The herald., 1894-03-12
MANUFACTURERS AND THR DEPRRs-
SION.

olONe
The report OF the commissioner OF the
New York bureau of labor statistics
throws q softer light upon the effect of
hard times on manufacturers than we
had expected from the tone of the At
lantic state press. He began his in
vestigations in December last by send
ing circular letter to manufacturers Of
the state making inquiries on
the subject. He received replies from
2,011 manufacturing concerns in sixty
four geneval industries, which the Chi
esgo Herald briefly summarizes as fol-
lows:
OF the whole number responding 470,
or % per cent, state that they have not
been affected by business depression.
They have continued operations in their
factories. employing their usual work
ing force on full time. The other l,54l
report that they have been affected, some
more and some less. Of these l99 say
that their works have been entirely
closed. 1,0S7 that they have been partial
ly closed and 255 that they were entirely
closed for time, and then partially re-
opened with reduced force or on shorter
working time.
In regard to wages 494 establishments
report that they have made reductions,
1460 that they have not and 81 fail to
answer. The largest reduction Of wages
is in the clothing industry, whore 1t
ranges from to 6625 per cent. The
percentage OF employees working in
partially closed establishments ranges
from to 100 per cent. In 256 estab-
lishments all have been kept at work.
but on reduced time. In other estab-
liehments the reduction of force has
varied very widely. Without going
into details it will suffice to say that
744 establishments have kept so per
cent or more OF their forces employed,
while 252 have kept less than that per-
centsRe. Fifty-four concerns failed to
make returns as to the proportion OF
employees kept at work.
The showing is bad enough, but in re-
gard to wages it is by NO means so bad
as some people have claimed. In over
"a per cent OF the establishments re-
porting on that subject there has been
no reduction of wages at all.
As to the cause of the depression diff
fersnt opinions are expressed. Sons
manufacturers say it is uncertainty in
regard to the tariff. The prevailing
idea among those who express this
opinion is that the question should be
settled one way or the other. and that
when it is settled they will know just
what to do and they will soon be as
busy as ever. Some assert that if the
pending bill is passed they will have to
reduce wages, but perhaps an equal
number say that they will be able to
pay the same wages they have been pay
ing.
Other manufacturers say that in their
opinion the tariff has little or nothing
to do with the business depression.
They point ont that the depression is
experienced not only in this country,
but throughout the civilized world. and
therefore that it is foolish to attribute
it to prospective tariff changes in this
country alone. They take a broader
view, and find the cause of the trouble
in excessive production of manufactured
goods.
This view Is substantially correct.
This country has contributed it's full
share to the excessive production, or to
the unbslancing and arrangement OF
production, under the stimulus of the
protective tariff. Establishments have
been multiplied in consequence of the
eagerness of men to grasp the greatest
amount OF tariff spoil, and the result is
breakdown. Markets are overloaded
with the products of the favored and
pampered industries, and there must be
a readjustment of prod ction to demand
before the industrial world can resume
its former activity.