The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-08-02
THE TARIFFS
the Cost of Livlns-How the Two Go
Hand In Hand.


And the Cost of Liyins-How the Two Go
Hand In Hand.
Esy York Tribune.
Senator Aldrich's speech on the tariff
will DO used, and we'll deserves to be
used, as an arsenal of facts by the de-
tenders Of protection. The array Of
proofsdrives opponents of protection to.
small but snappish carpinR about de-
tails, as Senator Vest expressed his Joy
at the admission that pearl buttons had
increased in cost. Men who are not
large enough to surrender q point when
they are beaten have to keep up a pitt
full show Of resistance, though they
know it is'of no use, just as some Con-
fcderates threatened that after the great
armies OF rebellion were destroyed,
guerilla warfare would last for years in
the woods and swamps OF the south.
But the people of that section had too
much sense to waste their lives in q
! pointless and aimless struggle. Sup
porters OF free theories may profitably
abandon the pretenCe that the Mcktn-
Icy bill has raised prices. or increased
the cost OF living.
Senator Aldrich reasons that the de-
cline of 3.4 per cent in prices, and the
rise Of rs per cent in the purchasing
power OF wages, which, at $500 q family,
would mean about$25 foreach OF lS,0O0,-
600 families, or 1925, 100000 yearly. 1t
is fair to say that the 13,000.0 900 families
are not all supported by the manutact-
uring and mechanical labor which is re-
ported to have advanced only, three
quarters of l per cent. Nearly half the
population is supported by agriculture.
The wages of farm labor, accord
ing to the elaborate report is
sued in April by the depart
ment of agriculture, has advanced in 10
per cent during the last two years and2
per cent during the last four years.
The average advance in wages would
therefore seem to be greater than the
committee estimates. On the other
hand, the wages OF nearly half the
labor of the country, being employed in
agriculture, do not average 5000 a year;
but even if colored labor at the south
be excluded, the average would be less
than $500 a year. The farmers who
W their own farms, or work land on
shares, doubtless average more, but
even they do not have an average OF
$500 a family to expend in the pur-
chase OF things not raised on the farm.
The estimate of the senator can only be
regarded as an illustration OF the gem
eral result Of the great changes ascer-
tanned.
Senator Aldrich's speech does not APP
near to have brought out fully one i'm
portant fact. that the prices OF other
than farm products, separately consld-
cred, have declined greatly during the
last three years, though this may be
clearly inferred from the statements
given. Thus it is shown that the adj
vance in wholesale prices Of farm pro-
ducts from June, 1889, to September,
1891, was more than is per cent, and
yet the retail costof all articles actually
declined. Necessarily the decline in all
other than farm products must have
been large. When the detailed report
OF the committee has been published 1t
may be possible to separate the items.
and thus to determine measurably how
great the. decline has been in the cost
OF things which the farmer has to pur-
chase.
Meanwhile it is obvious that tho adj
vance in farm products, while it has
brought q great gain to the farmer, has
not involved q corresponding. loss'to
the consumers of articles manufactured
from those products. Thus the farmer
received for wheat at New York so to
SO9 cents in June, 1889. and patent
-four was selling here at S. 70 per bar
rel. Last September the price OF wheat
had risen to 81 OFT, but the same flour
sold at S. u barrel, = rise of
only IS ceuts a barrel, against
81 cents a bushel for wheat.
Now the wheat sells at ST
cents, or 5 cents higher than in 1889,
while the same flour sells at 81 rs. a
dollar lower than in Juno, 1889. The
prices of manufactured products tgcncr-
ally arc about the lowest ever known,
and these measure the expenditures OF
the farmers, as we'll as a great part OF
tho expenditures OF other producers.
Tho retail prices of articles made from
farm products have not advanced ut
any tfme in proportion TO the advance
of prices OF such products, and moan
while tho cost Of other manufactured
articles has been materially diminished
TO consumers.