The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-15
OH, NO, IT'S NOT A TAX !!
If You Don't Believe This, Look at
How Prices Are Ad-
vancing.
Hardware had to "Sympathize"
With the Jump In Other
Things
Some Further and Startling Facts About
the Beneficent Effects Of the
Mckinley Bill.

Continued investigation of the manner in
which the Mckinley tariff bill reduces the
cost of those things which the poor man
cannot do without, shows that in the mat
ter Of cutting down the cost of these necess-
aries, in the Helena market the bill is not a
bowling success. Reference has already
been made to the increase in the price of
mems clothing, ladies' garments and chill
dren's outfits which has been made and
will be made in the near future by the east
ern Wholesale houses, both in imported and
domestic goods. The stock argument Of re-
publican orators and republican papers is
that the Mckinley bill places more things
on the free list than did the old tariff bill;
that great reductions have been made, and
that the necessaries of life will be made
cheaper by the bill. The democrats con-
tended when the Mckinley bill was under
discussion in the house, that if pass
ed it's effect would be to not only
increase the cost of those things
on which the duty was raised
but that in sympathy with this increase,
everything, almost without exception, would
go up in price to the consumer. And the
result has proven the truth OF this predic-
ton.
That shoes are necessary of life, the
most rabid protectionist must confess. OF
course with hides on the f. zee list. the pro-
tectionists said the price of shoes could not
be increased. But rs the democrats pre-
dicted, boots and shoes of all kinds have
gone up in sympathy with the rise in dry
goods and clothing Two weeks ago there
was purchased in Helena shoe store by
we'll known gentleman a pair of child's
shoes, for which 1926 was paid. Yesterday
the same manufacture, for another of his
children. and the price was $3.50. In ex-
PLANTATION of the rise, the dealer said that
since the Mckinley bill went into effect he
had been notified by the houses with which
he dealt of an increase in price in all lines
formerly cost 81 would not retail at 1925.
and those costing IS formerly he would
hereafter be compelled to sell at $3.50.
A cooking stove may not be a necessity
among the Sioux Indians, or one for heat
ing purposes requisite for comfort in Africa.
But among the civilized people Of Montana
both are necessities, for the poor man and
his family. as we'll as the rich. OF course,
the rich man, or the one well-to-do. can and
does buy expensive ranges for cooking and
furnaces Tor heating, 80 that one purchase
will last them for years. But the poor man
cannot do this. He buys cheaper stoves,
they wear out sooner, and have to be re-
placed more often. Lucky the workingman
who is we'll provided now in this respect,
because if he has not purchased before the
Mckinley bill became law, no will now
pay from SO to $40 more than he would un-
der the old law. The firm of Cribben Il
Sexton, of Chicago, has this to say about
this part of the bill:
"There is no direct raise in the tariff on
stoves, but the price will go up just the
same. great deal of the material which
enters into the manufacture of stoves re-
mains the same as it did before the Nc.
Kinley bill was passed, but there is slight
will strengthen the price of stoves. Then,
if you raise the price of one kind of iron
product all kinds of iron ware will feel it.
Stoves will 90 mp on that account. Then
those which have any tin about them will
advance in price. Russia ware will advance
fitted any BY the rise. On the contrary. we
will be the loser. For time trade will be
lively, then the volume of business will de-
crease. The consumers will pay the bill
and the manufacturers get the money. The
bill is al, outrage. and the party responsible
will not stand this abominable tax, which
offers them nothing in return for higher
prices"
Hardware men generally express the
opinion that the new prices which they
must ask Tor their goods Will open the eyes
OF the people to the fact that they are being
robbed to further enrich large and wealthy
manufacturers. The hardware tax, like all
other taxes imposed by the Mckinley bill,
is to tall with the greatest force on the
working classes. The dealers believe that
American manufacturers OF hardware will
take advantage OF the tax on imported
: goods, as the manufacturers in other lines
are doing, TO put up the prices on home
made wares that do not come In direct COM
petition with foreign goods OF the same
klno. As an iiiustratlon OF TINS feellnR,
not only IN Helena, but on the outside, one
OF the hrm OF Hlbbard, spencer d Bartlett,
Of Chicago, house that sells thousands of
dollars worth of goods in Montana every
year. referring to the Mckinley bill, said:
There has already been an advance in
all kinds OF hardware. and in the near fu-
ture still higher prices will be demanded.
We. of course, must regulate our prices by
the prices we shall be obliged to pay for our
goods. What that will be is now mere
matter of conjecture. 1t is not SO simple q
matter to estimate this effect as it might
appear, for when the additional tariff ID
added to the old price of goods the question
is not solved. The whole system of supply
and demand is changed, and manufacturers
of goods not directly touched by the new
tariff will in all probability put up their
goods out of sympathy for other wares in
the same general class. This effect cannot
be estimated. All we can do ia to wait and
raise the price of goods on our customers
Just as much as they have been raised on
US. So far the greatest advance has been
on cutlery and gums