The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-10-23

the Seeessaries CT Life. The increases
in This Eli Are on Articles Which the
People Can Do NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Davis al Minneapolis.
WHAT THE BUSINESS MEN SAY.
To the Editor Of The Journal:
As one Of the merchants who claims
that the passage of the Mckinley bill
will increase the cost of goods to the
consumer, desire to furnish some evil
de2cc for the faith that is in me-
In a recent issue OF the Minneapolis
Tribune the following appeared in an
editorial, commenting on prices and the
Tariff bill: 'sAs soon as the bill becams
law, they tine m il2rters7s ETffF
advanced their prices; jobbars and re-
tailers have likewise marked up their
prices on goods. The thing cannot last
long, and if the public will meet the
bluff with a 80 so days postponement
of purchases, the gentlemen who are so
eager to make something ont OF the
tariff viii be glad to sell their goods at
a reasonable price. The men who have
been marking up the things they have
in stock do not know, in many cases,
what the new tariff is. They are simp-
ly trying to take advantage of the furry
that must inevitably follow change in
| the revenue laws"
| do not suppose reasonable exception
can be taken to one basing the selling
price Of an article he is constantly hand
! ling On what it VIII cost him to replace
it. l concele the usual method is to
base the selling price on the price paid,
but If, after making purchase, there is
q decline in its value, the merchant is
forced to sell at a price based on this
| value. It IS poor rule that viii not
work both ways; and if it is fact that
this law has increased the price of
goods, "the thing will last" and no
reasonable person can take exceptions
to the merchant who bases his price on
the few goods now on hand, on what it
viii cost him to rep1euish his stock.
| see in the Sunday morning issue of
the Tribune that our merchants quite
generally have not advanced the prices
on their stock on hand. Granting this,
i let US see if they are not warranted in
advancing their prices. It ought not to
be difficult to solve the problem. The
bill is fact; its provisions in the main
are plain, and there is no reason why
We cannot figure what it will cost to re-
plenish stock.
/ What are importers, who have stocked
up in anticipation of the passage of this
measure, doing. I have before me a
letter from pearl button importer in
New York, who is reported to have on
haad 81 100000 worth Of pearl buttons.
See how magnanimous he is; he says:
"Please find prices of pearl buttons for
i goods on hand; prices for imports would
be much higher" The button he sold
for 49, cents before the Mckinley bill
went into effect, he offers for 80 cents;
to import now will cost So cents. The
one he sold for % cents, he will sell for
10: to import will cost 80. The ons he
sold for 43t, he will sell for s5; to i'm
port now would cost $1.0t. The one he
sold for ~ he will sell at %; to import
row would cost 81. 90, and 50 on through
the list.
j IL report is true as to his stock on
hand, inasr1uch as he and two other
firms practically control stock in hands
Of importers, this bill enables him to
more than doable his money, and still
undersell the government.
! IL viii be noticed taat the percentage
OF increase By tbs Mckinley bill i
greatest on the cheaper grades. The
cheapest pearl b1bton used is increased
so per cent. The smoked pearl, used
SO commonly on calico dresses, IL in
creased over 800 per cent. The advance
on the finest grades is but 40 per cent.
1 Cotton goods, as stockings, shirts aud
drawers. are subject to d marked in
crease, and here we notice the same at.
tentioa to the interests of those who use
the cheaper grades. The old duty on
stockings, costing less than go cents per
i dozen wis 40 per cent. al valorern: now
the duty il 20 ceats per dozen specific
and 20 per cent. ad valore-n. Tie stock
ing costing ia Earope 20 cents per dozen
paid q daty Of ccass. AL cost. landed
/ here, % cents; nov the stocking costing
20 cents il Earope. pays ~ eeIfss specific
daty and 20 pa csat. Id valorem, and
costs III cents landed here, al Increase
Il Of over 81 per cent
Eow is it with the higher priced
hosiery. Take hosiery costing iii Europe
si2 per dozen; the old duty was 40 psr
cent, making it cost 1859. The rate
unaes lis Mckinley b.ll ii 81 per d5zsa