Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-05-13
EFFECT OF THE TIN DUTY.

manufacturers, or increased the cost to con-
sumers of articles affected by the tariff,
or formed reason for the reduction of
the wages of the laborer Republican ed
itors have put forth this claim time and
again; and no amount of the presentation
of the truth by the tariff reform element
has been influential in impelIing correc-
ton of the old faisehood. The republican
administration never wearies Of furnishing
its organs with manufactured and juggled
statistics with which to justify duty that
is annually robbing the people of the ma
ton of many millions Of dollars.
Nothing can better show up the true
effect of the tin duty than to republish the
result of little investigation recently
competed by the directors of the Tin
Plate Consumer association They sent
out circular to manufacturers inquiring
the effect of the M;KinIey duty on tin
plate. 1t is impracticable TO give all the
replies but the following are fair sam Piles
o. the whole:
Fairport, n. Y: We used 4,800 boxes
last year. Payment of Mckinley duty re-
quired additional capital. In some
branches increased cost of our goods com
PEELED us to cut dow wages Of laboreIs to
meet popular prices. In making baking
powder cans increased cost of article and
ers to pay increased price caused US to
La 1,,cs ~ ~ tk,oI a-E Z
customers. After two or three months Of
experimenting with others they returned
to US, having learned that we were not
trying to rob them, but were, like others,
only asking fair price on the basis of
taxes for the privilege of doing business.
profits, as competition has been slow to
follow the advance. As for labor, it will
have TO be reduced to make business
profitable, as consumers don seem to con
slider the advance in stoc-
Cleveland, o.: To increase the cost of
our goods by toe extra duty.
Detroit, Mich: In previous years our
business increased about so per cent. each
year, and last year only about Is per cent.
entirely owing TO the increase OF prices
made necessary by the duties.
Chicago, H.: A dc crease in our sales.
A decrease of 1917 per cent. July LIST,
1891, TO January 1sG, 1892. in comparison
with the same period in 1890.
Baltimore: To add the duty 10 cost
of the goods, and necessarily we have sold
at higher price than If there had been
no increase.
Philadelphia: Unfayorable, increased
cost OF material; and not being able to ad-
vance prices, we are out the difference.
The tendency is also to use inferior ma
teriaIs and decrease wages, and various
ways to make up.
From Boston packing house: Packed
In our East Boston factory in 1890, Sc, 600
cases; In 1891, IS, 345 cases; falling off,
20, 1858 cases; decrease Of help, 25 weekly
hands.
Syracuse, N. Y: To add the cost OF
the tin to the cost of the lanterns.
Syracuse, n. 7. : To cut down my
trade in roofing tin more than one half,
making considerable loss to my income,
and, more than this, has forced a number
of my smaller customers to retire from the
business and seek other occupations.
am not able to purchase roofing tin of
American manufacture at marketable
prices, only high priced goods being
offered-too high for the average con:
sumner
Albany, N. Y: Has had no effect; the
increased cost of cans has been paid by the
jobber, retailer or consumer, probably by
the latter.
Buffalo, N. Y: Decreasing consump
ton, economic labor; smaller margins.
New York city: Compelled to raise our
prices.
Baltimore: Quite falling off in the
demand for cans owing to the increased
duties, which have advanced the cost OF
tin-piate about 80 per box. We have
had to decrease our help about one fifth
From Boston can factory: That bust
ness has decreased some or account of the
higher prices for goods, and it is harder to
sell goods at high than low prices; profits
also less. We keep the same plumber OF
hands but there has been no increase in
wages.
Waverly, N. Y: Sold cut my business
in February last, but noticed before that
it was helping the iron roofing trade and
decreasing my tin roofing business.