The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-01-25
The Egis and Intelligencer
FREDERICK W. BAKER, Editor.


If anything were needed to convince the
public that the revision of the tariff made
by the Republican Senate Is in the inter-
est OF certain classes and not of the peo-
pie IN general, it will be found in the action
OF that body last week, in increasing the
duty on tin-plate from to 215 cents per
pound. If this amendment should be APPROX
ell in the House it will be severe blow to
the canning interests Of Maryland, by greatly
increasing the cost of packing goods. 1t is
true the Gamer can add this increased ex-
pense to the price Of his goods, but experience
has shown that increased prices above Ger.
tain point lessen the consumption of canned
goods. The Mills tariff bill rightly put tin
on the free list. No tin is mined in this coun.
try and therefore there is no tin industry here
to protect. Besides the government does not
need the amount collected in this way to add
to its already OVERLOOKING treasury. 1t is
therefore useless tax on every family in the
land in which tin ware or canned goods are
used.
The proposed increase Of duty, according
to Mr.. E. S. Judge, of the Baltimore 7rdde,
"means an increase of 10 cents per dozen Of
No. IS, or 3-pound cans, or almost q cent a
can. The apparent increase is about cents,
but the manufacturer in this general rise will
have an opportunity to make cent, and will
do il. The packer and the handlers, or mid
dle-men, will do likewise. AS soon as the
packer raises the price of his No. cans Of
tomatoes or corn above 81 per dozen the de-
mand is going to fall off one-third, if not one
half, and this is proved by an experience Of
of several years, during which / have seen
the price of tomatoes 60 above 81 per dozen
cans, and Immediately the demand would fall
off. AT dollar dozen, a can of corn or to-
matoes can be sold probably at 10 cents, al
lowing profit Of 90 cents dozen to the re-
taller
"Not only the Gamers but the farmers also
are interested in this question, since the can
ner must depend largely upon the farmer for
his canning produce, and whatever tends TO
embarrass the canning interests is blow at
the farmer likewise.
The government allows a rebate of duty
lsss ten per cent. for registering, on all cans
sent out of this country, and this sum being
greater than the freight charges, it is posi-
bic, Mr.. Judge shows, to obtain American
canned goods cheaper in Europe than in this
country.
The real object of the increase is to allow
few Pittsburg capitalists 10 form tin trust
1t is true the tin must come from abroad, but
these men own rolling mills where sheet iron
is made with which the tin is coated. To en-
able them to make more money than they do
the tariff is TO be raised to point which
would prohibit the importation of tin plate
and give them control of the market for it,
Hartford county is largely interested in this
matter, AMI protests should be sent to Wash
ington from every postofllce in the county
against the increase of duty on tin. The
Maryland delegation should resist it man
fully, snd in doing SO thay should be made to
feel that they have the encouragement and
support of their constituents