New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-04
THE DUTY ON TIN PLATE.
WANTING 1T RAISED NOT LOWERED.
THE MILLS BILL RoUsEs THE NATIONAL IRON
RaOFING AssOCIATION


THE MILLS BILL RoUsEs THE NATIONAL IRON
ROOFING ASSOCIATION.
The National Iron Roofing Association has
become seriously alarmed at the proposed removal OF
tho tariff on tin plate included In the Mills bill, and
mas pctltioncd Congress through its tariff comWtee
not only not to tho duty tin plate, but to
raise sufficiently to bring 1t into harmony with other
articles OF tho metal schedule The threatened re-
auction, they say, would utterly destroy one industry
OF the country and cripple another, while the advance
Tor which they ask would strengthen both OF them
and build up third that does not now exist.
This tariff committee consists Of G. A. Scott, OF
cincinnati; Colonel J. d. Taylor, Of Cambridge, Ohio,
ana T. c. Snyder, OF Canton, Ohio. Mr.. Scott was In
Ncw-York last week and explained the facts OF tho
case and the views of the Iron Roofing Association
to Tribune reporter somewhat as follows:
There about 100 900 of made in the
united States annually and Of this the Iron Rong Asso-
citation about The duty imported sheet
iron Is 81 cents pound, or about 90 per cent ad
vaiorem, while that tin plate, which Is from % 10 9S
per cent sheet iron, only cent pound or ABOUT
25 per I'D valorem other words black sheet iron
has 70 duty OF half its value, but ate 1t has been
covered with coating OF another metal making 1t form
OF Iron manufacture Of much higher grade 1t Is admitted
at duty OF Of It's value tin terne plates
OF this product ESQ 900 imported annually
and about half Of this amount enters into competition
with iron roofing tin roofing when the very iron OF
which It s made could the country without Its
little coating OF tin such price to compete with tho
American product These tin and terne plates the ma
jorty report Of the Committee Ways and Means now
proposes relieve Of duty altogether. If this should
be DONE foreign manufacturers would take the sheet ron
on which duty would still remain, It with the
hnnest possible coating OF tin and send It to this country
absolutely free tin plate and the iron roofing and siding
Industry would be at end.
And this would not be ALL The sheet iron used in this
trade, already stated is about onehlrd OF all that
manufactured in the United States amount equal to
me entire production Of about fifteen sheet iron mills and
the trade in iron would also be injured Just that
sxtent Moreover this tin and terne plato would
made substitute sheet iron in other articles such
coal hods and stove pipes, most important branch OF
the trade. In this way, too che sheet iron industry
would suffer serious injury There Is practically
tin plate industry in this country account Of the low
tariff inconsistent with that other articles OF metal
manufacture. All the tin plate used is imported The
manufacture Of tin is IN itself enormous trade,
about 150 900 being made annually In Baltimore alone
IT, now, the duty tin plate should be raised to two
and onequarter per pound all the amount
sary for this would be manufactured in this country
labor would be benefited tho extent OF about oO0
900 annually in tho form OF wages and 400 900 people
would be provided with the necessaries Of life.
1t is for these reasons that Congress Is asked to
advance the tariff tin and terne plate to point
consistent with other articles in the list.