The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-05-15
A USELESS THREATENING.

It is a curious hit of strategy that
some Of the Democrats propose as n
bracer TO their revision of the tariff
l law on apti-protection lines. There
have been intimations that some of
the manufacturing concerns of this
country might have 30 reduce The
wages of their employees in order to
make themselves good for losses in
flicted upon them by the tariff re-
vision. Some concerns talk of closing
their Establishments. One big concern
has already closed, but Il is not stated
that the proposed tariff cuts arc the
reason Of the closing. But there is
general talk that the wages will have
TO be cut in manufacturing establish
meuts where the tariff is heavily re
iuced.
To meet this bill has been intro.
duced IN Congress which contemplates
prosecution of any concern that cuts
the wages OF its employees by reason
OF the reductions in the tariff.
This sort of thing is good deal like
the old decree OF Frederick the Great,
where he adulterated the coinage and
threatened death to those who refused
to receive the debased coinage at face
value. But the laws of economics and
Of trade were too great even for the
King S decree, and the adulteratcd
money fell in value in precise ratio
with its adultcration. So in this case.
no matter how many threats may be
of their employees on account Of the
tariff reductions will be prosecuted,
the threat Will have no effect. The
truth Of the business is that where
manufacturing concerns for any reason
are running on close margins now, If
they are dependent upon the tariff pro
lection for what little margin they
have, they will either have to cut
wages or close down. And no legis.
lation can prevent this, Threats of in
vestigation and prosecution in case of
wage-cuts and Of criminal proceedings
in case of shut-downs will not in fact
cause men to run their plants at
loss. No law, no legislation, no gov
ernmental proceedings, can compel
people to run a business when they are
losing money by it.
IL is held that the purpose of these
threats is not to intimidate nor to
harshly use the manufacturers, but
only to make them come TO reason, to
compel them to reduce their profits in
stead of cutting the wages Of their om
ployees. In so far as any case may be
shown where undue profits are realized.
there might be some reason in The |
proposition TO pass legislation bringing
to account those who urge the revision
of the tariff as a reason for unjust |
aud oppressive acts. But where there |
is no enormous profit, where the mar
GIN is small, as is often the case, and |
where The production is made under !
difficulties and yields but small profits, |
it would be ruin to the manufacturers
to prosecute them simply because they
bad undertaken such means rs were
possible to keep their plants going.
j uc SuCcJ OF a. laW threatening pros |
,cution Of manufacturers who take
means TO protect themselves. urging the
'ut in the tariff as the reason why
hey took those means, would simply
hasten the disaster which the Democrats
who propose this legislation evidently
tear; for IL is a sure case that if a
manufacturing company is put to the
;hoice whether il will stand a prose
,ution for reducing the wages of its
Employees or shut down, very often the
'hoice will be in favor of shutting
down; and if the prosecution is then
brought it viii be easy TO show the
justice of the act OF the company. Or,
+ the company would not be justified
D shutting down, 1t would probably be
obliged to continue. and if the divi.
lends or profits were in fact excessive.
he law might compel them to cut those
profits. But it is altogether more
likely that the general effect Of the
aw would be disastrous, and would
iasten the very cslamities which nom.
D1llU II oepl--. ~,