Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-12-21
PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
Summary Of the Presidents Mes
sage to Congress.
He Discusses Protection and Reciprocity.
and Advises That Tariff Revision Be
Left to the Next Congress-
The Departments.
The Message.

dents message sent to congress on the
5th:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
In submitting my annual message to congress
have great satisfaction In being able to say
that the general condition affecting the com
mercial and industrial interests Of the United
States are in the highest degree favorable In
comparison OF the existing conditions with
those Of the most favorable period in the his
tory OF the country will, believe, show that Sc
high degree Of prosperity and so general q
ciffusion Of the comforts of life were never be
fore enjoyed by our people.
The total wealth OF the country In 1860 was
tl6 l59 6le,06S in 1890 II amounts to f62 6lO OOO
900, an increase of a8S per cent
The total mileage OF railways in the United
States In 1859 was 30, ,626 in 1880 II was l67 741
TN increase Of 4SS per cent; and 1t Is estimated
there will be about 1910 miles Of track added
oy the close OF the year Of 1892 The official
returns OF the eleventh census and those of the
tenth census for seventy five leading cities fur
nished the basis for the following comparisons:
In 1880 the capital invested In manufacturing
was II ,232, S3o 60 In 189J the capital invested
in manufacturing was a., 800 735, al4 In 1886
the number OF employees was 1901, 1888. In 1896
the number Of employees was ,134. In 1886
the wages earned were SOL ,965 77S. In 1890 the
wages earned were 81, ,221, no. I54 In 1880 the
value of the product was S2,711, ,57e, 800 In 1896
the value OF the product was a, $50, 2S6 63z
when work was so abundant or when wages
were so high, whether measured by the cur.
rency in which they are paid, or by their power
TO supply the necessaries and comforts of life
1t Is true that the market prices Of cotton
and wheat have been low. It Is one OF the
unfavorable incidents Of agriculture that the
farmer cannot produce upon orders. He must
SOW and reap in ignorance of the aggregate pro-
duction OF the year, and is peculiarly subject to
the depreciation which follows over production.
But while the facts have stated are true as to
the crops have mentioned, the general aver
age OF prices has been such as to give to agri-
culture a fair participation in the general pros
perity. The value of our total farm products
has increased from 81, 1863 646 s66 in 1850 to e.
100000, 600 in 1891, as estimated by statistcians
an increase Of s3O per cent The number of
hogs January l. 1891, was SC, ,625, 1O5 and their
value s2l0, l9s,925. On January 1, 1892, the num-
Der was 81, 39S 0l9 and the value f241 e31 Ala On
January ], 1891, the number of cattle was 50 :
5,o4s and the value S54i1 ,9Oa On January
!, 1892 the number was 81 ,651 ,23e and the value
l57O, 749,155
believe that the protective system which
now for something like thirty years has pre-
vailed in our legislation has been o mighty In
strument for the development of our national
wealth and most powerful agency in protect
ing the homes Of our workingmen from the in
vasion Of want I have felt most solicitous
interest to preserve to our working people
rates OF wages that would not only give daily
bread, but supply comfortable margin for
those home attractions and family com
forts and enjoyments without which life
is neither hopeful nor sweet They are Amer
tcan citiZens-a part of the great people for
whom our constitution and government were
framed and instituted and 1t cannot be q per-
version Of that cons tftution to so legislate as
to preserve in their homes the comfort, inde-
pendence, loyalty and sense of interest in the
government which are essential to good citi-
za1C In md vChin will hrirc han Tn
to the defense Of the flag when it is assalled
1t is not my purpose to renew here the argu-
ment in favor OF d protective tariff The result
of the recent election must be accepted as hav-
ing introduced a new policy. We must assume
that the present tariff, constructed upon the
lines Of protection, is to be repealed and that
there is TO be substituted for it tariff law
constructed solely with reference to revenue;
that no duty is to be higher because the IN
crease will keep open an American mill
or keep up the wages of an American work
man, but that in every case such a rate Of duty
is to be imposed as will bring the treasury
Of the United States the largest returns of
revenue. The contention has not been between
schedules, but between principles and it would
be offensive TO suggest that the prevailing party
will not carry into legislation the principles ad.
| vocated by 1t and the pledges given to the peo
| pie.
/ recommend that the whole subject OF tariff
revision be left to the incoming congress 1t il
a matter of regret that this work must be de
| layed for at least three months, for the threat
OF great tariff changes introduces SO much un-
certainty that an amount not easily estimated, OF
business inaction and of diminished production
will necessarily result. 1t is possible also that
| this uncertainty may result in decreased reve-
nues from customs duties. for our merchants will
| make cautious orders for foreign goods in view
of the prospect of tariff reductions and the un-
certainty as to when it will take effect
! The strained and too often disturbed relations
| existing between the employees and employers
/ in our great manufacturing establishments
| have not been favorable to q consideration by
| the wage Garner of the effect upon wages Of the
protective system.
The fact that his wages were the highest
paid in the like callings of the world and that
| maintenance of this rate of wages in the alb
| sence Of protective duties upon the product o
| his labor, was impossible, were obscured by
| the passion evoked by these contests. He may
| now be able to review the question in the ligh
| Of his personal experience under the operation
| Of a tariff for revenue only. II that experience
| shall demonstrate that present rates of wage.
/ are thereby maintained or increased, either alb
| solutely or In their purchasing power and tina
| the aggregate volume of work to be done in thi!
| country Is increased or even maintained; tina
| there are more or as many days work In yea
| at as good or better wages for the American
| workman as has been the case under the pro
| tective system every one will rejoice A gen
| eral process OF wage reduction cannot be con
templated by any patriotic citizen without thi
gravest apprehension.
| ReIations with ForeiRu Powera.