Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-09-14
From the Hagerstown MALL
AN INFAMOUS DISCRIMINATION.

The people of the United States
have voluntarily taxed themselves to
an enormous amount for the benefit
of the manufacturers, and in return
for making them wealthy they dis
criminate against their benefactors
and sell to foreigners at much lower
price than they will sell to citizens of
the United States.
A gentleman told us recently that he
went to New York to buy certain
machines to sell in South America.
The regular price to American deal
ers was S12 apiece, but this foreigner,
upon signing a pledge to sell none of
them within the United States, got all
he wanted at $500 each.
After getting them beyond our Dor
ders they could not be brought back
again without paying the tariff tax,
and that tax added to the - would
bring the price up to S12.
The reason of this is apparent. In
selling to South America our manu-
facturer is brought into direct compe-
tition, upon entirely equal terms, with
European manufactures, without even
the cost of crossing the ocean in their
favor.
The fact that under these terms
they can compete successfully with
Europe should satisfy all that they
will not 60 to ruin while they are pro-
tected in this country with a revenue
tariff and the freight across the ocean.
The only difference will be that
their profits will not be quite so enor-
nous
The letter given below is striking
illustration of this point. The firm OF
Ladner & Bro. has two stores, one at
Eagle Pass, Texas, and the other I'M
mediately across the Rio Grande at
Piedras Negras, Mexico. He buys his
goods for both stores, apparently,
from the United States.
Our manufacturers who are so eX-
cited about the interests of our Amer
lean labor will sell the Mexican Greaser
his shovel for less than one-half what
they charge the American workman.
The shovels referred to are the
Ames shovels, manufactured in New
England.
The letter is as follows:
oFICINA DE
l.. LddRer q HRO.
CoMERCIASTES
EN- ESTUFAS, FERRETERlA
oJALATERIA.
PIEDRAs NEGRAs. MEXICO.
August 9Th, 1883.
Mr.. WALTER NEGLEY, HdgerStOrH Nd.
Dear Sir:-Yours of the 2nd at hand. In
reply take pleasure in giving you the figures
asked for as nearly as possible. Flrst III
regard 10 shovels Our shovels bought Tor
our Eagle Pass store cost us about 81 per doZ
exclusive Of freight. our shovels of the same
class and material cost us tdid d0cn in Pie
drdS NeGrdS 1921 per doz. Another item:
Agate Iron Ware cannot be bought for dellN-
cry anywhere in the L. :. at better than 80
per cent. discount. In Piedras Negras we
can buy the same articles from lhe same
houses at % per cent. discount. Inc llst is
the same in both cases. These are not the
only articles. DiSStons saws can be bought
with an additional20 per cent. discount, snow
ing that the manufacturers could sell III
home markets in competition with the out
side producers. These figures are only par
tial list. Every article known TO the hard
ware trade can be bought from American
manufacturers for export cheaper than they
can for home consumption. Hoping this Will
answer your purpose, we remain
Very truly, yours,
A. j. LADNER Il BRO,
per III.
Mr.. Walter Negley, TO whom this
letter is addressed is, as is well known
to most of our readers, son of the
late Hon. Peter Negley, for many
wears L. S. Sub-Treasurer at Balti-
more and Editor of the Herald and
Torch Light. Mr.. Walter Negley was
raised Republican and for all we
know NAV be one now, but is ardently
in favor of reforming the present une-
quail and Ubiquitous tariff and of the
Mills bill, Notwithstanding the fact
that he is an extensive wool grower,
having many thousand sheep i'll Texas,
and is deeply interested in the wool
industry. which Mr.. Mills places on
the free list.