Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-01-01
Economic Injuries.

Y Senate and House committees sitting
In Washington are getting at some in
teresting industrial information. The
Genate committee Is looking after the
cattle and meat question, upon which IL
has been taking testimony during the
recess, In Western centres. 1t does not
seem yet to have been able to reach
cOnfident conclusion as TO the cost
M the ready made beef that the
West sends into the East i'm re-
frigerator cars or to find where the
profit turks in the business. 1t finds
that the price of cattle has been steadily
Sdeclining, while the cost of beef to the
Consumer does not lessen accordingly In
sCur markets. The natural conclusion is
that there is big profit somewhere be-
tween the cattle raiser and the beef
eater. The cattle producers generally
have gone into bankruptcy. The big
hptahers seem to thrive. But they thrive,
acS esding>t >te their statement to the COM
mittec on very low diet. They are unable
TO figure out any profit in killing
cattle. They give the prices they pay
for the animals and detailed statement
Of what they get for each part Of the
carcass. They manage to get about as
I much as they pay, and for their profit
and general expenses they seem to have
their experience as their chief return.
And they patiently stick to the business
In the hope Of better times coming; and
\ meanwhile figure rs millionaires upon
the strength Of their big but profltless
business. Evidently If their tales are
true there will he a great commotion
some day when the tail breaks, and
these poverty stricken millionaires
come tumbling down to their true slim.
ness Of financial proportion, and their
fatiess frames are exposed to the view OF
the bankers who have been discountine
/ their notes. The only other conclusion
b that the witnesses have not been
telling the truth, and that there is in
fact a big profit in the dressed meat
business, which gives to the men en-
gagged In it the sleek fatness in which
they shine out to the world
The inquiry conducted by the House
c0isssasittee OF ways and means is on the
tariff imports. 1t is hearing about
everybody who wants to be heard upon
everything that he wants TO be heard
about. Perhaps the members of the com.
mittce have profit and edification in
what they hear. 1t is hearing OF
selfish interests, Of course. The tariff
e question is wholly one of self interest,
and every man feels at liberty to claim
just what his interests call for.
The argument made before the COM
mittee by the witnesses is based wholly
upon their statement of their interest.
Of course they assume that their interest
Is the country's interest, because all bus
ness is beneficial to the country. But
they are particularly concerned only
because ii is their interest; IL the coun
try's interest happened to be different
from theirs, it is 80 much worse for the
country in their opinion. No exception
can be taken to this.
n This economic question OF the tariff
tvery man Is warranted in judging by
hie own case. And very generally the
men who make things tell the commit.
tee to pile high the tariff. A few OF
them ask that their raw materials shall
- made free, but the majority still in
cline to keep the tariff gates up al
around, fearing that if they ask TO hav,
them put down 10 let In something they
want cheap, their customers will wan
them opened also to cheaper the goodl
they buy from them. =
Yesterday; however, there was Pitts
burg bottle maker who joined the fiel
raw material band of Major Bent, and
declared that he could meet European
eompetition without a tariff at all. Hi
teptnion was that tue facilities Of manu-
opture here, and the superior speed and
81 Of the workmen, more than Offset
- cheap European labor; and all the
hoffle maker here needed was as cheap
Eana&srials as the foreign maker had
This Is position which has been
>eretoforc taken in regard to other
Manufacture, IN which great part Of
~ opst y Ia skilled labor, aud there ID
e ~bt that there l. much truth In