The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-10-10
Democratic Congressional Ticket F.!
The New Tariff.

AAOnuoy. Al hutiClphtlOH VI us cueCts I'LL
porters have bought large stocks of goods
under the old tariff, and until some of these
are disposed of there is not likely to be a gen.
eral advance in prices. Merchants think,
be taken of the new tariff to increase prices.
Ex-Mayor Hodges, one of the largest import
ers of Baltimore city, sums up the situation
as follows:
There has been q general advance in all
commodities, but owing to the glutted condi-
ton of the market, brought about by exces-
sive importations, stimulated by an increase
of duties, 1t will be extremely difficult for i'm
porters and wholesale merchants to obtain
any marked advance in prices. Nothing 80
disturbs the regularity of trade as constant
changes in the tariff law. It unsettles the
market and confuses values. The merchants
will be benefited by the new tariff, as the
tendency toward new prices is inevitable.
1t is the consumer who will suffer. The ad.
vance in prices without increase in wages or
incomes must necessarily diminish the de-
mand for goods to the extent of the advance
in values. 1t is plainly perceptble that con-
sumers will have to economic to that extent.
A summary of the business situation in its
relation to workingmen especially, is some
thing like this: Old tariff, AZ per cent; new
tariff, 90 per cent; wages, stationary; result,
pinching economy and privation to millions
ofconsumers."
A Sun reporter gives some of the more
startling changes in prices which are expect.
ed soon to follow the enforcement of the new
tariff law. For instance, imitation kid
gloves, now costing rs cents will be drawn
from the market, but genuine kid gloves
which the rich buy, will continue to be sold
at 81 pair. Five cent cigars will deterior-
ate in quality but the ten cent article will be
sold as heretofore. Codliver oil is increased
from So to $3.50 per barrel The tin in a
five cent can will hereafter cost cents.
In dress goods the general advance is II
per cent. The increase eliminates in pearl
shirt and dress buttons, being from $50 to 200
per cent. The general effect is to increase
domestic goods three or four times their pre-
sent price. Towels that heretofore cost
wholesale 80 per dozen will sell for 90 20;
handkerchief formerly selling at 81 per dozen
will be put on the market at $40. Jersey
cloth will be advanced 80 per cent. above
present COST velvet ribbons, 10 to 90 per
cent, cotton velvets, 10 to 20 per cent; silk
and cotton velvets, 10 to 20 per cent; silk and
cotton plushes, 30 per cent; cotton hosiery,
10 to % per cent. silk hosiery, flor the rich,)
7per cent; wool hosiery, 10 per cent; wool
underwear, 10 per cent; French underwear,
% per cent; wool cashmeres, 10 to 10 per
cent. These figures, as in other cases, do not
altogether represent the percentage of in
creased duty, but the actual advance in price
of the articles necessary 10 compensate i'm
porters.
The increase in cheap glass vases will be
30 per cent, while the additional rate on
handsome vases for elegant parlors will only
be is per cent. There will be no increase in
duty on diamonds, SO that the farmer who
wears diamond studs or whose wife wears
diamond rings may be thankful and satisfied.
A $15 gun will cost $50 and the duty on the
blacksmith's anvil will be increased from
cents to 24 cents per Id.
The much oppressed farmer was not over
looked by Mr.. Mckinley. His wheat, not
uusneA vi WHICH, Is ever lupOTGeu, ID pTOteCt-
ed 25 cents bushel. He exports hundreds
of millions of bushels every year. His hens
eggs are protected at the rate Of five cents
per dozen. The cattle which he never i'm
ports are taxed $40 per head. But hard
ship imposed upon the truckers of Maryland
and Virginia, and just as abominable as that
tax on tin cans, in which are packed their
peaches, corn, tomatoes and other vegeta-
bles, is that duty on imported beans and
peas. Truckers are compelled annually to
buy peas for seeding purposes, not because
they cannot save them during winter, but
because they are unfit for seeding purposes.
Each year in this climate and soil the pea de.
teriorates in quality. 1t is only in Canada
that it grows and thrives, and each spring
the trucker has procured his peas for seeding
from Canada. Now he must pay twice as
much as heretofore for these peas.
Wherever we look it is seen that the addi-
tional burden must be borne by the industri-
al classes and not by the protected manufac-
turers and monopolists. The dealers with
large stocks on hand will increase prices as
soon as they can, as matter of course, and
all this will make life harder for the farmer
and mechanic.