The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-21
SPRINGER REPLIES TO M'KIxLEY.
He Tries to Prove the American Tin
Industry q Failure.


NATION, ILL.,, Sept 2o.-Hon. William NJ.
Springer Addressed large audience here today
His speech was principally reply to that DE-
livered BY Mckinley at Eliwood last week. He
said that during the interval of nine months
before starting the increased rate provided In
the Mckinley bin there was an enormous in
crease in the importation OF plates to get them
into the country under the old rates and sell
them at the increased .ates He continued
II the Mckinley bin had taken effect on tin
plates Immediately on passage, as IL should
have done, the government would have received
over slo.ooooo more revenue than II did rom
these importations. People were compelled to
buy st the supposed increased price, however.
and these $40, $4,000 were net profit 20 the tan
plate importers and jobbcrs After working TO
the utmost capacity for q time to meet the
enormous demand from the United states, the
Welsh mills. after June. 1891, were obliged to
ehut down Tor n time in order that the eonsump-
tion might catch up with the production. The
Republicans Immediately set up the claim that
the Mckinley bill had caused the Welsh mills
% shut down, and that the industry was to be
transferred To this country. Thus the history
and facts were perverted Ia deceive our people.
Congressman Springer further said that the
manufacture OF tin plates In this country was
conceded by all to be an Improbable industry,
which cannot exist without government bounty
or high protective tariff Either the govern
men, or the consumers OF tin plates must pay
3l6,000,0 COO every year more than would be other
wise required la order to have our annual sup
ply OF tin plates made here. The report OF gov-
eminent agents for the fiscal year ended June
last shows the output OF tin aud terne plates OF
this country for that year to have been Is $50
pounds. This Is less than per cent of the
amount consumed in the same period. We were
tod when the Mckinley bill was pending that
within one year from its passage We would make
here all the plates we could consume Accord
ing 70 the official report only about quarter OF
the amount produced here was tin plates. The
other three-fourths were terne plates. whi.h,
coated with lead and tin, are used Tor roofing
purposes only. and even this rneager output of
less than Per cent was not altogether OF
American production.
Springer went on to state that the importation
OF steei sheets or black plates, used in the man
ufacture OF tin plates, since the passage of the
Mckinley bill had begun to increase almost cor
Jcspondtngiy with the increased production of
terns and tin plates. An agent of the treasury
the last fiscal year 100000 pounds OF black
plates had been made in the United states, but
where made, and whether used in the manufac-
tnrs OF TIN plates, does not appeal But II does
were over 100000 pounds, and from this IL is
apparent that the greater amount of the tin and
ssrns pase' prodaeed IN me United states nsd
part performed in Americs was In large measure
the mere dipping process OF metals mostly i'm
ported. II WAS stated In circular recently is
sued BY the Taylor company. of Philadelphia,
that BY using the latest Improved washdipping
pot two boys can dip seventy boxes of tin daily.
II this b true, twelve boys. by working an en-
tire year, could have dipped the entire Ameri-
can production Tor the last fiscal year, and at
the same ratio Is wonld only require g.. boys to
Zip the entire amount required In the United
States Neither the dipping boys nor the men
who box plates are skilled laborers and are
hired at the lowest prices for unski lied labor
But no matter how many persons are engaged
in this industry here In the past year. II Is
dent that the American people, who are sub
jectsd to tax OF o0O, 900 year for the build.
Ing up Of the tin plate industry, paid very
dearly for their luxury.
Springer asserted that Il was not intended to
build up bona hde tin plate industry in this
country. The increased rate was largely lobbied
through by the American Corrugated Roofing
Company, which wished to drive the tin roofers
out OF the field, and has succeeded. The Demo-
cratic party. II clothed with power by the peo-
pie, will speedily put an end to this political
partnership with private enterprise, and restore
the duty on tin plate to cent per pound or put
It on the free iist