Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-18
TARIFF AND HIDES.
The Tanning Industry Excited by the
Fear That Hides May Be
TAKEN FROM THE FREE LIST.
Opposition to the Movement Is Intense in
Massachusetts,.
A BULiISH MOVEMENT IN COFFEE
TAKEN FROM THE FREE LIST.
A BULiISH MOVEMENT IN COFFEE
OFFICE OF PrrrsBUea DrsrArcH, ,

OFFICE OF P1rrsBURa DrspArcH,I
TUESDAY, Nov. II.
II will be remembered that the McKin-
lev tariff bill in its first form as presented
to Congress placed duty on foreign hides.
The pressure from the tanners and shoe
manufacturers of the country was strong
enough to have this tax eliminated from
the bill, and hides were permitted to re-
main on the free list. The State most in
terested in free hides is Massachusetts,, and
since the election of free trade Governor
in that State there has been some talk of
retaliation, purporting to emanate from Sec
retary Rusk, by reviving the duty on hides
Tanners and shoe manufacturers all over
the country are very much disturbed
over this tariff on foreign hides. Without
distinction of party, all interested in shoe
and leather trades are outspoken in their
opposition to the suggestion of Secretary
Rusk that hides should be taken from the
free list Views of a manufacturer of shoes,
eI-Mayor Douglass, of Brockton, Mass,
one of the leading shoe manufacturers of
that State in recent interview had this to
say of the proposed tariff:
'By placing duty on hides sole leather
will advance 3 cents a pound This will
make the cost of shoes 5 cents more pair,
and when 1t comes to including calfskins,
doneola, split and kangaroo. the cost will be
increased 10 cents a pair. This duty on
hides means an increased cost of $50, 900
wear to me, and, of course, that means less
work for my employees. Manufacturers
can't get any more for their shoes, and. in
order TO manufacture at profit, wages must
be reduced. The consumer will not stand
an increase in the cost, neither will he want
20 buy an inferior shoe. The workmen will
not stand a reduction in wages The bene-
fit of the proposed tax on hides would not
be to the farmer, but such men as Armour
and other cattle kings would receive the 81
extra which would be imposed for each ami
NAL. The effect of a tax on hides would be
to ruin Massachusetts, great industry. |
am In hopes that one of our Democratic
members of Congress from this State will
try and have this menacing clause in the
Mckinley bill repealed"
Pithy Points on Business.
C. c. Corlln, in a recent talk before the
Boston Club concerning Conducting busi-
ness on unbusinesslike principles in the shoe
trade" furnished a number of pithy points,
which, if Needed would be money to multi
tudes of tradesmen. Following are few
of the timely suggestions gathered from
this admirable talk. ''It is thoroughly m
businesslike for a manufacturer or jobber
TO engage in speculation. More than one
man who has been familiar with the
ticker has found that by it his business
habits and future have been licked away.
1t is unbusinesslike for us to lose our men
tai balance, and in case there are one or
two failures in the trade, assume that the
great mass is alike weak and to be dis
trusted. One of the greatest evils connecting
with our trade is that which we term dating
ahead. Dating ahead is only another form
Of offering advantage to man as an induce
ment TO the purchase of goods. 1t is con-
ducting business upon unbusinesslike prin-
ciples when one sells goods at less than cost
in order to establish the reputation OF doing
a large business. 1t is unbusinesslike for
us to treat every man engaged in the same
line of trade as an enemy ana one to be dis
trusted The best interest of the trade will
be subseryed when we treat each Other like
brothers rather than foes. do not expect
that the miilennial age has yet dawned
when the roaring lion (the jobber), and the
gentle lamb (the manufactured, can lie
down together: but it would seem that at
least the morning of the day has arrived
when manufacturers, as such, can meet
each other upon footing of personal friend
ship. Not only will the sharpness of COM
petition be materially reduced when We
learn more of the golden rule, but also the
pleasures attendant upon the conduct of our
business be enhanced. Competition always
has existed; it always will; but even COM
petitors may cultivate relations and de-
velop friendship that will cause cooper
alton rather than antagonisms"
The Coffee Outlook.
The disturbed condition of affairs in Bra
I'll has of late had an exciting influence on
coffee markets. Bulls have no doubt e1ag-
gerated the effect of the political complica-
tions of Brazil, but the fact is plain that
Rio and Santos coffees are much stronger at
sources of supply. Latest sdvices from Rio
and New York show that purchases have
been very heavy in the past few days. The
total visible supply Of Rio coffee is now
500. 900 bags, against 3S7, ,291 bags for the
same time last year Total receipts of the
presen; crop up 10 November u have been
1,116,000 bags, against 1,094, 900 bags at the
same time last year.