[Correspondence AMERICAN ECONOMIST ] WASHINGTON, D. C., March 16, 1899.Within the past few days public men in Washington have received circular letters from the " American Chamber of Commerce" in Paris, accompanied by resolutions of that body, requesting assistance in securing from this country a treaty of commerce with France based upon the fourth section of the Dingley Tariff. The proposition is that in return for the advantages proposed to be granted under section four of our Tariff France shall grant to the producers and exporters of the United States the minimum Tariff rates on all American products exported to France. The statement is made in this connection that, notwithstanding the fact that American products are subjected to much higher rates in the French custom houses than are goods imported from England and the continental countries of Europe, on account of the fact that 31 of these countries have made special arrangements with France respecting Tariff rates, thereby enabling them to secure the minimum Tariff charge, "an increasing demand undoubtedly exists in this country for American goods." It is proposed by the chamber as a means for securing these reduced rates, aggregating, it is claimed, an average reduction of 25 per cent., that reciprocal concessions shall be made by this country by way of treaty agreement. Attention is called to the provision which limits the time under which this proposed reciprocal trade treaty can be made under the section of the Dingley law, to the date of July 24 next, and the American chamber in

Paris is urging upon the American people to hasten the consummation of such a treaty before that date.

Special interest attaches to the report by the British commercial attache at the court of Berlin, concerning the growth of German trade and industry during the past twenty years, and especially since the introduction of effective Protective Tariff rates in Germany. The report is reproduced in the current number of the Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finance of the Treasury Department. It is especially interesting to observe with what tact and care the British authority, in compiling the report, which is an able and exhaustive one, attempts to discount the effects of the German Protective rates in producing the increases in the trade of that empire. Considerable space is given to showing the influences of the subsidy policy inaugurated by Germany, mainly in the direction of mail subsidies for steamship lines, in augmenting the shipbuilding and carrying trade of the empire. A complete history of the Tariff changes made by Germany during the past twenty years is incorporated, and while it is sought to be shown that the rates are not very Protective, and only upon a few lines, mainly woolens, textiles and agricultural products, one may learn, from an examination of the appended tables giving the comparative changes in the imports to Germany from Great Britain, and the general trade of the German empire during the past ten years, that the advantages are mainly on the side of the thrifty German producers and manufacturers. For example, in a list of twenty articles mentioned by the British authority, covering only leading exports of Great Britain into Germany, ten years ago and two years ago, it is observed that there were heavy declines in such exports on more than half the items mentioned, and increases, heavy in many instances, are noted mainly on those lines of productions as have been left with lower duties on account of the desire of the Germans to admit of noncompeting products, such as coal, &c. The tables giving the comparative trade changes between the German empire and all other countries of the world indicate an increase in trade on almost every line of industry mentioned.

The indications are that the receipts of the United States Treasury on account of customs during the current month will be far above the average for March in recent years. The first ten days of the month show customs receipts of seven and a half millions of dollars, and the officials of the Treasury are expecting an increase each day during a greater part of the remaining portion of the month.

The preliminary figures as to the ex

ports for February of the leading articles including breadstuffs, mineral oils, cotton and provisions, show that the export trade of the country is maintaining the high record set during the past year. While the exports of these lines show a falling off compared with the corresponding month of last year, it is interesting to observe that the changes are caused mainly by difference in price, rather than by any diminution in the foreign demand. In respect to cotton there is a marked improvement in price, but the export price of wheat showed a decline. The totals of the manufactures list, will, it is believed, when completed show a healthy increase, as the percentages compiled up to this time show an increase of 2 per cent., compared with the exports of a year ago. The totals of the leading agricultural exports, including mineral oils, show an increase of from 69 per cent. of the total, to 71 per cent. of the total during last month.

It is expected that as soon as the military occupation of the Philippines has been accomplished preliminary reports will be made by the commission sent to the islands by President McKinley. Immediately following that report efforts will be made by our Government to establish a new customs Tariff for the islands with a view to re-establishing the trade of that distant possession, as has been done, with such excellent results, in the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico. That there will be a prompt and healthy increase in the trade of the United States with all these islands is foreshadowed by the results in Hawaii, although Congress did not complete the work of annexation by giving to the Hawanan people the advantages of the new code of laws prepared for them by the American commission. But conditions of trade in Hawaii are steadily improving, and they were bettering even during the time when the annexation plans were pending before the United States Congress. During the early part of last year a decided improvement was noticed. For the first nine months of that year there was an increase of more than a million dollars in the trade of the islands compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. A large part of the increase in Hawaiian trade is upon lines of goods which have long been admitted free of duty from the United States, and which will continue to have these advantages under the new relations.

What It Means.

There's no mistaking the meaning of all these announcements of advances in the wages of the miners and the factory operatives. It means that prosperity is really here with both feet.Boston "Herald," Free-Trade.

LABOR'S SHARE.

The Tide of Prosperity Has Begun to Reach the Men Who Work for Wages.

An Advance in Pay Rolls by a Large Number of Manufacturing Establishments.

More Than a Quarter of a Million Artisans Thus Far Benefited by the Increase.

Tin Plate Trust Advances Wages. CINCINNATI, OHIO, March 2.-Manager S. M. Goodman of the Cincinnati plant of the American Tin Plate Company, at Riverside, near here, received word this afternoon that the wages of nearly all of the employees of the so-called Tin Plate Trust had been advanced from 5 to 10 per cent. from March 1. The only wages not advanced are those of the men working under the regular scale prices. The notice was read to the men at the works and received with cheers. This plant was formerly that of the Cincinnati Rolling Mill & Tin Plate Company.

