Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-23
PRESS COMMENTS.
Labor and Wages.
IN. Y, Tribune.)

The American Protective Tariff League
has been investigating the wages actually
paid in large number of establishments
during the first half of this year and OF
the four previous years. Its returns en-
brace both the number of hands employed
at different periods and the percentage of
wages paid. AS respects the number of
hands, the returns from nearly 500 estab-
lishmcnts in S5 different industries show
that In 1892, January to June 30, there
were employed 90, All, and that the num-
Der was reduced in the same months of
1894 to IS, $50, but that in 1895 it has in
creased to &c., 0S6. The decrease in 1894
was 20 per cent, and in 1895, notwithstand-
ing recent improvement, the number of
hands appears to be 49,. 3 per cent less than
in 1892, the last year of full prosperity
under the Republican tariff.
Again as to the percentage of wages
paid, returns are given from 455 different
establishments. embracing practically the
same industries as are reported in respect
to the number of hands employed The
facts show that the average of wages was
per cent. higher in 1892 than in 1890 So
that the remarkable gain under the pro-
tective tariff which the census returns Of
1890 demonstrated continued during the
two following years under the tariff of
1890. But In 1898 the average of wages
paid in the same establishments was p per
cent less than in 1892, and the improve
ment during the last six months, al
though considerable and to wage earners
most gratifying, still leaves the average of
wages II per cent less than in 1892
Tho American Economist adds that
while these reported advances in wages
have been diligently announced, nothin g
has been heard of the far more numerous
instances wherein the wage earners have
not been so fortunate.
1t will not be assumed by anybody that
these returns, covering only about 500 out
OF many thousand establishments, neces
sarily represent with great accuracy the
aggregate change in number of hands
employed or in wages of labor. Indeed,
some of the items are apparently open to
question, either because possibly based
upon an insufficient number of returns,
II because apparently contrary to other
nfol nation Prluters' errors, not carried
into the tabulation of the league are pos
sibly responsible in some instances But
with all reasonable allowance for defects
in such a statement the fact remains that
a report covering greater number of
hands, In greater number of establish
ments and employments, than have ever
been included in previous reports of q
similar character, shows that the advance
thus far effected in wages of labor since
the beginning of this year has been com.
paratively small as respects the entire
body, and still leaves the average paid to
labor II per cent lower than in lS92-the
last year OF full prosperity under the Re.
publican tariff. 1t further appears that
in the large number of establishments re.
porting the material increase in number
of hands, which revival of business this
year has permitted, there are new ertheless
left without employment about IS pei
cent Of the persons employed three year.
ago 1t is only fair to infer that a cor
responding percentage of decrease has moi
appeared In all occupations, although IL
most manufacturing works 1t is PROBABLE
that the figures given are fairly repre-
| sentative.
| One other fact, which the league doe.
not bring out in its statement as clea, II
as 1t deserves tosbe brought out, is ths
the decrease has been very great in man,
important industries, although in few
owing to exceptional conditions. the mum
Der of hands employed is as large as O.
larger than it was three years ago. Thes
marked differences in the condition of i'm
portant industries may readily be trace,
to the laundering defects of the tariff