New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-26
PROGRESS ~ PROTECTION.

The discussion on the tariff approaches an
end in the Senate with the Finance Committee
sustained at all important points Opponents
of Protection made prolonged fight against
the tin plate clause without effect Free Trad
ers have grossly msreprcscntcd It's results
pretending that laboring men and consumers
'of canned food will have TO pay much higher
prices because Of the proposed duty when
the increase of duty was first proposed this
journal showed that ii would not increase the
cost of tin cans enough % affect either the
wholesale or retail prices of canned goods.
Senator Richardson. OF Delaware, whose bust
ness az q Gamer enables him TO speak with
exact knowledge, states that cans OF the small
err sizes, 10 hold from half pound TO three
mounds would not be increased in cost by the
duty more than IA cents per dozen for the
smaller and cents per dozen for the larger
sizes while cans 10 hold from twelve TO twenty
pounds would not be increased i'll cost more
than cents per dozen. As the largest OF
these rates is less than half q cent per can, no
increase in retail charge can be honestly made,
or so made that competition OF dealers will
not quickly defeat it, Retailers will not long
nav 81 OF IA per dozen for canned goods
which now cost ST. or So OF per dozen for
canned goods which now cost 50, nor S3 Oi
per dozen for canned goods which now cost 49,
The Sugar Trust is expected TO have the al
most unanimous support of the Democratic
Senators in its struggle against the removal
of duties from the lower grades of refined
sugar. How some Republican Senators of tho
committee have been induced to take the side
of the trust, and to favor the retention OF
duties on sugar from No. - to No. 16 III
| color, has been a mystery to Republican voters
| throughout the country, who are glad to hear
| that Senator Allison refuses to assent, and will
| dispute the matter in the interest of his con-
! sttuents and require "A vote thereon in open
! Senate. The issue appears exceedingly simple.
| Removal of duties on raw sugar would not
| benefit consumers to the full extent desired,
| but would simply put additional millions into
the pockets of rciners, if the trust could fix
at pleasure the selling price Of all grades OF
refined sugar. Senator'S who vote to take off
the duty from the lower grades are voting TO
| give the consumers the full benefit of the re-
| duction of duty The fact that the fight on
| behalf of the trust has been made conspicuous
| ly by the so-caled Independent iciners il
significant 1t suggests that they would not
| find it hard TO divide the plumber with the
| trust. if consumers could be forced to pay an
unreasonable price for all refined sugar.
The wool duties and the duties on woollen
goods are expected to be retained as they
stood in the House bill, with only those need
full amendments which the Senate Committee
made for the purpose of stopping leaks left
open by mistaken votes in the House. Months
Of argument and reflection have apparently
convinced Republicans that the adjustment of
wool and woollens duties is right and wise,
and will probably insure the prosperity of
growers and manufacturers alike. The cry
for free wool has been almost entirely silenced
by this judicious adjustment, and an attempt
to alter it essentially would doubtless reopen
the conflict of interests between wool pro-
ducers and part Of the wool consumers. This