The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-16

Our protectionist friends may say after
reading the above letter, well, the whole
saler does not say the Mckinley bill in
this instance is responsible for the rise in
the price of these suits.'' True, the whole
saler does not say so in this letter, but in a
circular received by the Helena merchant a
few days previous to the receipt of this let
ter he was informed of a raise in all goods
in their line, "necessitated," to quote the
exact words, "by the new tariff imposed by
the Mckinley bill.''
But there are some things on sale in the
Helena market which have not been in
creased in price by the Mckinley bill, and
the general opinion among local dealers is
that they will not. The things referred to
are hay and oats The Montana rancher
shoes. more for his stoves, more for his gro.
ceries, more for his carpets, more for his
wagon, more for his plOws, more for his now
ing machine, more for everything, in fact,
he uses. but he will get no more for a ton of
hay nor for a bushel of oats under the Mo
law went into effect. Instead of bene6ting
him. the Mckinley bill lays an additional
burden upon the Montana rancher's shovels,
harrows, plows, pitchforks, axes, ham,
mers, land all the great variety of tools he is
obliged to use will come higher in the fu-'
ture. He has been told that new taxes have
not been laid upon the kind of tools that he
needs and in many instances he has been
led to believe that the new tariff would not
touch him. He will learn the truth when
he tries to buy farming implements at the
old price. He will find upon careful exam
ter into the manufacture of farming imple-
ments have been taxed SO high that the
manufacturer will be obliged to raise the
price of his product. He will find, too, that
all kinds of untaxed steel and iron wares,
will raise in sympathy with those goods
,,,> n,,,h; oL nd
laid.
A Helena dealer in agricultural imple-
ments was asked yesterday what effect the
new tariff bill would have ON TIE goods he
carries. 'Well," he replied, ''there is but
little business in our line at this season of
from the manufacturers that after Jan. l,
1891, there will be an advance of per cent
in all goods in which iron is used in the |
construction. This is the first advance, |
and the probabilities are there will be an.
other before the spring trade opens.'
Needles for knitting or sewing machines, |
machines, crochet needles, tape needles, IS |
per cent ad valorem; needles not specially |
provided for in this act, % per cent ad |
valorem." This is the way the Mckinley |
bill discourages the use of knitting and |
sewing. OF course, this is meant for those |
rich people who can afford to sew and knit.
Poor people. Mckinley seems to think, do |
not do such things. That is probably why |
he has said 30 often that the taxes in his |
bill are aimed at the rich. The necessaries |
OF life, lie says, he has avoided taxing, but |
those things which the rich use he has pre-
tended to tax out of sight. Perhaps Nc |
hlniey and his apologists can persuade |
some people that needles are luxury, but |
the intelligent people of this country know
that the wives and daughters of the work |
lngmen spend much of their time sewino |
and knitting.
Inc SILENCE of our evening contemporary
on the tariff question yesterday is perhaps
explained by the fact that one of its pro
prletors has found out that the tariff is a |
TAX. Although he is strong advocate of
the encouragement of home Industries vet
lie mas been III the habit of using an I'm
ported tooth powder, for which he paid 40
cents bo1. Wanting q new supply YES
terday, he went into prominent DRUG
store, one of the prorrietors of which. like
himself, Is good republican. When he
asked ior his favorite powder he WAS told
thas the prlce had gone up to so cents. This
ne refused to believe at first. but was con-
Sinced that 1t was fact when shown a
circular from the wholesale man in the
east. It was to the effect that lowing to
the duties imposed by the Mckinley tariff
bill. we are obliged to mark uu the price.
| etc." This is but another illnstration OF
the fact that the Mckinley bill has adj
! vanced prices and that Helena merchants
are compelled to fall in with the process
slon. But the republican editors will