New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-27


than in England. have submitted tables showing
the relative wages in cotton and worsed mills IN the
two countries with American wages. in many cases
more than 100 per cent higher The tables IN
reference to wages In the production OF tn-platc,
which | have already submitted. show difference Of
15o per cent In favor OF the United States as com
pared with Wales. Similar statistics are abundant.
Wages In the United States show still greater ex-
cess when compared with those OF the countries Of
Continental Europe. These and similar statements
of Mr. schoenhof have been frequently published. and
practical manufacturers familiar with the conditions
on both Sides of the ocean, have repeatedly demon
strated In this Chamber and elsewhere, that they
not only worthless but sometimes grctcsque IN their
excess OF transformation.
Mr.. VESTS REMARKABLE STATEMENT.
Among the many remarkable statements made by
the Senator from Missouri. ir his speech Of June IS
find the following: Il am prepared TO show by
irrefutabe testimony that ncvc; in the history Of
this country has there been such disturbance OF labor
mover sach hostile and ilmical relations between
employer and cmlloye, Fever such pro1rntion oil
agricultural interest, such Il limiting and mar
rowing of foreign markets, never such disaster brought
about IN sho- time, rs by tbs infamous legas
lnton."
1t will be noticed that this sentence contains three
distinct charges in regard TO the operations Of the act
OF 1900 and these propose To take up seraiim The
first Of these is that there had never been such DIS
turbanoe in labor such hostile relations between
employer and empoye as brought about by the
act referred TO. In support Of this allegation the
Senator submitted and had printed in The Record
long list Of alleged wage reductions ehutdowns lock
outs and strikes in projected manufactures which had
taken place since the passage Of the Mckinney DILL
from data collected by John De Witt Warner for 1.-The
New York World" This list covers the time between
December 4, 1890. and June is, 1902. n period Of
eighteen months. The statement shows that during
fv
United states. II assume that these figures are
accurate. and it will be from an examination Of
the other furnished by the same gentleman That
he has decided tendency Ovestate In his statistics
1t may be profitable make comparison between the
number OF strikes occurring alleged since the pass
ago OF the Of 1890 and in the year which pre-
coded 1t. Having this comparison in mind. requested
the Commissioner OF Labor to furnish with stat
tics Of strikes in this country for the years
prior to 1900 and, II possible, to give
me comparative statistics Of strikes which have taken
place In Great Britain within the period covered by
lbs American statistics. In answer 10 this request
have received table showing the number of strikes
and the number OF employees involved In each year
from 1850 10 1850 inclusive. The number OF strikes
In this country varied from 443 in 1884 to 1411 In
1856; the number Of each year for the whole
period being CPS. The number reported In 1890 Is
706. being than times many In this single
year reported by Mr. Warner for the eighteen months
covered by has statistics
STRIKES IN GREAT BRITAIN.
available statistics show that in Great Britain. the
paradise of t:rfreformers 3,l64 strikes occurred in
1889. The British Board of Trade officially report
lOoS strikes in $780, with 3e2 ,9o1 persons involved.
In 736 OF these cOmparisU OF the relative number
and Importance Of strikes in the United states ana IN
Great Britain for the year 1890 shows thai the number
much greater in the latter country, and that tle
number Of persons Involved was more than three times
great In proportion TO the number of persons en-
gagged in useful occupations the respective countries
III the strike in the Durham British district,
100 900 cosilminers out and renaLed idle from
March IL to June /. when they accepted reduction
OF 10 per cent in wages. This strike involved the
closing down Of 100 blast furnaces In addition to the
suspenion Of mining operations.
THIS COUNTRY's FREEDOM FROM STRIKES.
The statistics submitted BY the senator from Mis-
souri, confirm in a striking the Judgment OF
every Intelligent observer that there has been a re
maiiabe freedom from strikes and labor troubles In
this country since the passage OF the Tariff act Of
1890. II be said that at no time In the history
of the country has labor been so constantly and
probably employed. and at such satisfactory wages
In the period referred TO. No person In the
United States, with the capacity and willingness TO
work. is out of employment. IL is true that reduc-
ton OF wages has taken place m limited number OF
establishments producing iron and steel but the fact
Should be overlooked that even with this reduc-
tion the average wages are still much higher than III
nnv of the other great industries. The earnings In
some departments are exceptionally high; for In
stance, the average net earnings OF barroers In ali
the Pttsburg mills is Sl5 o5 per day, and the net
earnings In wire rod rolling even higher than
this Mr.. Warmers table contains several Items in
regard to reductions in wages said to have been made
In the Rhode Island and Fail River cotton mills In
November 100. and In 1891. | can say on the
authority Of the representatives Of the mills in Ques
ton that these statements are entirely untrue. and
that such reductions took place.
"Mr Warmers list is largely made up Of similar in
consequential and absurd statements. Contentious be-
tween employers and employees over rates Of wages,
hours Of employment. etc. in times Of pros
perity and in periods of business depressions No
country in the world is free from them. and their re-
eurrence does not usually indicate hostile relations.
They are not the OutgrOwth Of any revenue system,
but their number and importance have been. as have
shown reduced 10 a minimum under recent protective
legislation.
ALLEGED AGRICULTURAL rRosTRAT-oN.
"The next statement by the Senator from Missouri
10 which shall call attention is that there has never
been such prosraon Of agricultural interests
effected by the act Of 1890 In support OF this state
ment no evidence whatever was submitted. No as
sertion could be more Numerically opposed 10 the
actual facts Of the than this. In no class OF
people in the United states has the improvement In
condition has marked in the farmers during
the period under consideration The relative condition OF
agricultural interests shown by the Inquiry Of the FL
nance Committee to which have already alluded Is
briefly this The prices received for farm products subse
quent 70 the passage OF the act OF 1890 shows an
average Increase all crops Of 1897 per cent. The
percentage Of increase many important articles
corn, for instance at Al per centwas greatly above
this average. II will be by an examination of the
report of the committee that the advance in the
average price OF all cereals. the computation being
made according TO their relative Importance. was $3.50
per cent. The price received TO? meats Of all kinds
averaged per cent higher In September, 1891. than
In June, 1880.
The most striking result shown by the inquiry was
the fact chat while there considerable decline IN
the prices OF manufactured articles which enter into