Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-10-18
LABOR And WAGES.
THE FALSITY OF FREE TRADE
CLAIMS CLEARLY SHOWN.

More Hands We're Employed and
Better Wages Paid Under the
Mckinley Law Than Under the
Wilson Act-Results of Thorough
Investigation.
Since the beginning of the present
year The free trade newspapers have
been busily engaged in reporting what
they were pleased to term "advances"
in wages. though in no single instance
has it been stated to what previous
rate of wages the "advance" related.
With view to ascertaining the facts,
the American Protective Tariff League
has undertaken an investigation to de-
termine the average number of hands
employed in different industries, dur
ing the first half Of the years 1899,
1894 and 1895, together with the per
centage of wages paid, therate of 1890
being taken rs full standard.
Almost 500 reports from eighty-fve
different industries were received, the
largest number of industries that ever
reported to any census made by the
League. AS forty OF the replies were
either unsigned, only partially filled
out, or both, the League omitted them
- Y from its calculations, leaving
lars representing the informa-
ton given by 456 different employers
of labor. The first list gives in detail
the number of hands employed. 1t
shows that the same industries en-
plovad $3.50 more hands IL 1892 than
in 1890, on increase of IL per cont.
In 1894 they employed 24,OS1 hands
less than 1892. decrease Of 26 per
cent. in the early part of 1895 they
employed II, 756 more hands than in
1894, but 12,325 less hands than in
1899 and 2795 less even than in 1890.
For 1895 the employment of labor
shows an increase of II per cent. as
compared with 1894, a decrease OF 13
per cent. as compared with 1892. and
decrease of 8 per cent. as compared
with 1890.
Next the League gives the percentage
of wages paid in 455 different indus
trinl establishments. Such percentage
| shows that the average Of wages paid
in 1892 was per cent. higher than in
low III lOJO Who ~ BSl SSht' sSoS
than in 1890 and II per cent. less than
in 1892 while for the 1895 period the
average rate of wages paid was IA per
cent. less than in 1890, II per cent.
| less than in 1892 and only per cent.
greater than in 1894. While those re.
ported advances" in wages have beer
diligently announced in the cases of
G. ,,,1, hot h,vn haaf m
ableo, make them, nothing has been
heard of the far more numerous other
instances wherein the wage earners
have not been SO fortunate.
Previous Investigations made by the
League were:
Mckinley census, October, 1892,
showing over $40, 900, 900 invested in
new or enlarged industries within two
years; also that work has been pro-
vided for 81, 2S5 additional hands.
Industrial census, October, 1893,
showing loss of 1920 per cent. in
the volume of trade as compared with
November. 1892; decrease of Coz
per sent. in the number of hands en-
ployed; a decrease of go per cent. in
! the amount of wages paid; aud dc.
crease of 1913 in the average weekly
earnings.
Industrial census, October, 1891.
showing decrease OF SO per cent. in
the output of factories us compared
with 1892; u falling OF of30 per cent.
| In the number of hands employed; u
falling of of 45 per cent. III the
amount OF wages earned; u decrease
Of S55 in average annual earnings.
These results eau be briefly tabu.
lated as follows:
M'KiSLEy c1ssus OF 1892.
Extra hands employed. ....... a7.2s,