New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-14
prices AND THE T1RIFF.

Because prices of many articles arc higher
than month ago or a year a"", 1t Is iaiSclS
alleged that the new tariff !, maxim" n'cc>NaricS
of life more costly. The assertion has not even
y grain of excuse in facts. though II Is trc that
some dishonest and short-Sghtcd dealers arc
taking advantage of popular ignorance, ana
marking M prices of cOU'i> which the tariff docs
not atrnc; in the least. using that measure rs
their pr;cX'. Ccnstimcrs can punish this cx-
tor, .on if they chose. by ir,. s"ling their trad"
20 merchants who are more honest. That they
NAV have some i.ht to guild" them. hii"t re-
view Of prices may be tlncy.
Bread>iulY, are hlchc; than month ago. and
much higher than a year ago, ana Ia" reason
which controls the trade Is found IN the o.!ical
:, port If the Department of Agriculture show
~. tia, thc II IS lat winter AID III" d'""'h
last summer cau>. d loss Of ah"ut ?h.o"h.op"
bush !, oi wheat about Il lii'h oi the corn crop
and atu;;t zoo. u0o.uC0 bushels o. oats. No
tarln did not cause either the irost> or tho
drouth nor has il caused tho recent advance III
dairy pirducis nor the recent dc"Iln" in som"
vegetables and in cattle. With >h":t crop OF
COM IL z ploiuci> ale naturally hi@h"r hu' tho
supply of hnc, has been so lar@' HAT III" c.t"c'
j. a, yet but intl, IL. sugar, hops and nee
cost iu,: what tncy d.l month ac' and coffee
i a li,'." lower On IL" Whole. iLIm products n"
much drarcr than usual, but OWN. +" cau>r~
with which IS 90, :hc taliN ll' n"ihi"' - dc"
Cotton !, Il little lower thaa Il inunth ago,
While pint cloths. >r'clin"S AID 9th cotton
fabrics have not changed ~ price. Woo" i
>nadn h',hcr on many grades ah'nt on" cent
la.T prn!d Lut 10 ,haII." has YET hc II made III
prices If wooilcn Ecud, Of ioiH" tIC make, al',
if E!ch"r prices arr u.s. auyhnIy chale. t"l i'm
pnIird won"n-, II j. on goods Whl'i WI" ia
u,rt..? at ia" old rat. OF dtitrS. that IN adj
yanc" IN plicr is simply tahiu; aIl an'a!r Of
customers. Carpets and ilInn"l~ ale quoted
inst rs they we've u month ago. ana al" boot
and shoes, h'i III iic latter mo'l"Iair advance
VA, made some tim" before III" taiiit passed.
on account of the higher prices Of hides and oi
leather. Since the aci has passed hides have
| MT cbancrd at all and leather is Il little lower.
| There has been no chang" III IRON or steel, or
any of their important productS since IN" now
| bill passed Tin plates were advanced about
month before the act passed by heavy buying
| abroad in order 10 import INTO TIL" country.
though the new duty docs not take effect until
| July |, 1891. Tin i active IN speculation,
| though the new law makes no change FOR three
wear, in the duty. and copper ha, not changed
! in price, Lead and products Of lead bad adj
vanccd sharply before september. because oi
| Influences cNlstnC prior TO the pa sage OF the
| act Lumber and brick are lower than month
ago and lime, lith, glass, paints and paper are
unchanged.
The truth is that thr now tariff does not on
! hau,c the cost Of Il single necessary of life. but
reduces tho duties on mlny. II higher prices
are charged Iy dealers for any necessary of life.
| and The tariff i, mentioned IL IN excuse the
customer NAY know that he is being cheated
and hr can End more honest traders who make
no sllcl, cxaction. The cost Of living has in
deed ben enhanced ly the partial failure Of i'm
| porant crops and the effect of that serious loss
i, not yet fully felt perhaps. l;ul there is no
| manufactured product in any measure a ncc"s
.ary Of life. the cost Of which has up 10 This
time been Affected in the least by the ilIiT.
The political ulct>icrs who pretend the con-
,rary need III" mclitcd correction Of defeat in
| November.