Sharp County record., 1890-05-29
THE TIN-PLATE TAX.
Or. Of the Most Outrageous Changes In the
Tariff.

Ore Of the Most Outrageous Changes In the
Tarlff.
One Of the most outrageous and un-
necessary changes in the tariff is the
proposed increase of the duty on tin
plata. We do not manufacture one
pound of tin-plate, but get our supply
from Wales, where nearly all the tin
ate for the whole world is made. The
proposed tax is two and one-ffth cents
a mound. The total amount collected
last year from this source was 81, 400, OOO;
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
a great increase in our purchases of tin
plate, our importat:ons last year being
some three million pounds more than in
1883.
This tin-plate comes to uS in boxes,
which cost on an average S3.42. On a
box of the usual size the present duty is
Sl.OS, makidg the entire cost of the box
$3.50. Under the Mckinley bill such a
box would pay $751; and the entire cost
would then be S5.79.
Tn-plate has three principal uses: 1t
is used for roofing; for making fruit
vegetable and meat cans, and for making
household and kitchen utensils. The
great extent of its 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 enormOuslyis is that Mr.. Cronemeyer,
of Pittsburgh, appeared before the Nc
Kinley committee and said that he could
manufacture t tn-plate if such 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 part of every household in
some shape or farm, solely on account Of its
cheapness, ana more so by the poorer and
working class than by those who are more
well.tO do; and further tax on it, there.
fore, becomes direct tax on every individ-
ual, as he will either be obliged t. use it in
some shape or form, or will pay the higher
cost OF its substitute. To increase the duty,
therefore, means that every household shall
be taxed; that Industries national to our
country, represent ng millions of dollars
and employing hundreds Of thousands OF
hands shall be crippled, embarrassed, aud
perhaps ruined, simply in order that few
iron or steel manufacturers may be put In a
positi n to experiment in the manufacture
OF this commodity.
"An adequate conception Is hardly posi-.
BILE OF the extent to which chean tin plate 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, gunpowder and other explosives,
spices, lard, fancy goods, cosmetics, patent
u Daedlcines, fish, oysters and petroleum,
rand painters colors, prepared cocoa,
1yegetabes, milk and fruits, the value Of ST..
$500 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1885,
"As, therefore, no tin plate is made in the
United States, and has never been made, ex.
cept a matter Of curiosity; as p g.tin is on
the free list to encourage the manufacture
OF tn.plate; as the present duty Is an
equivalent ad valorem one, OF 81 &c. 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.pl ties; as public
opinion favors the reduction in the burdens
of taxation upon the people, and as an ad.
vance In the duty would be serious blow to
millions Of dollars invested in industries de.
pending on cheap tin.pate, we respectfully
request that no advance shall be made in the
present rate Of duty"
The committee was 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 ut once.