The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-10
ITS EFFECTS ARE FELT.
The Tariff that Cheapens" Sends
Prices Booming Upward
All Around.
Already Notices Of Advances
in Some Lines are Com
ing In.
Everything Getting Bearer In the East
and tho West Must Follow-Trusts.
Everywhere Trusts.

"The higher you make the duty the
cheaper you make the article" was one OF
the arguments of the advocates of the Nc
Klnley tariff bill. just how near this
comes to being true will be seen by the
prominent merchant in Helena:
Dear Sirs-The Mckinley bill as reported
from the conference committee will ad-
vance the price of seal pushes from 80 to
10 per cent, SO that pushes by the ward
which have cost SIS will cost from $3.50 to
1918 under the new tariff law. We will be
Obliged, consequently, to advance the prices
that the cost of a plush jacket instead of
being 81 as formerly, will be $40 now,
the cost of plush sacque at $40 formerly
will be S22.5O now. In case you desire we
will send you a revised price list of the
numbers that you have purchased from us.
Similar advances all along the line will
make living pretty expensive this winter, if
not for all times to come, until the obnox-
ious law is wiped off the books. That these
advances will follow is matter of course.
Tho advertisements in the eastern papers
announce that everything, carpets, furni-
ture. crockery hardware dry goods, dress
goods, clothing, books. and numberless
other things are crawling up The cast
ern market naturally has its effect on west
ern prices. Inquiry among Helena mer-
chants yesterday elected the fact that
while no advance had yet beer announced
it was coming, as the houses from which
they buy will no doubt notify them of
higher prices, as was done in the case cited.
The man who pays from 20 to so per cent
more for everything he or his family uses
about the house or wears on the street will
very likely be convinced of the beneficent
effects of a protecting tariff, and of the
truth of the assertion that 1.-THE higher you
put the duty the cheaper you make the
article.''
One of the firm of Sands Bros. said the
effect of the Mckinley bill would be felt.
not SO much on the high priced goods as on
the low priced ones-the ones used by the
masses. The large importations that had
been made previous to the time the bill
went into effect would keep the country
we'll supplied for a while. This, with COM
facturers making any great advance at
once. But when the goods already i'm
ported had been disposed of, and the high
duties kept out any more of the same kind,
then the trouble would begin. The large
houses in the east had already given
notice of their intention to advance
prices from 10 to 20 per cent. He did not
think Helena would be affected as long as
the goods already here were on the market,
but when the time came to buy more it
would have to be at higher prices, as the
eastern houses were charging more. The
consumer would have to pay It, and he did
not think the middleman would make any
thing out of it. Even the enhanced price
of goods would be all right, if the working
people were paid higher wages, as then they
could afford to pay more for what they
needed.
Another prominent merchant, who did
not want his name published, said: 1.-THE
big houses from which we buy have given
notice OF advances running all the way
from ten to thirty-fve per cent. This the
consumer will of course have to pay. Our
firm has been told that the tariff bill en-
hances the value of the stock we have on
hand several thousand dollars. Granting
that it does, it is dishonest measure that
makes it So"
Ben Harris. the clothier, did not care to
say much about the matter, except that he
was glad it was settled, even if not settled
as he would have wished. The effect, he
thought, would be to put prices up 10 to Is
per cent.
What is true of what the people wear is
true also of the articles of more common
use about the house. Advances of 10 per
cent, 20 per cent. and even 30 per cent.
ware, cutlery, and crockery. A prominent |
merchant of these lines Of goods,
speaking on the subject, said that he had |
not studied the new tariff bill sufficiently
TO say aS yet WnaI the exact advances would |
be, but they were sure to come. What he
looked on as the worst effect OF the bill, |
however, was the encouragement it gave to |
trusts. Already these combinations were
being formed in various branches of bust
ness. They could be heard of every day in
one business or another. When they had
driven out all individual enterprise they
would have the public at their mercy. |
Everybody knew what that meant.
Under the Mckinley bill,' says Mr.. I. |
Marks, 1.-THE advance in the price |
of good cigars is from $40 to $45 per thou
sand, an average of four cents apiece. Gil
CARS which have been selling ut two for |
a quarter will have to be sold for
three for half dollar. Domestic cigars |
which use an imported wrapper will be ad- |
yanced anywhere from 81 to 81 per 1000, |
Other domestic cigars will very likely ad-
vance in sympathy. All this will allow no
moro profit for the dealer; the consumer
will have to pay it. The advance has al
ready taken place in the East On imported
liquors and wines the extra duty is one dol |
lar per gallon. Tie advance on case of
champagne is three dollars, and there is a |
tax on the bottles. On ale the advance is 80
cents dozen.''
Agnes Booth.