The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-20
A Sc. Paul Merchant ON tho Increased Cost
OF Buttons, Cotton Goods,
woolens and Cutlery.

/
are not affected by the increased duty on
tobacco. The duty on imported cigars ID
increased ~ per pound. On thousand
cigars weighing thirteen pounds this means
an increase Of $26. On 1000 American
made cigars Of the Same size thret
are used. The increased duty on these
wrappere is $1.25 per pound, If unstemmed
Tor $1.75 Il stemmed; ON three and hall
pounds $4.37}s unstemmed and 36121
stemmed. As there is no advance on the
tobacco used for filters, these figures repre-
sent the extra cost Of Q thousand cigars
made in America of foreign grown tobao.
co. It will thus be cheaper to import the
material than the made up cigar. The con-
sequence will be that more foreign wrap
pers and hllers will be used than before,
and the American grower will find smaller
market for his product. At the same time
the increased duty ON the wrappers will
cause an advance in the cost IF domestic
made cigars.
The cry of the monopolists that there ID
no justification for the merchants marking
up the prices Of their goods, because the
MCKINLEY bill has become law, ls most
effectively answered by Mr.. George H. Part
ridge, of the st. Paul Arm of Wiman, Part
ridge d Co., jobbers in dry goods. Helena
merchants deal largely with the Wholesale
houses and whatever effects the st. Paul
HOUSES mas ltS lnuuenCo On Guo ueleua
trade. Mr.. Partridge knows what he is
talking about, because he deals every day
with men affected by the Mckinley bill. To
representative of a st. Paul paper who
asked him about the effects of the McKin-
ley bill, he said:
Il see it stated that our merchants quite
generally have not advanced the prices on
the stock in hand. Granting this. 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 replenish stock.
What are importers who have stocked
up in anticipation of the passage Of this
measure doing? / have before me a letter
from pearl button importer in New York,
who is reported to have on hand 81, COO, 600
nous he is. He says: Please find prices
OF pearl buttons for goods on hand; prices
for imports would be much higher The
button he sold for 1875 cents before the Nc
kinney bill went into effect he offers for SO
cents; to import now will cost 6s cents;
for 20; to import will cost 81. The one he
sold for 4216 he will sell for Sc; to import
now would cost $l.O1. The one he sold for
70 he will sell at s.; to import now would
cost $1.O9, and SO on through the list.
Cotton goods, as stockings, shirts and
and here we notice that same attention to
the interests of those using the cheaper
grades. The only duty on stockings, cost
ing less than GO cents per dozen, was 40 per
cent. ad valorem; now the duty 10 20 cents
per dozen specific, and 20 per cent ad va
lorem. The stocking costing in Europe 20
cents per dozen paid duty Of cents, and
cost landed here % cents; now the stocking
costing 20 cents in Europe, pays 20 cents
specific duty and 70 per cent. ad valorem
and costs A cents landed here, an increase Of
over 81 per cent.
:.How is it with the high-priced hosiery
Take hosiery costing in Europe $l2 per
dozen; the old duty was 40 per cent, max
ing it cost $3.50. The rate under the Nc.
Kinley bill is 81 per dozen and 40 per cent,
or $3.50, an increase Of between and 6
per cent.
''Shirts and drawers costing &1.5O per
dozen in Europe paid under the old law 40
Ger cent ad val0rem, thus costing q. 10;
now they pay 81 specific duty and IS per
cent ad yalorem, or $500, an increase of ~
per cent; Those costing $l2in Europe paid
landed in this country $3.50; under the
Mckinley Law the duty is % specific aud 40
per cent ad valorem, or $3.50, an increase
OF II per cent.
''Woolens, worsteds, cloths. dress goods
Especially the cheaper varieties). FLASHES.
velyeteens. upholstefing goods, corduroys,
collars. cuffs, leoss, edainRs. embroideries,
ruchings, kid gloves Especially the cheaper
gradss), ribbons, handkerchiefs, clothing
land many raw materials used in its manu-
facture, such - low grades of wool, worsted
o. the hair Of camel, goat or alpscs). car
lines Of hardware. groceries, boots and
shoes, tobaocos, etc., are all increased from
10 to 100 per cent under this law. And the
demonstration 10 easily made, but space
forbids giving further details.
IL. DE- -. 10
lery, proving that ON the cheaper grades
used BY the common people the increase 10
from 20 to IS per cent; on the high class
goods the increase ia only six per cent. Mr..
Partridge then adds:
"Now. il ever, our boasted manufacturers
have been paying tribute to the manufactu-
rers on the plea of building mp home indus.
tries. Where do they stand to-day? Ex-
actly where any shrewd business man would
expect them to stand. They are taking adj
vantage of the situation to advance their
prices.
1--WE have paid millions Of dollars in du-
ties on linen goods. toweling, crash, ETC.. in
the years past, and have but one mill of
consequence making these goods. These
are the Stevens crashes. Under date of
October 2, they submit new price list with
and by referring to the Mckinley bill, We
ind the tariff on these goods raised.
"An American cutlery manufacturer
writes: We beg to advise you that We
hereby withdraw all former quotations ON
our cutlery. We have made an advance ia
our prices which will be quoted you on ap-
plication.' It ID fair to presume that the
tAri6 advance on imported cutlery had
something 70 do with this advance.
sOne jobbing house received in one DAYS
mail last week fourteen letters from Amor
loan manufacturers advancing pricea on
American goods. In some cases an advance
- due to An increase in duty ON raw mate
rails used in their business, and the halanoe
70 their being men who take adyantaoa Of
the opportunities. The men enraQed in
manufacturing enterprises are, as 4 rule,
business men.
"A considerable percentage of the goods
handled By jobberS in all lines are vhst ara
known a 'combiuation .goods;' tho manu-
faetutefs or importers agree on,a selling
pfice Tor both themselves and the iobbers.
and one OF these writes: The question az
20 how and whom to advance prioea vas
fully discussed, and it waa unamimously
decided to make the advance a 0nce: ANY
other plan would demoralixe trada. We
therefore notify You that all ORDER received
BY ~ after October viii be nlled 81 prices
N aocoEdance With tho new tariff. keep
tons cannot b made. Dealers viii "a veil
70 marx mp tAoir cock aopoedinaiv.
might cite further insfanees. but be-
hsvs I nave pecvsa my casA No one Who