The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-01-13
INCREASE In WAGES.
REDUCTIONS IN COTTON MILLS
IN NEW ENGLAND.
The Latter Due 20 Competition In the
south, but in All other Branches
Wages Have Increased Since the
Passage of the Dingley Law.
washington letter.


England is not justified by the facts
brought to the surface here through
inquiry among members Of congress
representing the manufacturing sec
tions, both in the north and south.
There are now two distinct cotton
manufacturing districts, that of New
England. where the industry has been
ia existence for many years and that
of the south where mills have been es-
tablished within the past few years
and have made very rapid gains upon
their New England rivals by reason of
the advantages which the south offers
TO this especial line of manufacturing
Members from the south say frankly
that there can be no doubt Of
the practicability of making
cotton goods more cheaply in
that section than they can
be made in New England and that they
are not surprised that New England
manufacturers have found ii necessary
to make a reduction in wages in order
TO compete with the prices which
southern manufacturers are able 20
make. The southern manufacturer Jets
a larger number of hours for 4 Gay )
work than Is permitted by law in New
England, pays less for the days work,
gets cheaper fuel, is exempted from
taxation for long terms of years in
many cases, where special inducements
have been offered to bring about the
establishment of factories, has the cot
ton at his door, having to pay no
transportation charges between The
place OF production and the place of
manufacture. The fact that many New
England manufacturers have trans
ported their establishments to the
south, is pointed out by members Of
congress, both from the south as well
as those from New England as an ad-
ditional evidence of the advantages
which the south has over New Eng
land and the ability of the manufac-
turers of that section to force those of
New England to lower rates and as a
result, lower wages.
The disposition among certain OPP
ponents Of the Dingley law to make
political capital out of the reduction OF
wages in single industry has led to
an investigation by parties especially
interested in the subject of the condi-
ton of the manufacturing industries
Of the United States since the Dingley
law went into operation and especially
in the past month during which time
the reduction of wages of cotton en-
ployes in New England has been de-
cided upon. The net result of this
investigation will be placed before con-
gress shortly and will present some in
teresting facts both as to the improved
conditions in manufacturing circles,
the increase in wages and the contrast
which existed in the corresponding
period in the free trade administration
which preceded that of President Nc
Kinley.
Among the fact brought to the sur
face by this statement which will be
presented in congress will be figures
showing that cotton manufacturers in
the south obtain their labor at about
one-third less than those of New Eng
land, that they are exempted from tax
alton in many cases, that their fuel is
much less expensive, that the sites for
their factories are in many cases do
mated to them and accompanied in
other cases by additional advantages
and that the hours Of labor which are
recognized as a days work are nearly
% per cent more than those permitted
by law in New England.
Another interesting feature of this
statement is a presentation of some
facts showing that while this single
cotton industry in a single section has
been forced TO a reduction in wages,
the manufacturers in nearly all other
lines are justifying the predictions
which were made in 1896 that the re-
adoption of the protective tariff would
be followed by an increase in wages.
Following are few of the instances
of this character which are presented
as covering the past month only:
In fremont worstod mills, at Meth
uen, Mass, an increase in wages from
| 10 to 90 per cent.
At Youngstown, Ohio, glass works,
increase in wages 10 per cent, taking
effect Dec /.
Bachman G. Co, weaving establish
| ment. Philadelphia, increase wages
from to 8 per cent
Blast furnaces in Mahoning, Penn,
valley increases wages 10 per cent, be-
ginning Dec. /, affecting over 5000
| workmen.
Sharon, Pa, iron works, increase
| eroc. IN 70 nor cent