience of one generation is not
highly instructive to the next. The
friends of the protective system, with
undiminished confidence in the princi-
Piles they have advocated, will await
the results Of the new experiment.
LABoRERs AND EMPLOYERS.
The strained and too often disturbed
relations existing between the en-
ployes and the employers in our
great manufacturing establishments
have not been favorable to calm con-
sideratiOn by the wage-earners Of the
effect upon wages OF the protective sys-
TEN. The facts that his wages were
the highest paid In like Callipgs In the
world and that maintenance or this
rate of wages in the absence OF protec-
tive duties upon the product Of his la
Dor, was impossible, were obScured by
passion evoked by these contests. He
may be able to review the question in
the light OF his personal experience IN
der the operation Of tariff for revenue
only. II that eNperienCO - '
onstrate that the present rate OF wages
are thereby maintained or In
creased, either absolutely or In their
purchasing power, and that the aggre-
rate value OF work to be done IN THIS
country is increased, or even maintain
ed. so that there are more or as many
davs work in a year, at as good or oct
ter wages for the American workmen as
has been the case under the protective
system, every one will rejoice. a gen
eral process Of wage reduction cannot
be contemplated by any patriotic citizen
without the gravest apprehension. 1t
NAV be, indeed l believe is, possible for
the American manufactures to com
pete successfully with his foreign rival
i'm many branches Of production without
the defense of protective duties
if the pay-rolls are equal
lied, but the conflict that
stands between the producer and that
result and the distress OF our working
Deople when IL is attained are not pleas
ant TO contemplate. The society of the
unemployed now holding its frequent
and threatening parades in the streets
of foreign cities should not be allowed
to ACQUIRE an American dOmicile.
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
The reports of the heads Of the sew
| eral executive departments which are
herewith submitted have very naturally
included a resume of the whole work
| OF the administration with the transac-
tions of the last fiscal year. The at
tention not only of Congress out
OF the country is again invited
/ TO the methods Of administration,
which have been pursued and to the re-
sults which have been attained Public
revenues amounting to 81, Ala, O79, 292.2S
| have been collected and diSburSed with
out less from misappropriation without
a single defalcation Of such importance
! as 10 attract the public attention, and
/ at q diminished per cent. of cost for col
lection. The public business has been
transacted not only with fidelity. but pro-
/ oressively, and with view TO giving to
the people, in the fullest possible de-
gree. the benefits of service sstsb-
/ Iished and maintained for their protec-
ton and comfort.
! OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with other Nations
ara now undisturbed by any serious
controversy. The complicated and
threatening differences with Germany
and England relating to Samoan affairs,
with England in relation to the seal
| -. n..irr cnn nnd With