Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-05-26
iHE TlN.PlATE TAX.
One Of the Most Outrageous Changes In the
TMraM

One 0e the Moot OuerA8oOuS ChAn8e0 IN tno
Tariff
One OF the most outrageous and UNI
necessary changes In the tariff is the
proposed increase Of the duty on tin
plate. We-do not manufacture one
pound of tin-plate, but get our supply
from Wales where nearly all the tin
plate for the whole world is made. The
proposed tax Is two and one-fifth cents
pound. The total amount collected
last year from this source was 81, 400, 900;
and when the new bill goes into effect
this tax will be about sixteen million
dollars, provided the quantity imported
remain the same.
The great development Of the canning
industry in this country has resulted in
q great increase in our purchases Of tim
plate, our importations last year being
some three million pounds more than in
1888.
This tin-plate comes to us in boxes,
which cost on an average So. AZ. On
box of the usual size the present duty Is
SlOs makidg the entire cost Of the box
$3.50. Under the Mckinley bill such a
box would pay S2.37; and the entire cost
would then be 1919.
Tin-plate has three principal uses: 1t
vegetable and meat cans, and for making
household and kitchen utensils. The
great extent of it's use makes almost
every man, woman and child directly
interested in keeping it as cheap as
possible.
The only excuse for raising the duty
so enormously is that a Mr.. Cronemeyer,
of Pittsburgh, appeared before the Nc
trln Isai hat h n
manufacture n-plate if such a duty
were put on. OF course Mr.. Crone-
meyer got what he wanted. for Mr. Nc
Kinley and his associates are quite
ready to tax all the people of the
country for the benefit of one. two or
three men-any Tom, Dick or Harry who
can speak eloquently about what good
thing it would be for the country to pro-
tect him.
But the makers Of tin-cans have not
relished the proposed increase. and in
various cities they have vigorously pro-
tested AGAINST it. The manufacturers
in Philadelphia have this to say in their
protest:
Tin plate is n part Of every household in
some shape or form solely on account Of it's
cheapness and more so by the poorer and
work ing class than by those who are more
fore becomes a direct tax on every individ-
ual, as he will either be obliged use 1t in
some shape or form. or viii pay the higher
cost of its substi ut" 10 increase the duty.
therefore, means ~ 1t every household shall
| be taxed; that industries nationa to our
country, represent NJ millions of doll IRIS
and employing hundreds OF thousands of
hands, shall be crippled. embarrassed, and
perhaps ruined. simply in order that few
iron or steel manufacturers may be put In a
pOsiti II to experiment in the manufacture
| of this commodity,
| IAN adequate conception is hardly posi-
BILE OF the extent to which chca" tin pl ,te is
used for packages and cans, but some idea
can be had from the fact that the official
| statistics give the exports OF beef, salmon.
| matches, gunpowdcr and other explosives,
| spices lard, fancy goods. cosmetics patent
| medicines, fish, oysters and petroleum.
| paints and painters colors, prepared cocoa,
| vegetables, milk and fruits, the value OF S72-
| 500 55s for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1855.
| "As. therefore, no tin plate Is made in the
| United stat, 5, and has never been made, ex-
| ccpt - matter of Gu iosity; as p gtn is on
the free list to enc urage the manufacture
| OF tin plate: as the present duty is an
| equivalent ad valorem one, of '-66- 100 per
| cent. more than double what it formerly
| was; as no class of people have asked for an
| increase in the duty on tin ties as public
| opinion favors the reduction in the burdens
| OF tax ttion upon the people and as an ad-
vance in the duty would be II serious blow to
millions OF dollars invested in Industries de
| pending on cheap II plate, we respectfully
| request that no advance shall be made in the
| present rate of duty"
| The committee wa; shrewd enough to
delay the time when this duty is to be-
| gin till year hence; for an election
| will be held next fall, and it might
| prove hazardous to pile on all these
| high taxes at once.