Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-21
lfcKtalsys Bill.
PROPOSED Duty

rctt,sn n4r hovrOS ..................... 2.+3
lC Avs 9I6................. .4.oo
An increase Of over l95 per cent in
amount Of duty paid.
Every man, woman and child in the
United States is consumer of tin in
one form or another, and the tax is uni
versal. amounting last year to seven
millions OF dollars, not needed by the
government and protecting no industry,
and it is now proposed to more than
double this tax. The most convincing
argument against the proposed outrage
we have seen we find in the follow
ing circular letter from the firm Of
BRUCE and COOK, of New York:
The text Of the law proposed, as now
printed. is very ambiguous but il seems
this tax of one cent per pound is to be re
tained until the first Of July, 1891, and after
that time all gauges from - 10 % are 10 be
taxed pa cents per pound: and as nearly
AN tin and Tene Plates come within those
gauges. substantially that VIII be the rate ol
the whole product. Without any increase
in the consumption. this difference would
make an addition 20 the Tin Plate duty OF
-. go OJ per annum, which would make
total TAX OF So. $1,000 per annum. Tor the
Tin Plates needed for this couutry's vel
fare: and Judging from the past IN
crease In the consumption. the amount
must be- largely in excess OF
even these enormous figures. rms
amount is % be drawn from the pockets OF
the people without being needed for Gov
ernmeut expenses. and upon the sole propO-
sition that bv it. we shall be enabled 70 es-
tabiish a new industry. and eventually sup
DIV ourselves with tin plates manufacturer
i'm this country. Now multiply this amount
by the ten. twenty, thirty years or more that
these duties will be demanded by the manu-
facturers. and Judge if il be wise TO buy the
industry al such a price. IL must not be
lost sight Of that the manufacture OF aru-
cles in this country from tin plates Is now
an industry of enormous magnitude. Were
tin plates free. there is little, If any, doubt
that these manufacturers could all OF them
find a market In foreign countries for their
product. i'm competition with the product OF
anv other nation i'm similar goods. The
market is denied now by the duty of one
cent per pound, and You can easily imagine
how helpless il will be i'm the face of duty
of . centper pound
me DlDA AOf THIS ~ lAtlN tue AttAN
Of tin plates would be established here in
this country. and become a large and inn
posing branch Of industrial product; and
the inference is left 20 be drawn that in a
very short time this industry, supplying
the country with tin plates, would be ready
10 take of the duty, and furnish the people
their plates as cheaply as they get them
now.
We have only TO look at the history of
the iron manufactures, and of our copper
mining interests. 70 see how utterly futile
such am expectation is, so far as any relief
from those interested in the manufacture
OF plates is concerned. 10 is now thirty
wears. nearly. since an enormous duty was
placed upon the manufacture OF iron and
steel imported into this country. The rev
enues from duties. as YOU know, have
amounted % over one hundred millions per
annum more than the necessities of the
Government required, and has been neces-
sarilv used 10 purchase its per cent bonds
and cancel it's Indebtedness at a premium
OF - % Sd per cent. above par; pouring
This money, not into the hands OF the labor
ing classes. whose welfare is the confessed
object Of the tariff, but into the hands OF
the capitalists, who were willing 10 invest
their money at per cent Tor safety rather
than risk II in the ordinary channels OF
business. ltNt lLuA uAA att'A AlstltH4AN
turers. as YOU well know, after this nearly
thirty years of protection, are now de
handing its increase, instead of being will
ing 20 reduce the burdens laid upon the
people.
We submit this ease TO you. Ii is only
one Of the many necessities Of the people
which are proposed 20 be taxed not as they
claim 90 protect the laborer, nor 10 care for
labor. but IL is manifest that these men,
seeking such protection. demand for them
selves. for the oversight Of such manufac-
turer net result that accumulates enOr-
nous fortunes i'm individual hands all over
the country.
Ought not the people TO bestir themselves
and demand Of our legislators such an ar
rangement Of tariff revenues, rs shall con-
fine them closely 10 the necessary expendi-
lures of the government, and interfere in
the least possible manner with the business
of the country