Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-10-11
Misstatements OF Cleveland.

| Utica Herald.
Mr.. Cleveland in his letter, misstatcd
the surplus in the treasury, making the
amount $26, 000,0 more than the Off.
cials Of the treasury stated It to be on
that date. United States Treasurer Hyatt
makes the gap between the Presidents
! statement and the truth very much wider
| by his assertion that there is no sur
plus"
The tendency Of the anxious candidate
to misstate facts runs through his letter.
Discussing the tariff he repeats the parti.
san misrepresentation that duties on i'm
ports are added to the price of articles
upon which they are levied. and thus be-
come a tax upon all who buy those arti.
Giles for use and consumption. Every
business man knows better. knows that
this Is not true, and If he does not he has
only to compare foreign and domestic
price lists. But Mr.. Cleveland did not
need to send further than to the War
Department for proof that his statement
was not in accord with facts. He had to
ask only Secretary Endicott for the record
of his transaction in buying blankets
abroad for the medical department of the
army
Inc particulars Of that transaction
deserve to be repeated in view OF the
Presidents error. The War Department
advertised for bids On the 25th of March,
1887. to furnish 1900 blankets TO the
medical department of the United States
nrmy-advertised at home and abroad
An English firm offered to furnish 4-pound
blankets of the desired grade for 81 25t
each. An American bid was So Sc. same
weight and grade. The English bid WAS
accepted, the Government saving trifle
more than 30 cents per blanket. Ameri-
can labor was boycotted by Secretary
Endicott and English wool and English
labor employed to warm our soldiers, and
I5Gi of American money was sent
abroad instead of being distributed to
American laborers and wool growers.
The 1000 blankets would have cost
50, 100 if the American bid had been &C
ceptcd They were obtained for 81, 54
of the English maker, because, being
Government importation, they came in
free. If what MI. Cleveland says is true,
viz, that the buyer Of American made
goods pays in addition to the intrinsic
worth of the article the duties levied on
similar goods brought from abroad thro'
our custom houses, then the 1000
American blankets would have cost
a. 5O4 plus the RENTED duries on the
English goods. The duty on blankets of
the quality of those in this transaction is
Is cents pound and IS per cent adj
valorem. Eighteen cents pound on
1000 pound blankets is 81 ,l40; 30 per
cent ad valorem is 81, $40. 40. or SO, Ol6. 40
in all. Adding the duties, S3Ol6.4O, and
the makers price, 81 5O4 and we have
81, 500. 40, or So. rs per blanket as the
price of the American blanket. if what
Mr.. Cleveland says is true. On the con
trary, the American manufacturers offer
cd to furnish 1000 blankets, such as the
bid called for, at So SO each. and S., 1870
total. Mr.. Cleveland Secretary Of War;
by taking advantage of his privilege to
import free. saved 1915 to the Treasury
and sent 4, 504 American dollars abroad to
sustain a foreign industry at the expense
Of our own. If what Mr.. Cleveland says
is true the 1000 blankets duties includ-
cd) would have cost So, 500. 40, or SO, 400
more than the home manufacturer
price.
This transaction was brought to public
attention by Major Mckinley, in his
speech in the House of Representatives,
May IS, 1888. and the exhibit has never
been impcachcd.