Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-07-30
PRICES UNDER A PROTEC-
rrrryUF TApTFF

The attorneys for free trade, who
seek to create prejudice against the
policy Of protection by charging that
it enhances the cost to consumers, can
best be met by comparison of prices
of a few articles in common use.
In 1860 salt, then on the free list,
sold to consumers at an average price
of So per barrel. The tariff on salt IN
barrels is now 10 cents per 100 pounds,
or say 393 cents per barrel, and the
average price is not more than half
that of 1860. As salt has been made
the subject OF special attack it may be
well to ascertain just how much Of the
present selling price gees to the manu-
facturer, against whom it is sought to
create prejudice. In 1887, at the
works in Michigan, salt sold for 60
cents a barrel. and OF this sum 20 cents
was paid to the cooper for making the
the barrel. All between this price
and that paid by consumers went for
transportation and profits to middle
men.
The manufacture Of plate glass was
established in 1866, when the foreign
made article sold for $3.50 per square
foot. The tariff on similar quality
OF glass is now 30 cents per foot. and
the price has steadily lowered until it
is now rs cents per square foot.
Pig iron in 1860 sold for $22.75 per
ton. With tariff of SO 70 per ton it
now sells for SIS.
Steel rails were first made here in
1867, when the price was $166 per ton.
The tariff has been as high as $2S per
ton, and is now SIT. Steel rails are
now quoted at $3i, and have some
times been lower.
A favorite plea of free traders is that
with woods and woolens on the free
list "the poor mans blanket would
be sold for one-half the present price,
when tho fact is, prices for blankets Of
equal quality are about the same in
the United States and England. Here
is the proof: Last year the Secretary
of War invited bids for supplyingarmy
blankets Of four pounds weight, and
allowed foreigners to compete on the
same terms as American manufac-
turers that is, without paying the
tariff. The lowest British bid was
only 30 cents per blanket less than
that Of an American. The tariff, il it
had been charged, would be about
$3.50. Our free trade Cabinet officer
gave the contract to the foreigner who
pave no taxes and buys nothing in
this country, instead Of favoring the
American, who supplies work to hun.
dreds Of people and otherwise adds TO
the wealth Of our country. The money
from our national Treasury went to
foreign country and American soldiers
are to sleep in British blankets, because
they can be made in England for 80
cents less than in this country.
And here is some testimoney from
the other side. Matthew Arnold, the
eminent English scholar, statesman
and free trade advocate, recently de-
ceased, last year made a tour of this
country, and afterward gave his con-
illusions ia the Nineteenth Century
Magazine, April, 1888. In this paper
the writer admits that conditions in
the United States are favorable to
''that immense class Of people whose
incomes are less than $1,000 a year,
while ia England the advantage sis
greatly ia favor Of those with in
comes above that sum- OF wages he
says: "The humber kind Of work is
better paid in America than with US,
the higher kind worse. Luxuries are,
as / have said, very dear-above all,
European luxuries; but a working
mans clothing is nearly as cheap as in
England, and plain food is on the
whole cheaper"