Increased Wages in Catasauqua. CATASAUQUA, PA., March 2.-The Crane Iron Company yesterday put in blast the third of its four furnaces at this place, and also increased the wages of its 400 employees 10 per cent.

65,000 Hands Affected. BOSTON, March 2.-Up to to-day cotton mills, employing in all nearly 65,000 hands, have announced a restoration of wages amounting to an average of 11 per cent. on April 3. The spindles represented by these mills amount to nearly half the total in New England.

In addition to the increase in the Fall River, New Bedford and Rhode Island corporations, increases of wages are announced by the Chicopee, Blackstone, Farnumsville and Readville, Mass., mills and cotton mills in Eastern Connecticut.

10,000 Hands Affected. MANCHESTER, N. H., March 2.-The directors of the Amoskeag Corporation voted to-day to restore the wages of 1897 after Monday, April 3. The increase amounts to more than 10 per cent. The company operates one of the largest cotton manufacturing plants in the world and employs 10,000 hands. It is expected that the other cotton mills here will adopt the schedule of 1897.

5,000 Hands Affected. LAWRENCE, MASS., March 2.-The Pacific Mills, the largest in this city, is to restore the wage schedule of its 5,000 employees to that of a year ago.

1,000 Hands Affected. MARTIN'S FERRY, OHIO, March 2.The American Tin Plate Company have

notified employees of local plants of the voluntary increase in wages of from 5 to 10 per cent. One thousand men are affected.

A GENERAL ADVANCE.

Raise at Naumkeag Mills, When the operatives of the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Mills of Salem went to work yesterday they found posted in a prominent place in all the mills a notice of an advance of wages, to take effect April 3. The advance will be a graded one, and is practically a restoration of the cut of January, 1898. The authorities say that while there has been almost no increase in the prices of the grade of goods manufactured-a high grade and extra width-the general tendency of the cotton market and the hopeful outlook of business seems to warrant making the advance in wages. About 1,500 hands will be affected by the new prices.-Boston "Journal."

More Wages in Early April. WEBSTER, MASS., March 7.-Cards were posted to-day in the large cotton factory at North Webster and the cambric works at East Webster, both estab-' lishments the property of H. N. Slater, announcing that the general cut-down of 20 per cent. imposed in January, 1896, would be restored the second week in April. The increase affects 1,000 hands.

1,200 Hands Benefited. FITCHBURG, MASS., March 7.-The Parkhill Manufacturing Company today announced an advance in wages, to take effect April 3. The amount of the increase is not stated, but it will be fixed as soon as Treasurer and Manager A. H. Howe, who is away, returns home. He has visited the markets of the country and finds that the conditions warrant the new prices. About 1,200 hands are affected.

Going with the Rest. WHITINSVILLE, MASS., March 7.-Notice was given this afternoon that the Whitinsville Cotton Mills Company would increase the wages of its operatives 10 per cent., to take effect April 3. 10 Per Cent. Advance. 7.-The ZANESVILLE, OHIO, March Ohio Iron Company have notified its employees of a 10 per cent. advance in wages on April 1.

Wages Increased 10 Per Cent. GREENVILLE, PA., March 7.-Notices have been posted at Kimberley's Rolling Mill announcing an increase of 10 per cent. in wages in all departments except tonnage men, whose wages are controlled by the Amalgamated Association. Twenty furnaces are in operation, and more will be put on in a few days. It is reported that the new steel trust is negotiating for the plant.

SYRACUSE, March 7.-The Economy

Foundry of this city has granted the demands of Iron Moulders' Union, No. 60, and will hereafter employ only union men. An increase of 10 per cent. in wages is also granted. About 100 men are affected.

Wages Restored to Former Basis. BRUNSWICK, MAINE, March 7.-Notices were issued at the Cabot Cotton Mills to-day announcing an increase in wages, on April 3, equal to the reduction made in January, 1898. About 1,000 hands are affected.

Will Follow the Lead of Fall River. Robert A. Knight, who controls nearly half a million spindles in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, J. W. Danielson, treasurer of several of the largest factories in Eastern Connecticut, and a number of other mill agents, stated Wednesday that a restoration in wages in mills controlled in Providence will be made conforming as to date and amount with that decided upon in Fall River Monday. The Chace mills, the Corr Manufacturing Company, the Quinnebaug, Lockwood, Wauregan and Farnumsville, it is announced, are also to restore wages at the same date of the Fall River mills. There cannot be much question that all of the mills in New England will in the near future follow the lead of Fall River.-Boston "Journal of Commerce."

More Than 3,000 Men Affected. PITTSBURGH, PA., March 4.-The Schoen Pressed Steel Company of Allegheny advanced wages in all departments to-day from 5 to 10 per cent. This increase will benefit more than 3,000 men, and will end the strike of the punchers and riveters.

Advance All Along the Line. BOSTON, March 7.-Reports continue to come in of an advance of wages of mill employees all along the line. The Hamilton Mills, at Amesbury, will restore the old schedule April 3 to their 800 hands.

The Paul Whitin Company, at Rockdale and North Bridge, employing 600 hands, increase wages 10 per cent. April 6. The Parkerill Manufacturing Company of Fitchburg, 1,200 operatives, will raise wages April 3. The York Corporation, at Saco, Maine, is soon to increase the pay of 1,500 employees, and the Cabot Mills, at Brunswick, Maine, (Continued on page 129.)