TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 665 
late Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Hanbury, the excise duty would bring in 8,600,0002., 
z.e., a total of 12,300,0007. 
The figure, however, here used for home-raised cattle is probably exaggerated, 
and on an estimate based on the figures of the Select Committee of 1892 on the 
marking of foreign meat, and bringing these figures up to date, the excise duty 
would yield 4,500,000/., or a total revenue of 8,200,000/,, z.e., considerably more 
than the sugar-tax now yields. 
The erection of public slaughter-houses is in itself desirable, and has been found 
to act well in Germany, even communities of 2,000 to 3,000 inhabitants having 
their own slaughter-house, smaller villages joining together in a common slaughter- 
house. 
The tax is only advocated as a substitute for, and not as an addition to, the 
sugar-tax. At present the question probably lies outside the range of practical 
politics; but if the country ultimately decides to retain its present fiscal system, 
and finds itself still face to face with the problem of finding the best means of 
raising revenue to meet its enhanced expenditure, the suggestion contained in this 
paper may be deemed worthy of attention. 
€ 
3. Some Features of the Labour Question in America. 
By ©. J. HaAmirron. 
‘Within two years there will be the greatest conflict between organised 
labour and organised capital that the U.S.A. has yet seen. This prophecy, 
made by President Hadley last autumn, is in process of verification. It may be 
of interest to examine briefly some chief points in the situation. The immediate 
cause of the conflict is the general depression of trade, in consequence of which 
employers are reducing wages and dismissing hands. The unions, which have 
probably doubled their numbers since 1900, are opposing reduction and seeking 
shorter hours. 
The true ground of the struggle is, however, the question of union recognition 
and the union shop. ‘The discussion of the situation requires reference to :— 
I. Some general considerations. 
a. Industrial conditions in U.S.A. are very various, differing as widely as 
the Lancashire of 1845 and of to-day. 
6. The working population comprises members of many nationalities, 
rapidly Americanised, but retaining a variety of foreign traditions. 
ce. The negro problem is often acute, and will become more so. 
d. The industrial laws of the several States vary widely. They are in 
most cases far behind England and Germany in respect of factory 
laws, workmen’s compensation, &c. 
Ii. Union organisation. 
a. Leadership. 
Often characterised by 
i, Absence of a prolonged training. 
ii. Irish nationality. 
iii, Frequent resignation to undertake employing functions. 
iy. Evolution of the labour boss. 
6. Following. 
Shares the English characteristic of being generally impatient of 
slow development, and careless of properly exercising the functions 
of a democracy. 
Their aim is becoming, increasingly, social equality rather than 
purely industrial amelioration. 
