The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-18
sEArTLE. THURsDAr. FEB. rs.
THE TARIFF AS TESTED BY ITS
RECORD.

tion a little over sixteen months. ch lts
enactment it was sweepingly denounced
as an act designed 10 prohibit trade and
to decrease the revenue by cutting down
the volume of imports. The friends OF
the new tariff pointed out that the law
not only repealed several hundred tariii
d,tics ghieh afforded no protection what
ever but revenue only, and were simply
tares on American consumers. but also re-
duced several hundred duties which
welded protection as well as revenue. The
record of the new tariff is a complete reiu-
tation Of the prediction of its critics.
Today the general level OF prices is below
that winch prevailed before the Mckinley
law was enacted
SIXTEEN months ago the free trade
Democratic press predicted that the new
tariff would have bsneful effect upon the
cigar trade. and yet it was only the other
day that Philadelphia cigar manufacturers
gave banquet to celebrate the enormous
increase in the product OF the Philadelphia
cigar manufacturers. In the First internal
revenue district, Including Philadelphia,
the output of cigars for the last year is esti-
mated to exceed that of the previous year
by 5000. 900. At the same time the con-
sumner pays no more for his cigar than he
did before the Mckinley law took effect.
The wholesale value of the city's output of
cigars is 81, 10000.
The comparative figures of revenue pub
lished with the ending of the first year of
the new law on October 6. 1891, substan-
tiated the claim Of the friends of the new
enne Of the government by nearly so, 900,
o0o and thus prevent the accumulation of
a surplus in the treasury. The sugar re-
peal which went into effect last April,
relieved American consumers of nearly
$50, OOG, 900 OF taxation, and the fall of the
retail price Of sugar at the grocery store.
refuted the prediction OF the free trade
Democracy that the Sugar Trust and not
the consumer was to be the gainar.
When the Tin plate duty went into effect
July / the "free trade" Democracy tried
TO laugh the new tin plate industry out of
existence as mere campaign fiction, but
the New York San Dem. in its issue Of
January % last describes million-dollar
tin plate plant at Elwood, Ind, which the
Mckinley act has erected. This tin fac
tory can make the best bright tin more
probably here with the tariff as il is than
in Wales, and will turn ont $500 boxes of
American tin q day by the first of May.
This Is not terne plate. but bright tin.
Bright tin is being made today in other
places in the United st ates. The Demler
Tin Plate Company, of Demler, Pa, is
making 1000 boxes a week; the Britton
tin plate works in Cleveland are turning
nut 1000 boxes week; the works at
Apollo, Ind, are turning out 500 boxes q
week; Anderson, Ind. is making go
boxes week; Neidringhaus, of st. Louis,
is turning OFT 1000 boxes n week, and
somers, of Brooklyn, \. Y, is turning OUT
large quantities. These tin factories, I'M
III American tin ore can be gotten out of
the rocks in sufficient quantities. can do
Just what is done in Wales--use the block
tin from the Straits of Malacca which
comes here free of duty.
The reciprocity clause of the McKin-
ley law was derided by the "free trade
Democracy as the Blaine reciprocity
humhug" That "humbug" has forced
most valuable trade concessions from
Brazil, the West Indies, Europe and Cen
trai America, and the export trade of the
United States has already increased in
consequence. The government figures for
the year ending December 81. 1891. showed
that under the Mckinley tariff the foreign
commerce Of the year, both imports and
exports, was larger than that of any preyi.
Gus year IN the history OF the nation.
the Mckinley law not only has not
prohibited foreign trade, but expanded
81, Our exports were $ii3. 900. Gao in excess
OF ls'n, $4,000 600 in excess of 1sss. Our
imports were 100000 in excess even of
1850 when heavy importations were made
during June, July, August and September
IN anticipation Of the new tariff law.
operation IN October; SIS. 600. goo in exces.
oil lss9i SloS,0oO eco in excess of 1855.
Under the tariff law of isS3 nearly two,
thirds OF the imports into the United
States were subject to tariff duties. and
slightly more than one-thira was admitted
free. Under the Mckinley tariff law OF
1890, less than halt of our imports ar,
subject to tariff duties, and more than one
half are admitted free. The imports int,
the United States for the wear ur 70 Octo
Der l, 1850, under the tariir of lSsS. show,
an excess Of dutIable over free imrorts OF
ssi2. ,seo--thc proportion Of dutiabls
imports being 61iS, aud that Of free IL.
ports 34sT per cent
For the yeav up to Octoberl lSql nm
der the Mckinley tariff. there was auex
cess of 81, IS, ga in free over duuable inn.
ports-the proportion OF free imports he.
ing 5oSs per cent, and Of dnuahle lQ6.
per cent.
Under the tariff 81 ISIS two out OF every
three articles imported were subject "a
duty; under the Mckinley tariff one on.
of every two. SO that the volume of fo-ej..r
trade during 1891 was nct oafv the fullest
but also the freest dGriag this generation
Under the McKin!ey tarig ou7 foreign
trade is the fullest and frees, We have eve
known, but at the same time all this Aa,
been obtained coincident with rcricc; pr.
lection to American labor and capt.,
AGAINST unlimited competition t5o4
cheaper labor and capita abroad,
The Mckinley tariff protects both ii,
Western producer and the Eastern Inana
facturer; il is a fair tara nj will stan,
i,npregnable against all ct IS for radica
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