Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-08-01
The starch Question.


In regard to the Iatelligeneer's remarks
Yesterday about starch, they are very thin,
and a. usual they embraced very guszy
subterfuge to deceive the public in regard
to the Democratic demand that the tax
on a dollars worth of starch be cut
down from 50 to Al cents. 1t goes on in a
manner to make it's readers believe that
the REGISTER included in the dollar the
cost of manufacturing 20 pounds of starch,
the manufacturers iobbers' and retailers
profits and the 81 cents tax. Now
II the IateliigeReer expected its
readers to believe such Misrepresentation
il must have a very poor opinion OF
their intelligence. What the Democrats
propose, is, that the consumer shall pay
81. Al for what they are now paying Sl.2
'What do ycu suppose the Intehigeneer
is trying to get st?" asked REGISTER re-
porter OF q well.kuown commercial trsv-
eler, yesterday.
"Why it was showing, and truly, too,
that protection has tostered the home
starch industry till, according to his own
showing, it is so vigorous that it can make
starch cheaper than England can give it to
Us 1t says:
"'why, it is the old story over: Protec-
ton encourages home production, and
competition brings the price down. To-day
starch is sold in this country at about the
tariff on it.
"Aud then he says that these home starch
works which make starch IS cheaply as
England can ship il to us, or "at about
the tariffon it" still need 81 cents tax on
every dollars worth ofstarch coming from
abroad, and would be ruined by lowering
the tax to Al cents on every dollars
worth
'But to make the absurdity Of the In
telligeneer's argument why the tax on
starch should not be reduced,
still more apparent: The tax on dollars
worth of starch is 50 cents. That is, 3
dollars worth of starch made abroad after
il passes the American custom house, costs
81 81 to the American consumer. Now
the Lateligeaeer says, To-day starch Is
sold in this country at about
the tariff on it, or at 81
cents. In other words, we are informed
by the brilliant witted Iatelligencer that an
amount of starch costing dollar in Eng
land only costs 81 cents here? And yet,
now mark me, the LRteHigeneer says the
American starch industry would be ruin
ed if Eugland could ship the same amount
of starch to this country for less than
SlS2! Yet its Democratic merchant"
argues that with starch on the free list we
could make it here Is cents In the dollars
worth cheaper than in England"
''But that isn't so, is it?''
"Bless your heart, =" said the commercial
man laughing, mot word Of it. There
is not exactly q trust in the starch bust
ness, believe, but there Is an understand
ing as to prices. All work together and
the price is kept up pretty well to the
tariff notch every time, else there would
be no kick on the proposed reduction from
so per cent. TO IL. A dollars worth Of
starch abroad costs ST. 80 in this county
Reduce the tax to Al cents on the dollar
and starch instead of costing 5 cents as
now will be but 3 cents pound"
evil that hurt the American indus
try?"
fIt will take Just that much of starch
manufacturers profits. But, you know,
our friend, the IntelligeReer, says under pro-
lection they make starch here cheaper than
in England, so they can afford il, " replied
the gentleman, winkiDg.
"But they can't make it cheaper, can
they ?" :,
'iOf course not, bat they can make it
probably as cheap, so that Al cents tax on
the dollar would be ample protection for
them"