The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-05-03
INCOME
Continned lrom page Three.

Continued from Page Three.
rates is estimated all the way from
1.44 to 80 per cent. The exact In
crease cannot be known until the last
administrative feature of the bill has
been incorporated, which will prob
ably be in the few minutes just pre-
ceeding the passage Of the measure.
To understand what the real mean
ing of an increase OF tariff rates over
the Dingley law is to the consumer,
the record OF the effect of the Dingley
tariff is interesting.
Dunn's commercial agency has for
years kept careful track of prices of
the commodities which are Of general
daily consumption The cost of liv.
liag increased i7.4 per cent. during the
ten years of the Dingley tariff pre-
ceeding 1907 What could be bought
for S7s45 in July, 1897, cost $1O679 in
June 1906. The rise was steady and
gradual.
While wages during the same
period increased nominally 1S per
| cent Jut tObl VI Alfihb ihNiSuoNN
29.4 per cent in advance of wages
The Statistical Abstract of the
United States shows the effect OF the
Dingley law on various commodities.
In reading each of the following COM
parisons it should be borne in mind
the present tariff bill materially in
creases the Dingley tariff:
Breadstuffs costing $1050 in 1895
cost S18.16 i'm 1907. Meats costing S7.05
in 1896 cost S9.G4 in 1907 Dairy and
garden costing SLS7 in 1896 cost
$14.46 in 1907 Other food costing
$3.50 in 1896 cost S9.S2 in 1907.
Clothing costing $3.50 in 1896
cost S20.1O in 1907. Metals costing
1928 in 1896 cost $l752 in 1907.
Miscellaneous items costing $13.52 in
1895 cost S19,24 in 1907.
"The increase of the cost of wear
ing apparel and foodstuffs under the
Dingley tariff was gradual and
steady" said Hon. James NJ. Graham
of Illinois, in a master tariff speech
IN the House. Figures speak elo-
quently of the absolutely scientific
manner in which the worltngman's
wages are reduced in fact, although
the unions have been able to obtain
slight nominal increase. They give
the laborer IS cents with one hand
and take AZ cents from him with the
other.
The condition of labor at the end
of ten years operation of the Dingley
tariff was shown at meeting of the
prominent labor men of the country
at the Office of Former Secretary of
Commerce and Labor Oscar S. Straus,
on Feb. TO- 1909.
Samuel Gompers, on behalf OF the
American Federation of Labor, re-
ported that he had Asent out circular
letters to the executive officers of the
international trade unions in Decem-
ber, 1908, and from the replies gath
cred the following information
| Blacksmiths, 30 per cent unemploy-
ed, those employed averaging about
four days a week carpenters, 40 per
cent unemployed; cigar makers, 10
per cent unemployed; commercial
telegraphers, 80 per cent unemployed
freight handlers. 80 per cent unem-
ployed; freight handlers, 80 per cent.
unemployed hod carriers and build
ing laborers, so per cent. unemployed; ;
butcher worlImen, 40 per cent unem-
| ployed, tobacco workers, working on
two-thirds time; iron moulders, 10
per cent. unemployed.
Alr. Gompers, i am sure It is not an
exaggeration to say that there are
now in our country. and have been
with very little variation since Octo-
Ger, 1907, nearly 100000 wage earn
ers unemployed.
Secretary Straus: Do you mean
that before that period those 100000
wage earners were employed?
| Mr.. Gompers; | do, sir.