The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-16
WHO PAYS THE, TAX?
A PRACTICAL LESSON ON THE
TARIFF QUESTION:
Tow the Mckinley Bill has Encouraged
Home Production and Taxed Foreign
Manufacturers without Increased Cost
to Consumers--America Tin Reality.

The voters of Michigan have not for
gotten, and are not likely soon to for
get, the outrageous falsehoods told
them by the Democrats during the
state campaign of 1890. The Democrats
told them that the Mckinley tariff was
burden some tax laid upon the nee
essaries of life and and that it would
increase the cost of living to every
householder. The Democrats told them
that tin plates could not be made in
America and that the increased tariff
would be added to the cost of the work.
ingman's dinner pail and to the kitchen
utensils of every poor man, and that
the increased cost would go to swell
the profits of wealthy capitalists. The
Democrats hired horde of lying
tramps, stocked them up with tin ware
and sent them out to swindle the peo-
pie by charging high prices, "all on
account of the Mckinley BILL" as they
said. Influenced by these outrageous
falsehoods, when they had not the
means of protecting themselves from
imposition, the people made the great
est mistake of years and let the De-
mocracy into power in Michigan. They
have suffered grievously for that error
and now await only the opportunity to
correct the evil.
A gentleman in Detroit, who had
strong faith in the virtue of the Nc
Kinley bill, interviewed a number of
the LEADING marc a MT in fhat al To-
spring and was exceedingly gratified
at the results. Those interviews dem
onstrated these facts
l. That the Mckinley tariff is not a
tax on the'consumer.
2. That the Mckinley tariff is a tax
on the foreigner who wishes to COM
pete with our manufacturer.
3. That home production has been in
creased.
4. That prices have not been ad-
vanced, but lowered.
S. That American tin is reality and
as good and cheap as the foreign pro-
duct
One of the most interesting inter
views was that had with the senior
member of the firm of Fletcher, jerks
d Co., wholesale hardware and iron
merchants of Detroit. Here it is:
Mr.. Fletcher says that there s scarcely
any use OF importing anything in their
line as ARTlCLCs OF SUPERIOR QUALITY,
AT LOWER PRICES, ARE MADE HERE. For eX-
ample, the Stubb's English file is almost OBJ
solete In this country, A BETTER FILE FOR
LESS MONEY BEING MADE AT HOME. The Eng
lish (Shefiied) hand saw for S1.75 is inferior
to the homemade at S1.00.
The Importation of foreign cutlery has
almost entirely ceased since the passage of
the Mckinley bill, and while there is a
very slight advance in the price of the
home maze article, the superiority of quail
ity more than balances the difference in
price, and with the steadily increasing
number OF factories engaged in the business
1T will be nut very short time before ALL
GRADES OF CUTLERY WILL BE CHEAPER than
ever before, by reason of active COMPETE
ton. American firearms in every grade
are superior to those of foreign mako, and
are now much cheaper, and i'm his opinion
will shortly supresede all others Since
the passage Of the Mckinley bill EonB,L N
MANUFAc n UREhs HAVE REDUCED THE PRICs of
tin plate to induce importation ana yet
American made plate of even a superior
quallty is made and supplied at price
EQUALLY As Tow AS THE FOREIGN PRICE.
Mr.. Fletcher exhibited cards from several
tin plate factories in this country, notify
Ing him that their agents would be along in
rev days, prepared to take
orders for unlimited quantities
One Pittsburg house sent with their notice
a sample of roofing tin, superior i'm quality
to any foreign article he had ever seen
Another advantage in homemade plate is
that every box is guaranteed perfect, while
the foreign manufacturers gives no guaran-
tee, aud loss from this source is not infre-
quent. Fletcher, jerks e. Co. will this
season lay in a complete stock of American
tin plate.
Another valuable tariff lesson is
taught by Hitchcock, Son & Co., whole
sale dealers in woolens and tailor's
trimmings:
A member of that firm says that, for
example, the price on a certain grade of
wool cloth imported by them was. prior to
the passage of the Mckinley bill, SIS per
yard on this side, plus the duty on the
weight, viz: 80 cents per pound The in
creased duty under the bill increased the
cost to 81 90 per yard, plus the duty on
weight, viz: "a cents per pound, but THE
MANUFACTURERS AT HUDDERsFIELD, ENG,
IMMEDIA1 ELY DECREASED THE PRICE 20 CENTS,
putting the cost back to what IL was prior
to the passa ge OF the bill, so that they are
able to purchase the goods at the old price
and sell them to their Gus toners without
any advance.
hhObhor oAdHlpie' llu6 Oh WOrSUeuS
that cost three shillings and two pence per
yard at the factory in England before the
Mckinley bill, netting S1.54 per yard, in
GLIDING the duty for weight, is now sup
piled US at two shillings and eleven pence
per yard, which, with the duty for weight
added nets but S1.53 per yard. We find
this condition OF affairs to exist almost
invariably with all our dealings with for
eign manufacturers. Shoddy could not be
introduced into these cloths for the purpose
of meeting decreased prices, without dete-
rioration, and OF course such action would
not be tolerated.
More of these interesting interviews
will follow in these columns and they
will prove of incalculable advantage to
the man who wishes TO cast an intelli-
gent ballot next November.