New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-07
THE TIN-PL1TE QUESTION:


whose antagoniSm to the tin-plate duty has
been persistent and vociferous makes the IN
cidcntal but important admission that prices
of tin cans and utensils have not advanced M
they claim that tin plates have, IN consequence
Of the new duties The consumers do not pay
for cans or tnware anything more than they
paid before the duties were raised, and the
foreign makers are gradually dropping the
prices of tin plates at wholesale, IN order to
retain a. much as they can of the American
market, thus paying out of their own pockets
most of the difference in the duties. These
things PROMPT the inquiry whether Democrats
in the House would gain anything by the re-
duction Of duties they demand, if they could
get it. They would gain not cent for the
Americans who are consumers OF Tin pans,
plates, dinner pail, or cans in packing. The
retail prices o! oil these articles remain just
what they were before the new duties were
imposed But the abolition of the duties
would DESTROY an important industry which al
ready employs many hundred hands
This matter deserves more serious attention
than members Of Congress have vet given II.
" The bill cannot pass AZ any rate they have
said and therefore members have voted for
the change without seriously considering what
il would mean. They nave not thought what
a number of men are already earning wages.
directly or indirectly. because Of this single
duty They have not thought how many men
will be employed in works IF this character
within a very short time. nor in what STATES
they are located II appears from the official
report that fortytwo companies have already
been organized for the manufacture Of tin
plates of which nineteen were in operation and
officially reported their production for the last
quarter These produced about 1900 900
pounds Of tin and tcrne plates Of all kinds in
Guiding about 1000 600 pounds produced for
the manufacture Of stamped goods and the
production of one factory which made It's re-
turn too late for compilation. But others are
building works, OF have already built and are
prepared To begin operations almost immediate
ly. To begin with those which are moi yet in
operation, have the Democratic Representatives
considered that these EMPLOY great number
Of hands in constructing their buildings and
machinery? 1t would be to these men "A scri-
Gus loss if the duty should be repealed and the
completion Of the works arrested. 30 10 those
establishments which are now ready for opera
ton, rs 70 those which are at this time pro-
ducng tin plates, the change OF duty would
be serious blow, and would cause the dis
charge of many hundred worlimcn, most Of
whom have familie, dependent on them. These
are scattered all over the county but the
large proportion of them may be found in the
States reckoned politically doubtful.
Yet this is only small part of the interest
"A lao rnpsIuereu All thns. amnIn,.,
and future will Distribute their wages in the
purchase Of supplies for themselves and their
families-in obtaining the ncce,saric, and com
forts of life. The farmers of these states find
a larger demand for their vegetables. milk.
meats and all other farm products because of
these new establishments. TO the Nation IA
whole it Is not IA large matter as yet, but it
is important 10 the farmers near the towns
where the new works are located To tho
mechanics also, who build and repair the houses
required for operators in new works and 70
the owners of houses who rent them to the
operatives. the change Of duty would mean
something. IL would mean something TO the
traders who furnish supplies to these additional
customers, of clothing boots and shoes, and all
other articles of constant need These work
men have to expend several hundred dollars
EACH and not dollar would be expended by
them without benefit to the people living and
trading near the new works
But it is stated that some of the largest rs
Establishments in Great Britain are about to re-
move to this country. One of them has pur-
chased site and l., about TO erect works in a
neighborng town in New-JerSey. These would
doubtless bring TO this country many of their
skilled workmen but would rely for unskilled
labor upon the American supply. Hundreds of
hands would thus be called into employment
who are now idle, while American farmers.
American producers of every kind. and Ameri-
can traders, would benefit by supplying the
skilled laborers who come hther from abroad
and who now obtain all their supplies from
traders and producers in other countries. And