The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-21
They Could Do About All the Work
in American Tin Plate
Mills.
Republican Nonsense About the
Business Exploded by Hon.
VIM. M. Springer.
Carl schurz Gives His Reasons for Sup
porting Cleveland and stevsnson-Re-
/ publicans and Msnopolists.

springer Addfe6seu large audience here
to-day. His speech was principally re-
ply to that delivered by Mckinley at Ell
wood last week. He said that during the
interval of nine months before starting the
increased rate provided in tho Mckinley
bill there was an enormous increase in the
importation OF plates to get them into the
country under the old rates and sell them
at increased rates. II tho Mckinley bill
had taken effect on tin plates Immediately
on it's passage, as it should have done, the
governments would have received over
$40, 600, 600 moro revenue than It did from
the importations. The people were CON-
PEELED TO buy at the supposed increased
price, however, and this ten millions of
dollars was net profit to tin plate importers
and jobbers. After working to their ut
most capacity for a time to meet the enor-
nous demand from the United States, the
Welsh mills, after June l., 1891, were
obliged to shut down for time in order
that consumption might catch up with pro-
duction. The republicans Immediately set
up the claiu that the Mckinley bill had
caused the Welsh mills to shut down. and
the industry to be transferred to this coun-
try. Thus history and facts were perverted
to deceive our people.
Congressman Springer further said that
the manufacture of tin plates in this coun-
try is conceded by all to be an improbable
industry which cannot exist without gov
ernmeLt bounty or high protective tariff.
Either the government or the consumers of
tin plates must pay SIG. 1000 every year
more than otherwise required in order to
have our annual supply of tin plates made
here. The report of the government agent
for the fiscal year ended June last, shows
that the output of tin and terne plates in this
country for that year was 13, 240. $50 pounds.
his is less than two per cent of the amount
consumed in the same period. We were
told when the Mckinley bill was pending
that within one year after its passage we
would make here all the plates we could
consume. According to official report, only
about one-quarter of the amount produced
here was tin plates the other three-fourths
being terne plates which were coated with
leas., Mi tin and used for roofing purposes
only. and even this meagre output of less
than two per cent was not altogether of
American production.
Springer went on to say that the import
alton of steel sheets or "black plates'' used
in the manufacture of tin plates. since the
passage of the Mckinley bill, began to in
crease almost oorrespondingly with the in
c, eased production of tin and tome plates.
An agent of the treasury department
claimed that for the last quarter of the last
fiscal year 5000, 900 pounds of black plates
we're made in the United States, but where
made or whether used in the manufacture
of tin plates does not appear. But it does
ter were over 100000 pounds, and from
this it is apparent that the greater amount
of tin and terne plates produced in the
United States were made by using imported
black plates. The part performed in Amer
ica in large measure Ia mere dipping
process. the metals being mostly imported.
1t was stated in circular recently issued
by the Taylor company, of Philadelphia,
that by using the latest Welsh dipping rot
two boys can dip seventy boxes of tin daily.
II this is true twelve boys, by working the
entire year. could have dipped the entire
American production for the fiscal year,
and at the same ratio, it would only require
in the United States. Neither dipping boys
nor men who box plates are skilled laborers.
and are hired at the lowest prices for un-
skilled labor, but no matter how many per-
sons we're engaged in the industry hero the
past year, it is evident the American people,
who were subjected to a tax of 1000, 900
a year for building up the tin plate indus
try, paid very dear for the luxury.
Springer asserted that it was not intended
to build up bona fde tin plate industry
in this country. The increased rate was
largely lobbied through by the American
Corrugated Roofing company. which wished
to drive tin roofers out of the field. and has
succeeded. The democratic party, if clothed
with power by the people. will speedily put
an end to this political partnership with
private enterprise and restore the duty on
tin plate to one cent pound. or put it on
the free list.