The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-07-27
The New Tariff.

promote the prosperity of the masses Of
the people without impairing In any
vital part the actual protection afforded
to any industry in which the element OF
labor enters in just proportion. Raw
wool is put upon the free list and the
duty on the manufactured products has
been decreased only to such figure as
will afford the laborers protection and
the manufacturers a legitimate margin
OF profit. In other words, the duty
upon the manufactured woolen article
more nearly represents the difference
between the wages paid in this country
and abroad. This is so obviously in the
interest OF consumers, among whom
every laborer's family is classed, as to
need no explanation to men OF impair
tial mind. With raw wool free To the
employers OF wool workers it is inevits-
BILE, under normal conditions, that Ia
borers in this department should be
more steadily employed.
Copper ore, which is now taxed seven
ty per cent, is also placed upon the free
list. This tax upon a metal which en-
ters largely into many manufacturers,
has been levied for years for the benefit
of the Michigan millionaires, who have
paid their workmen a ridiculously in
significant portion OF their profits. The
sentiment with regard to free copper
among the Western members outside of
the Badger State. was tersely stated by
Congressman Brown, of Indiana, who
said il the House. 81 would make cop
per ore free as quick as lightning"
This declaration elic.ed marked ap-
plause, partly because OF its apparent
justice, but more especially because Mr..
Brown is Republican and a protec-
zionist.
Manufactured brasses are reduced
only five per cent. Into these the ele-
ment OF labor enters more largely, and
the duty is well maintained in order
that American laborers may be protect
ed. With the duty at the rate provided
in the bill there will be no excuse for
any reduction in the wages OF the brass
workers. Although the manufacturers
may not make millions in year they
will still have fair return on capital
invested and almost certainly a steadIer
demand for their wares.
Millionaires represent a mum Der OF the
Northwestern States in the Senate
chamber. Why should they not their
enormous fortunes were made in the
lumber business OF their sections, pro-
tected always by high duties, but paying
pitilessly low wages to the impoverish-
man who has used a stick or plank in
building home for his wife and little
ones has helped to increase the fabulous
wealth Of the Algiers, the Stockbridges
and the Sawyers. If the Mills bill be-
comes a law lumber will be free, its
twenty per cent. duty being stricken off.
But cabinet and house furniture and the
whole line OF manufactures OF wood or
wood and iron combined, such as cars
and carriages, sashes, doors and blinds.
boats, etc., are reduced only five per
cent. from the rstes in the present tar
if, thus giving TO workers in wood a
larger measure OF protection than at the
present time. The operators most af-
fected by the placing of lumber on the
free list-those of the great Northwest
have reaped the benefit OF our protec-
tive system while actually Skiing hun
dreds of Canadian half-breeds aud Iudi-
aus as woOdmen at wages lower than
those paid to Hungarians by the pros
tected industries OF the Eastern States.
DUTIES NOT TOUCHED.
1t will be of interest during this cam
paign TO remember the articles upon
which the Mills bill allows the duty to
remain untouched. The unreas0ning
yell against tree trade is cry that has
no basis except in ignorance, mistaken
zeal or greed. The products of all the
foreign
Basket makers,
BOokbinders and fnlshers,
Bone and ivory-workers,
Boot and shOemakers
Brewers and maltsterS
Britannia ware makers,
Button factory operators.
Candle>makers,
Cigar-makers.
Clock and watchmakers and repairers,
Coopers,
Cooper-workers,
COrset-makers,
Cutlery makers,
Distlllers and rectiiers,
Fishermen,
FlaX-dressers,
Fur-WOrkers,
Gloves cotton and wooden, cotton gibson
gimp and tassel- makers,
Gold and silver-workers and jewellers,
Gunsmiths and locksmiths
Harness and saddle-makers,
Hat and capmakeTs,
Hosiery and knitting mill ope rators,
Lace makers
Leather case and pocket-book makers,
Leather curriers', dressers, fnishers and
tanners,
Miners,
Mirror and picture-frame makers,
Organ>makers,
Paper mill operators,
Pianoforte-makeIs and tuners,
Preserved meats,
Rubber goods makers,
Scale and rule-makers,
Screw makers,
Shirt, cuffs and coIlar-makers,
Shocks,
Silk mill operators,
Straw workers,
Tiles, common and hrebrick-makers,
Trunk, valise and carpetbsg- makers,
Tobacco factory operators.
Umbrella and parasol- makers.
Stove, furnace and grate-makers,
Various farm products. hay hoops. barley,
cattle, sheep and hogs, etc,
have, under the Mills bill, the same du-
ty upon them as under the tariff law of
I 1888.
The principal reductions are as fol-
lows /: Brass work, with free copper ore,
is reduced five per cent; carpets, with
free wool, five per cert; confectionery,
with twenty per cent; reduction on
sugar, Is reduced ten per cent. wooden
| galloons, gimps and tassels. with free
wool, sixteen per cent; wooden hosiery
and knitting, with free wool, twenty
/ three per cent; cotton umbrellas and
/ parasols, with frames duty free. ten per
| cent. cotton goods Important 6yestuffs
/ fTee). i've per cent; leather gloves, ter
/ per cent; brooms and brushes, with free
/ raw materials, ten per cent
The average reduction on steel and
/ iron manufactures is slight. Under the
4 present law they are subject to duty of
htty-two per cent. The Mills bill low
ers this 20 forty three per cent. Cutlery
is untouched. Lead ores, a raw mate
rial, are cut down fifty per cent; the
duty on the manufactured metal being
reduced from sixty y-eight per cent. to
/ forty-four percent. Horseshoe nails,
/ present duty seventy-six per cent, re-
/ duced to foriy-eight. Common tools in
universal use: Hammers, now sixteen
! per cent, 70 ten; saws. now forty, to
thirty; anvils. now thirty-four, to twen-
/ ty- five. Dressed stone rems ins at uwen-
| ty per cecL Dressed marble is reduced