New-York tribune., 1895-09-19
JiRDR AND WAGES.

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 embrace both the number Of hands
employed at different periods and the percent
age Of wages paid. As respects the number Of
hands. the returns from nearly 800 establish
mcnts in ~ different industries show that in
1S92 January to June 80 there were employed
g2.41l. and that the number was reduced in the
same months Of 1894 to Gs.330, but that in 1895
il has increased to SO,OSG. The decrease in 1894
was 20 per cent and In lS95, Notwithstanding
recent Improvement. the number Of hands ap-
pears 10 be 1873 per cent less than In 1892. the
last year Of full prosperity under the Repub
can tariff.
Again as 10 the percentage Of wages paid. re-
turns are given from 40 different establish
mcnts. embracing practically the same Industries
~ are reported in respect 10 the number Of hands
employed. The facts show that the average OF
wages was > per cent higher in 1892 than In
1880. so that the remarkable gain under the pro-
tectlve tariff which the census returns Of 1870
demonstrated continued during the two follow
inc years under the tariff Of 1890 But in 1893
the average of wages paid in the same establish
mcnts was II per cent less than in 1892. and the
Improvement during the last six months. al
though considerable and to wage-earners most
gratifying still leaves the average Of wages II
Dcr cent less than In 1892 The American
Economist" adds that while these reported nd-
..yanccs in wages have been diligently an
"nounced, nothing has been heard Of the far
'morc numerous instances wherein the wage
"earners have not been SO fortunate"
II will not be assumed by anybody that these
returns. covering only about 900 out OF many
thousand establishments. necessarily 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
70 question. either because possibly based upon
nm insufficient number Of returns, or because mp
norenily contrary TO other information. Print
nrs' errors not carried into the tabullton Of the
Ieopue. are possibly responsible in some in
stances But with all reasonable allowance for
defects I'm such a statement, the fact remains
that a report covering greater number Of
hands. In n greater number OF establishments
and cnployments. than have ever been Included
in nreyious reports OF a similar character, shows
that the advance thus far effected In wages of
labor since the beginning Of this year has been
comparatively snail as respects the entire body.
and still leaves tho average paid 10 labor IL per
cent lower than In 1S92-thc last year Of full
prosperlty under the Republican tariff. 1t fur
thpr appears that In the large number OF estab-
lshments reporting the material increase In
number Of hands, which revival Of business this
year has permitted, there are nevertheless left
without employment about Is per cent OF the
nersons employed three years ago. 1t IL only
fair 70 infer that a corresponding percentage Of
decrease has not appeared in al occupations.
although In most manufacturing works II is
probable that the figures given are fairly repre-
sentative.
One other fact. which the League does not
hiring ont in IT'S statement rs clearly as II de-
serves 10 be brought out. Is that the decrease has
been very great In many Important Industries,
although in few. owing TO exceptional condl-
tIons. the number Of hands employed Is as large
as or larger than 1t was three years ago. These