The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-08-12
THE TIN PLATE TAN.

When Hartford Gamers begin to sum
up the net result of their years opera
tions and deduct the cost of cans they
have bought they will very likely con-
clude that the timed plate tariff is q
tax that ought to be abolished.
The official reports of the U. S.
Treasury show that for the nine
months ending March 31st, 1892, $780,
8S0pounds of timed plate were made in
the United States. The Iron Age, a pro-
tectionist journal, knowing that the
average yearly consumption OF timed
and terne plate in the United States
is 67s, 100000 pounds, has doubtless
figured it out that at the present rate
of thinning plate in this country our
manufacturers are supplying less than
one per cent. of the amount requir-
ell. The Iron Age therefore con-
cludes that lat the present rate of
progress it is beyond the power of
man to calculate when this country
will be able to supply its own timed
plate requirements and urges the
establishment of more timed plate
works. Instead of timed plate fac
tories Increasing in numbers they are
languishing and dying out, according
to the reports of commercial agencies,
as stated by Congressman Bunting.
Indeed, the first tin plate factory,
about which so much was said and
promised, was lately closed out at sher-
ifs sale, at Anderson, Indiana, to salts
fy judgment for S1S1. The creditor
had to take it himself, there being no
other bidders.
Allowing the full returns claimed by
the Treasury Department it appears
that the whole product of American
tin has amounted to $4,000 boxes, or
only enough to last American consum-
ers % hours. The Philadelphia In
Quifer, another protectionist organ,
estimates that the tin already manu-
featured in this country, after two
years of protection, would satisfy the
market only Is days. In the mean
time to enable these gentlemen to ex-
pertinent in the manufacture of tin in
this country the American people
have been taxed on the tin they have
had to import $40, 736, sOs3O, in the in
creased price and duty for the support
of this so-called native industry In
other words 5000 or more canning es-
Establishments and tinware concerns
have had their profits lessened in order
to foster an industry which, according
to the testimony of protectionists, is
not self-supporiing This is simply
robbery of the Gamer, to say nothing
of the useless tax upon every house
hold in the land.
1t should be remembered, also, that
only IN infinitesilnal portion of this
tin is from American mines. Block
tin is admitted free of duty and to still
further foster this infant industry the
Secretary of the Treasury stretched the
application of the Mckinley law SO as
to admit free of duty black plates, in
tended to be timed in this country.
This illusti ates the false pretence of
this so-salled American tin industry.
The fact is that. the tin makers of
Wales, with the raw material at hand
and an experience of 200 years to aid
them, can still make tin and send it
here at prices that pay, nOtwithstand
ing the heavy duty of % cents per
pound imposed ON their tin by the Me-
Kinley tariff.
Statistics show that over $11 ,000, 900
a year are wrung out of the poorer
class of people to further a pet scheme
of the monopolists. The workman is
taxed On his dinner-pail, his cooking
utensils and the roof under which he
and his children are sheltered, to en-
able few American manufacturers
to continue their profitless expert
ments. As for the pretence of afford
ing labor to American workmen, 1t
would be cheaper t., the American
people to board every man engaged
in the tin factories at first-class hotels,
than to pay this heavy tax on al
legged American tin.
The tax ON tin is monstrous injus-
tice without one redeeming feature,
and q better illustration of the under
lying principles of the Mckinley tariff
could not well be found.