New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-20
oUlNINE: TIE PRICE AND THE DUTY.

Mr. j. 5. MOORE's QUEER IDEAS OF CAUSE AND
EFFECT
To the EdftOr. or The TrtbuRe.
SIR: In The Erening Post Of the 9TH inst. is
an article entitled "Quinine" written by Mr. j. 3
Moore / would be much obliged II you would permit
me- through your columns to call Nj. Moore's attention
to n few little discrepancies in his statements
Mr. Moore exceedingly particular to point ont prices
for sphac of quinne before and after the removal OF
the duty: but only relates to this country All
reference prices w'g in Europe for the correspond
ing periods is most sudiosy dropped The figures are
designed to demonstrate the general public, who know
next to nothing about subject that the removal OF the
duty caused low prices for quinine First he
shows high prices in 1877, 1873 ana 1875 then low
price. IN $780, 1881 l-s2 1883 and 1851 These are his
premises HIS conclusion is given, exutngly IN these
words, Thus, then, have reduced the price Of quin-
inc to Onc-hat, or less"
Let me supply the omission OF Mr.. Moore-for 1t is
quite an important onc-and prices in England and
Oh the Continent prior and subsequent to the removal Of
the duty In the United States For example, these prices
were quoted in London on May II, 1877;
Howard's English 16s. Cd in vias.
felsSrs is Sd t t''
This was before the removal of the duty in the United
States.
For example, again, these prices quoted in Lon
don, February rs. 1854:
Towards ENGLISH. IS in walls
peleters 90 S9 In In , yii'
This was after the removal Of the duty in the United
States.
ask Mr. Moore to note that English Quinlne sold in
London in February -s at los Cd less per ounce than
Il did in May 1877; French and German at about the
same difference The decline in price for :hese brands
of European quinine, in the London market was equva-
lent therefore TO about ~ 62l2 per ounce. go Mr..
Moore can say that ave brought prices down TO one
half or less only here but everywhere ave" GER
tanly accomplished wonders
Now 10 one knows better than Mr. Moore that the price
Of ounine Is low the world over. at the present time,
and that it was high abroad well here. in 1877,
1873 and 1879. ana challenge him to dispute my
figures. such being the case why does not Mr.. Moore
frankly admit what IS a well-knOwn fact And why
does ne keep back all reference to foreign quotations.
and restrict himself 10 those named In the United states
1t Is refreshing to him. doubt to tell the American
uubic that all this Is due to the removal Of 20 per cent
duty because very know anything about the matter
and he say what he peaseS to the uninforned with
out fear onradicon. But would like Mr. Moore to
tell thinner Jobst, or Towards or Boehrlnger, or any
qinine manufactures In Europe that his price In 1877
was los Cd per higher than 1t to-day, because
there 20 per cent duty on foreign quinne III the
1t il not Mr.. Moore nor the Congress of the United
States who cause quulne to rise and fall. Supply
and demand cost or crude materials etc these are the
factors. His long experience ~ n statlsclan may
able him to explain how the wipnS out of a duty Of 20
per In this country can reduce the price OF an article
go per cent all over the word.-no ono else would con
meet the two fRcts.
inc production I'm this country, the reduction OF
profits. American manufacturers know an about TINS
much better than does Mr. Moore. II Is simply fact
that the production here has fallen OF very much and
the importation of foreign Increased Immensely, ana
that Il all there Is about 1t.
II is fact that prices ruled at times, about low In
this country prior the removal Of the duty they
have since. Let go back-far beyond ls37-say for
example to 1891 when qunme sold down 10 ~ 80 per
ounce; to 1884, when it quoted ~ %; to 1897,
when sold at 81 30; to 1913 when IL touched 81 %
and lsGs. when It sold at ~ 30, although foreign
qunine dutiabo 40 per cent and bark WA dutiabc
20 per cent. IN the last named year. want Mr. Moore
to contrast the following figures: Let him take the last
ma - price, for example Say 9l 30 I'm the United states
IN 1865 with qunne dutable 10 per cent ana bark dut
able percent and contrast II with prices ruling In FREQ
trade England In 1877 say sixteen sllngs siNpcnce
about 81 l2i2 when bark was free quinine free and
mctl lated spirit, free, and II he Is well vorsed and
fair in discussion he should be- no VIII not tell the
people ~ this country that by making quininc free IN the
uitcd SatcA-by the removal OF 20 per cent duty
We" have reduced tie price to One-haf less, not
only here, bat all over the world. Respectfully,
4. II. JONF-. OF Powers & Weightman.
Ihuadciphid March Is, ISL