The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-13
A sELF-EVIDENT FALsBHooD.

'fOr instance DrOdu-CiOlu uItSS SttlG
which costs $50 in New York costs only 500
in London.
"a heavy business suit which costs $50 in
New York costs but $13 in London.
"a spring serge overcoat which costs $2O
in New York costs but S.. 80 in London.
"a winter beaver overcoat which costs $35
in New York costs but $l4.50 in London.
"a silk hat which costs So in New York
costs but So in London.
"These articles altogether cost in New York
$40. In London they cost but SOL. The
man who buys these articles, therefore, in
New York pays $40 more for them than he
could buy them for in London"
1t would be strictly legitimate to dispose of
these figures by simply stating that they are
false The writer knows personally that
goods of the same grade made by frst-class
tailors in London or on the continent cost
nearly OF quite as much as in America.
When the excellence of work and
style are taken into consideration, the
purchaser would willingly pay difference
in favor Of American clothes. The inference
intended to be drawn from the last paragraph
quoted above is, that because Of our protective
tariff we are obliged to pay more than 100 per
cent. over what is paid for the same goods III
London According to the above statement
the total London value of the goods enumer-
ated and made up is SOL. The highest tariff
possible on these goods is 40 per cent. This
would bring the total value up to $S5. 40 in
New York. But this is an overestimate. The
London price accepting the figures given) in
ckldes the cost of making up the goods, and
the manufacturers profit to cover interest on
investment, rent, etc. The dutiable goods
included in the SOL worth of made-up cloth
ing are probably not worth more than
$50, or even less, possibly not more than $50
in London. On this the import duty would
be but $12, bringing the value of the goods in
New York up to $40. We have, then, the
difference between $40 and $40, or sos, as
the pay for making up these goods, the alb
surdity of which is too apparent to deserve
serious argument. Awarding a fair value to
the goods in London, as indicated by the
statement quoted, we find that the very same
goods can be had here at not more than $45.
Now, look at the goods, and you will see why
they can be made and sold in London for SOL.
The American price Of these identical materi-
ais, every inch and fiber the same, would
be not more than $45. Such
goods can be found in America, but not
in a first-class tailoring establishment. The
statement that materials for broadcloth
dress-suit, a heavy business suit, spring
oyercoat and winter Overcoat, to say moth
ing of the silk hat, can be bought in London
for $50 or $685. is so wide of the truth as to de-
serve no attention. 1t will not bear investiga-
ton.
If any exception can be taken to New York
prices it must be i'll regard to the cost of
making up the goods, or, in other words, the
free trader is brought to a stand, as he is
bound to maintain that wages are no better in
America than in England. 1t cannot be sue
cessfully argued that the tariff enables dealers
to demand and receive exorbitant profits.
There are the goods at cost of $45.
If any dealer wishes, he can make them up,
and ask, as is claimed, $40 for them. He
can go further and ask 5000 Or $500 if he
chooses. But that does not prevent any
other dealer from taking the same goods at
$45 and making and selling them at 500, $50,
or $75. The tariff is not responsible for any
thing like 100 pee cent. in this instance. 1t
is but 40 per cent. at the very outside. But
it need not be that much. In other words,
the American manufacturer can enjoy that
much protection if lie desires But that does
not prevent his American competitor from
cutting under him and approaching
the English weaver's figures as closely as he
will. Our tariff encourages American compe-
tition, and competition insures against eXtor
ton The merchant tailoring business is not
a monopoly in this country. A few New York
tailors may be able to realize 100 or more per
cent. over the cost of their goods, but it is
manifestly unfair to hold the tariff responsible
for the cupidity of New York tailors and the
gullbility of New York dudes. 1t is not
argued here that prices are not higher than in
England. They are higher, wages are
higher and opportunities are better.
But to base a newspaper argument on
the statement that American tailors
reap a profit of over 100 per cent.
through the operations of the tariff, is so false
that it can deceive nobody willing to think for
himself. The very day any business allowed
anything ike such profit it would induce
such crowd of competitors as to ruin it with