New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-02
MIR. CARLISLE ANSWERED.
SENATOR HISCOCK DISSECTS HIS TARIFF
ARGUMENT.
4 MASTERLY ANALYSIS OF THE M1sLEADIxe
TABLES PREPARED BY THE KENTUcKX
sENAToR-FooD PRODUCTS ONLY
HAVE RISEN IN PRICE.
yBY TELEGRAPH TO THE -RrBuSEy

IBY TELEGRAPH THE -RIBUNEl
Washington, August 1.-The debate on tho
effects of the Mckinley law, begun in the Senate
last week by Mr.. Aldrich and Mr.. Carlisle, was
continued to-day with good effect by Senators
IIawley and Iiscock the former devoting him
self to a general review and defence Of the
American protective system as justified by his
tory, logic and experience, while the latter, ~
a member OF the committee which made the now
famous report wages and prices under the
Mckinley act, contributed some interesting discov-
cries as to the fluctuations OF prices in the last
ears and their apparent causes, the result Of an
original and painstaking analysis of the mass Of
statistics collected under the committees direc-
ton. Mr.. IIiscock's immediate object was I'd
meet and explode the remarkable statement made
by Mr.. Carlisle last Friday. that there had been
net increase in the cost of all articles OF general
consumption sod at retail in this country from
October, 1889, 10 September. 1891. Of $685.
900, ,O0O end that this great increase in tho
cost OF living was due directly TO the
operations Of the Mckinley tariff law
The Finance Committees report does, indeed,
show that, although prices were lower, on the
average, in September, 1891, than they were In
October $50, yet during many months in the
interval they undoubtedly above the $50
average, and on this monthly excess Mr.. Carlisle
had figured out his total enhanced cost on all
articles 10 all consumers, in the twenty-nine
months of S2S5, 900, 900. To show the mislead-
ing character of the Kentucky Senator's inference
that this increase was due Immediately to the
tariff legislation of 1890, Mr.. Hscock undertook
an elaborate analysis Of the monthly increases or
cost on each article of consumption, published In
detail in the report, and he soon discovered that
the sole factor in this general enhanced cost OF
living was the marked rise of prices from October,
nu1t and
food products, but as the prices of food products
were absolutely unaffected by the schedules OF
the Mckinley bill, the whole of Mr.. Carlise'a
elaborate argument at oQce fell 10 the ground
The Kentucky Senator's tables, in fact, when
thoroughly dissected by Mr.. IIiscock, were shown
TO prove Just the reverse Of what the compiler had
anticipated. For, by comparing the increases in
the cost Of all articles of general consumption and
food products considered separately it was shown
that the increase for the latter outstripped the
increase for all articles combined leaving an actual
net decrease in prices for all articles in general
consumption, except foods. Mr.. Carlisle had shown
that the net cost Of all articles had advanced
during the twenty-nne months S2s5,0 600, but
during that period the cost of food products alone
had advanced. as Mr.. Hiscock demonstrated, 1884,
6O6226 leaving net decrease in price for all ari-
cles other than foods of $47 900. The results
with wholesale prices even more striking.
Mr. Carlisle had calculated that the net advance
on all articles at wholesale prices was $442,5lo,-
552, but by the New-iork Senator's analysis 1t.
was shown that net wholesale prices for food
products increased in the twenty-nin months
$75l ,324,75 showing a net decrease of prices
for all other than food products OF $685. 4,2o31
This decisive exposure Of the real character
of the Kentucky Senator's table clearly forces him
into the dilemma of admitting either that the
Mckinley law had no direct and determined effocs
upon the cost Of living in this country, or that
it had the effect of increasing the prices OF
agricultural products, which not really af-
fected by the tariff legislation of 1890, and Of
decreasing prices all other protected and un-
protected articles. Mr.. HscOcks speech Is
printed below and will be found Of marked in
tcrcst and value as calculating with great skill
and clearness some Of the many important and
significant ,esults of the Finance Committece
remarkable inquiry.