Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-06
Editorial Comment
The Granite Industry in the Third
District.
(Portland Evening Expressly


cortland Evening Express)
Dry reports of Congressional action
sometimes uncover facts of startling
human interest to groups of people.
For instance. the Washington report of
yesterday dealing with the long drawn
out contest over the enactment of a
tariff law, notes that the only vote
Ito which the Senate came on the day
In question was on an amendment Of
fered by Senator Gallinger of New
Hampshire to increase the proposed
duties on granite and other monument
al and building stone.
, The Democratic tariff makers have
cut this duty onc-haf on polished
stone while on the rough stone the
Democrats proposed duty OF only
three cents per cubic foot. Senator
Gallinger's amendment did not ask for
the retention of the present duty be-
cause probably he realized that such
amendment would be impracticable.
but he asked only that the duties be
reduced 20 per cent and that amend
ment was lost by strict party vote
except that one Western senator. elect
ed as a Republican joined the Demo-
Gratis in support of lower duties.
In the State of Maine in 1909, accord
ing to the last official census, the val
ne of the granite product was sf,161,-
sol. There was paid to the wage earn
ers. which under census classification
does not include salaried officers of cor
porations, superintendent. managers.
clerks. or any other salaried employees,
81, f67, 1s6 sum almost equal to the
Nhn 10
available statistics, those given in the
report of the labor commissioner OF
Maine for 1902, show that the rate OF
wages at that time among the work
ers in the granite industry was as fol-
lows: Granite cutters $50 to 500;
uuarrymen Site to 81; blacksmlths,
| 81. 50: common laborers. s1.50 to Sl.'o;
other la borers $1.75 to $3.50; paving
cutters generally make from $2.25 to
$3.50 per day.
The ability to ray these wages arises
from the fact that the Government had
placed discriminating duties upon the
product brought to these shores from
other lands where men work for very
much less money than they could re-
ceive at this same occupation mere.
The first and inevitable result OF the
cut in the tariff duties on granite must
be a reduction for the man who works
for daily pay, if the industries are to
proceed at all
Now the practical application of these
facts comes home with especial force
to the voters in the Third Maine DIS
triet who are to choose member OF
Congress on the Sth day of next Sep
TEMPER Whether men are engaged IN
the granite industry directly or only
indirectly profit by it because of the
sums of money which are paid to the
laborers. and are used for the support
of their families in many parts OF the
Third District the question of wages
of the granite cutters is a vital one
Hallowelrs greatest source OF revenue
| is the granite quarries there. The same
| is true of Frankfort. Important quar-
| ries are being operated at Addlson'
! Red Beach, Blue Hill, North sullivan
I Swanvile, So. Brooksviile, Mt. Desert,
| Machias, Stonington, Jonesbofo, ped
ham. Deer ISLE Eden. Penobscot. Coop
er, Meddybemps and Jonesport. All the
voters of these towns prosper as the
granite industry prospers and they VIII
suffer as the granite industry suffers.
nr. Galinger and Senator Dillingham;
of Vermont, both of whom tried hard to
have the reduction less fatal. come
from granite producing states and
know the Importance to the people as a
whole that the industry be not crippled
by this cut in the tariff rates.
John A. Peters of Ellsworth and VIII
| liam r. Pattangall of Waterviile are
| running fer Congress with this tariii
| bill as an issue. If Mr.. Peters were a
| member of Congress now. he Wouio
| vote to retain the tariff on granite, OF
| if that were possible, to keep the tarii'
| rates as near the present rate as pos