Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-10-23
Plain Facts About the New Tariff.

Daniel McKeever, a member of the
large New York firm of II. Herman,
Sternbach & Co., contributes to the New
York World pointed article on the in
equahties of the new tariff which went
into effect on the 9th inst, and its op-
pressive discrimination against the work
ing people, from which we take the
following:
As matter of comparison, take textile
fabrics used for mems and women's
wear, and we will find that cotton cor
duroy, which at present pays duty OF
thirty-five per cent, will under the new
bill be compelled to pay duty OF over
seventy-fye per cent. Cotton is free IN
this country, and the American
manufacturer has a certain amount
of protection in the expense to the
foreign manufacturer of shipping
the raw cotton to England and the
goods back to this country. Previous to
this Mckinley regime, the duty of thirty
five per cent. was thought sufficiently
high protection, but some one who doubt
less had the ''fat fried out of him." and
wished to get even, insisted upon the
duty being raised to seventy-fve per
cent. Now, what is the effect of this to
the workingman? Itmeans that pair OF
corduroy trousers which he buys to-day
at 50 will cost him under the new bill
$3.50.
Compare the rates of the fine cassl-
meres worn by the well-to-do classes and
find that the rates have been increased
only from 40 per cent. to 60 per cent.
The saleswomen or the mechanics wife
who cannot afford sealskln sacque
has purchased heretofore silk plush
which closely initiates the real seal.
This article has heretofore paid duty
of 80 per cent, which the new bill more
than doubles, and the effect to the wo-
man is that, instead of paying Sl6 for a
silk plush jacket, she will have to pay
500, but of course IS more in garment
for the woman earning SS or $40 a week
is ''no object"
The factory girl earning Sc or 81 week
pays 81 to-day for an Astrakan cape
which under the new bill will cost her $3.
The workingman can to-day buy suit
of worsted for $40 which under the new
bill will cost him $l3, the rates of duty
on these goods being raised from so per
cent. to 10 per cent, whereas, the fine
cloth worn by the wealthy, which at
per cent OF course the workingman
will GLADLY" pay this SO extra for his
clothes so that the millionaires can make
more millions. HIS wages of course,
won't be increased any, but still he will
doubtless be willing to "chip in" day
and half's labor for nothing to pay the
Increased cost of clothes, SO that some
| philanthropist can make present of q
| library to foreign town.
Now we come to the cotton velvet, or
which the rates are increased 100 pei
cent, or from 40 per cent. to so per cent
This cotton velvet is used by the
mechanics or farmers wife to trim hel
hat or her dress, as she cannot afford
silk, while the silk velvet that the
| wealthy classes use remains at the pres
! ent rate-50 per cent. Cotton laces and
! cotton handkerchiefs are increased 81
per cent, while silk laces are increase,
20 per cent. The poor man who has
silk stripe cotton lining in his coat sleev
and on which to-day the duty is 80 pc
cent, will have to pay the increased cos
of the garment by reason of the duty
being raised to 100 per cent, wherea
his wealthy brother can still have hi
silk sleeve Innings at so per cent.
The farmers wife who wears blac
alpaca dress, on which the duty to-da
is go per cent, will have to pay the di
/ ference in the cost between go per cen
and 100 per cent, the new rate, wherea
the milionaire's wife can still get in he
black silk at 90 per cent. The farmer
wife will have to pay So or So more fo
her alpaca, but "Farmer" Hiscock wi
doubtless tell him that he will get tn
increased price for his corn.
One could take every schedule in tn
bill and show the same discrimination
1t will mean to every workingman a
increased expenditure on everything b
consumes without any corresponding il
crease in his wages. Every working cir
= every mechanic and every farmer wi
have to lend their quote to help to repa
the gentlemen who had "the fat frie
out of them" at the last Presidenta
election.
The assertion has been made b.
the protectionists that the consumer doe
not pay the increased tax, but l woul,
like him to show to the mechanic VIII
purchases a suit of clothes which he ha
heretofore paid $40 for and which nov
costs him Sl3 how he does not pay tn,
tax.
Whether it is the poor mans hose o
his dinner-pail, whether it is his goble
or his window glass, whether it is hi
coat or his blanket, he and he only, ha
to pay this increased tax.
Vote for John B. Reynolds, who i
pledged to do all in his power to remov
this obnoxious system of taxation.