New-York tribune., 1886-07-08
facts which have been mentioned is distinct
menace of war.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS on TRIlL

DfMOCHHJJC LEJUEhc Wv "fh'"
Mr.. Morrison, his friends say, will report Mr..
Randalrs tariff bill with statement OF lis
effects in which he proposes to show that the
increase of revenue resulting, if the b'il shonin
be adopted, would be $7,24s,3l5, while Mr..
Randall estimates that the reduction OF revenue
would be $7,O44,452. Happily it is not very
diflicul; to determine, as to most OF TINS us
crepancy of 81 100000 whether Mr.. Randaii
or Mr.. Morrison is right.
The duty on tin plates is now one cent per
pound, and 5O5, ,559,076 pounds were imported
in the fiscal year 1850. In eleven months oi
the fiscal year just ended, 5O7.l6S,93o poupus
were imported, indicating probable revenue
during this last year of $5.60O,OOO at least
from this source alone. Mr.. Randall believes
that advancing the duty to oil cents per pound
would reduce the imports to $4,000 600
pounds, and 80 cut down the revenue on TINS
item to S1.125, 900, reduction of $4,475.OOo
ON this item. But Mr.. Morrison says this is
absurd. He claims that the advance OF du'y
would not Immediately reduce imports. but
only tax the people 81 100000, where they
are now taxed $j,600,00O The difference
between the two theories is 81 l,475,OOO on
this one item.
Roth are wrong, as usual. No tin plates are
now nroduced in this country, but some would
he produced beyond doubt within single year
# the duty should be materially raised. 1t Is
certain that the necessary works could not De
adjusted to produce 100000, 600 pounds OF tn
mates the first year, or even the second Dut
considerable and ranidly increasing production
would result and this would take the place OF
fin mates now imported. On the other hand, IL
is also certain that duty Of IA cents per
nound. though it would force foreign producers
to sell at the smallest possible profit, or even at
q loss for time, would make the product more
costly to consumers at first, and SD would prob
ablv check consumption. How much the con-
sumptop would be diminished neither MIR.
Randall. nor Mr.. Morrison, nor anybody else
can definitely say but it certainly would not
be. as Mr.. Randall assumes, more than nne-
teuths of the quantity now consumed, for tin
plates are mainly used in the manufacture or
comparatiy ely inexpensive household articles,
of which the retail cost would be but ilttie
affected by change of III cents per pound in
the cost of the material. Some reduction would
probably occur, bat it is more reasonable to
,vnect a decrease of less than 80 per cent than
TO count upon a decrease of more than 10
ner cent If a decrease Of 30 per cent III
quantity should appear in the aggregate COLI
SUMPTION part of the quantity consumed would
also be supp lied by home manufacture. Assum-
ing that the iron makers should adjust their
works TO turn out $4,000 tons of iron i'll tie
form of tin plates, as they soon would. the con-
snmption would then be 100000, 600 pounds
domestic and 292 100000 pounds foreign
plates and on the latter the duty would be
SG.57O, 900. or about 81 100000 more than
the duty paid during the year just closed.
OF course this is conjccture, but II rests on
some regard for facts, and the reported
estimates of Messrs. Morrison and Randall do
not. 1t is not contrary to the known facts to
suppose that the duty might be increased for
the first year or two as much as $1,OOO,OOO, or
even somewhat more, if the duty should be
raised to 2l4 cents. Bat it is a mark of
amazing ignorance to suppose that the con-
SUMPTION would continue unchanged, or that 1t
would be suddenly cut down, as to foreign
plates, to only 100000 pounds The two
Democratic theorists who lead opposite wings
of their party have therefore taken occasion tn
show the country that they are both incom-
petent to direct its affairs, though in this
instance Mr.. Randals advice is in the right
direction. and Mr.. Morrison's Is as usual on the
side of foreign importers against American
industry.