Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-08-22

ing an outlay of $500, 900 for agricultural
labor alone, of $l35, 900 for labor in can maxi
ing, and of 5000, 900 for the labor of prepar-
ing the vegetables, filing the cans, process
ing, labelling, boxing and shipping.
Such, said the farmers and Gamers of
Hartford county, Md, in 1882, ''isa statement
Of the canning industry of little corner of
our State which does not touch upon that in
dustry in other parts OF the State. Yet from
these figures an idea may be formed of the
importance of this great and flourishing in
dustry not only 10 Maryland, but throughout
the whole country, the very existence of
which depends absolutely upon the cheapness
of tin-plate.'
"Mr. President, | am informed and believe
that the State Of Maryland, in proportion 10
her population, is the largest producer Of
canned goods in the world. You may well
Judge, then, that her people have a profound
interest in this issue. Her output of canned
fruits, vegetables and oysters amounted in
1888 to 80, 900, 900 cans, Sc, 900, 900 being Of
fruits and vegetables, and "a, 900, 900 of oys-
ters, the latter involving catch Of s, 100000
bushels of oysters. The capital invested in
this business amounted to $50, 600, 900 and
employed IS, 900 hands independently of those
engaged in supplying the fruits, vegetables
and oysters for the Gamers use. The capital
in Maryland employed in this industry, TO
say nothing Of the value of the lands which
supply them with their materials, is one-third
of the whole capital which the friends of this
increased duty declare to be sufficient to es-
tablish the manufacture Of tin-plate in this
country. The amount embarked in all the
canning and encasing processes of our whole
country must many times exceed the $50, 900,
900 needed for the tin-plate manufacture
And might as well state right here that we
export to England Of our food products and
our oils encased in tin many times more in
value than the $2l, 200, 900 worth of tin
plate which we import from that country"
Concerning the great interests involved Mr..
Wilson said
1.-THE manufacturers of tin utensils and the
canning industries, with their dependent oc-
cupations, give employment TO some two mil
lions OF persons, the majority of whom wholly
rely upon such callings for living, and the
rest derive either their principal support or
are materially aided in the battle OF life by
the wages or profits thence derived. As
against this vast mass of human beings who
are vitality interested in cheap tinware by vr-
tue OF their very callings in life, we have
whom? Some few dozen of manufacturing
capitalists, who are seeking for opportunities
of multiplying their wealth through govern
mental favor, and forty thousand men whom
no man living can point out, but who will
from Wales, and many of whom are now
doubtless engaged in other pursuits"
AS to the effect of the increase on the in
dustries dependent upon tin-plate, Mr.. Wilson
said 1.-THE only answer, Mr.. President, that
can be made TO the argument against this in
creased protective duty on tin-plate is this
that this raising of the duty from 347 to T64
per cent al valorem will not seriously injurt
the business either of the workers in tin or o
tn ose who are engaged in canning the varou!
food products of the country. Why, sir, Car
anything be more preposterous than The pro
position that new and additional tax o
nearly $9, 900, 900 imposed upon these strug
Cling industries will not harm them? II Con
gress should now seriously propose 10 impos'
an internal revenue tax of 80, 900, 900 upor
the products of iron and steel mills Of th,
country, rich as their owners are, and so long
the benefciares of the highest governments
protection, as soon as electricity could sum
mon them and lightning expresses could bring
them TO this capital an army OF manulaciur
ing capitalists and their paid lobby wouli be
besiegng us, crying out for us to stay oul
hands or their business would be ruined
that they could not afford to carry on theiI
operations, as such a tax would so largely
lessen their profits, and that the enha ncemen
of prices consequent upon such an increased
taxation would so greatly circumscrbe theil
!
sales as 10 force them out OF business. But,
sir, this increased duty on tin-plate would
work much more disastrous results upon the
Gamers than any such supposed case would
upon the iron and steel men of the country
1t would prove to them fatal incubus upon
their business, both lessening and destroying
their profits, and seriously crcumscribing
their trade Upon no business now conduct
ed in this countrJ would the result be so sure
| to fall rs upon our canning industries. In the
effort to stem the tide which has been bear
ing them to destruction, the farmers of the
Eastern and Middle States and gradually thost
Of the West have been starting canning es-
tablishments for their fruits and vegetables
wherever there seemed an opportunity to di
versfy their occupations aud to gain new ac
cess to markets for their products. Possibly
they may have overdone the business. A
any rate, canned goods are scarcely payinl
their prime cost. The margin profit is ex
| tremely small and in many cases does no
exist To force these men now TO pay mil
lions of dollars for their raw material, o
which in the course of its consumption ful
ten per cent. is necessarily wasted, woulC
surely entail wholesale ruin upon them il
their present condition"