The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-08-06
UNDERWOOD TARIFF
BLOW TO WAGES
American Protective Leagues In.
vestigation Shows $866,908
Shrinkage IN Week.

As a result of a careful investigation
made among the banks of the country,
the American Protective Tariff League
announces that there has been "a start
ling decrease in the income and pur-
chasing power of American wageearn-
ers following the enactment of the
Underwood free tariff law"
The officials of the league, in a for
NAL statement issued here. say the de-
drease in payroll checks passing through
the banks in the chef centers of in
dustry and business is the surest pos
sible proof of the serious plight that
free trade has inflicted upon the earning
and spending capacity of American
labor. This statement, in part, is as
follows:
This shrinkage in wage payments,
as reported by GA banks, amounted to
1866, 90S. Oh IN the third week in June,
1914, as compared with the third week
in June 1913, when the Payne protect
i've tariff was in operation. If the
same rate of decrease should apply for
the whole year from the ga banks re-
porting it would show a decrease of
wages paid amounting to S45, 079 2l6.5
If applied to all the banks of the
country for full year the shrinkage
would mount up into hundreds of mil
lions of dollars. 1t is a shrinkage that
is felt in every line of business. When
a free trade tariff thus reduces the
number and contents of American pay
envelops the calamity becomes nation
wide
Eighty-eight banks responded to the
letters sent out by the Tariff League
These banks are located IN the follow
ing states:
Connecticut Bristol, Danbury, Der
by, Hartford, Meriden and Rockville.
Delaware Wilmington.
Illinois Chicago. Aurora, Danville,
Pekin, Peoria.
Indiana South Bend, Terre Haute.
New Jersey-Jersey City, Newark,
Carlton Hill, New Brunswick, Passaic,
Trenton.
New York-New York city, Albany,
Buffalo, Binghamton, Johnstown.
Cincinnati Cleveland, Zanes-
vile, Youngstown,
Maine-Portland
Observation-Disclosures.
Massachusetts - Holyoke, Lynn
Springfield, New Bedford.
Michigan-Lansing.
Missouri-St Louis.
Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pitts
burg, Bristol, Harrisburg, Beaver
Falls, Hazelton.
Rhode Island Centerville.
Twenty four OF the SO banks respon
ding stated that their books were no
kept in such way as to give reliable
comparative statements, but GA bank
banks returned answers to the question
propounded. 1t is shown IN the officia
reports received that 43 banks had
decrease in their payroll checks for tn
third week in June, 1914, and q bank
reported an increase. The statemen
then, concludes:
''ln harmony with the last paragrap
of the letter of inquiry we canno
divulge the names of the banks re
porting, but the tabulated returns ir
dictate that the Ga banks referred t
above cashed payroll checks as follow
for the week ending June 81, 1913, an
June 20, 1914:
Payroll checks cashed
week ending June q,
1913. ..................$ SO, 1926 905.
Payroll checks cashed
week ending June 20,
1914. Observation-Disclosures. ,059, 997.
Decrease. ..............86 6, 9e8. {
"This falling off of 1856, 608.01 in
single week in wage payments throug
GA banks in A cities of the Unite
States is an index of conditions whic
no frse-trader can challenge and 7
theorist can explain away. 1t stant
out as big, bold fact of marked sit
nificanc. 1t tells, in part, the priC
which American labor and industry al
paying for the rash and reckless DO
itics of free trade Congress and a.
ministration.
at tells of closed mills and factorie
of idle workmen, of decreased busine
by merchants and tradesmen, of con
mercial failures larger in number al
amount of liabilities than at any tin
since the last freeitrade paralysis
1893-1897. The pay envelope is by f
the greatest single factor in America
prosperity. When free trade com
the pay envelope shrinks. Then pro
perity is changed to adversely. That
what has happened now. That is VIII
is disclosed in the reduced volume
payroll checks as reported by t
banks.
Chicken supper.
The Ferndale church will hold
chicken supper at the church, thr
n-I.