Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-08
THE GROWING TARIFF.
A Century of Protection on China Ware.
How the Duty Has Been Increased.

A Century OF protection on China ware.
How the Duty Has Been Increased.
The way the tariff grows is well shown
by the case of plain white china ware.
The first duty imposed on this was in
1879, and was only 10 per cent. The
very next year the rate was raised to 1871
per cent, and two years later it was
further increased to Is per cent. This
in turn was soon found insufficient, and
in 1S0s it was raised to II. per cent. In
1916 the duty reached 90 per cent, and
in 1912 it was put up to 80.
AT this point reaction set in. In 1857
the duty was lowered to "a per cent.
Even under this lower duty, however, the
pottery and china industry flourished.
The most important potteries in Tren-
ton, The principal seat of the industry in
this country, were founded in this low
tariff period.
But Notwithstanding the establish
ment of these new potteries and the
four shing condition of the industry
thus shown, The need for revenue dur
ing the war made higher taxation
necessary, and in 1868 the duty on plain
china ware was placed at 35 per cent.
Having gotten the taste of the war tariff,
the pottery manufacturers showed no in
clination to submit to reduction of the
duty at the close of the war. On the
contrary, they succeeded in getting 45
per cent. protective duty in 1867.
In 1888 the Republicans in congress
undertook revision of the tariff with
the professed purpose of reducing it.
What this Republican tariff reform"
meant for the makers of plain china ware
was shown by duty of IS per cent
The Mckinley law leaves the duty at
this figure, but as it levies the duty on
the packages, freight charges, etc., and
makes no allowance for goods broken in
shipme Mt, our manufacturers get an ad-
ditional protection Of from to 10 per
cent.
Thus our makers of china ware have
now protection at least six times
higher than that with which they started
out 100 years ago. And yet, before the
era of NlcKinleyism came in, protection
| lists were in the habit of defending their
| system with the pretty claim that pro-
lection constantly tends toward a point
where it is no longer needed, industries
uaFlnS Deen put upon tnelr rect ana
made able to compete with the foreigner.
| The china ware manufacturers show no
signs that they are ready to start even
at this late date toward the point where
such reduction may begin.
And they will never reach that point
Although men have become millionaires
in the pottery industry of Trenton, they
will never surrender without struggle
the enormous advantages which the high
tariff gives them. They will go on max
ing their "list prices" by common agree
ment up to the full amount that the
| duty permits, until the consumers put a
stop to this thing at the ballot box.
The New York Tribune makes this
| important statement:
at is acknowledged by foreign manu-
| facturers and railroad men who have
| visited this country and carefully ex-
| amined affairs here that the higher
efficacy Of labor secured by higher wages
| here to great extent counterbalances
the difference in wages paid"
Very true; but how, then, can our eff
Gent labor need protection to shield it
froy, tho le 40 afficiapt labor of Euror,a2