Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-04-08
n a ON TIN,
A Good Illustration of the Madness Of the
Mckinley Bill.

MChlnleN bltt.
It may have been altogether acct.
dental that the report that the duty on
block tin had been repealed was ex-
tensively circulated for two or three
days after the adjournment Of con-
rress. The confusion which prevails
in the last hours of a dying congress,
the n in which conference re-
ports are written, referring to amend,
ments By numbers, render it impossi-
bic to tell precisely what has been
done, without a careful comparison Of
reports with the bills to which they
relate, a work for which there is scarce
ly time in the prevailing hurry and con-
fusion.
1t is probable, however, in spite of
these drawbacks, for one whose inter.
ests prompt him to look after a partic-
ular bill OF amendment to the neglect
of all others, to keep track OF II and to
be able to know its fate as soon as it
is determined. In point of fact, it is
in this way that the fate of many
measures first become known to the
public. 1t is obvious. therefore, that a
person thus keeping track of a partic-
ular measure, which is Of great i'm
portance to him and those he repre-
scnts, but of comparatively little to the
general public, may easily have it in
his power to mislcad others with ref
erence to the matter, If his interests
will be forw arded by such a course.
Whatever may have been the origin
OF the incorrect information, it hap.
pened that the adjournment of con-
gress was followed by considerable
speculation in tin. After the report
that the duty had been removed was
contradictcd a rapid advanc. in prices
of tin occurred The advance was not
confined TO New York; at London also
the price rose about three dollars per
ne shillings Gd). This increase of
price was directly contrary TO what
demanded By the statistical posi-
ton Of the metal. Rumors were also
in circulation that several hundred
tons OF tin stood in the names Of per.
active in politics, and that these
persons had been active in throwing
obstacles in the way of a repeal of the
iuty
The tax OF tin, levied in the McKin.
ey bill, is to take effect July /. Ac.
to the theory of Mr.. Mckinley
himself the foreign producers ought to
this tax. Instead of making their
arrangements TO do this they have al.
advanced the price. This is in
anticipation Of the increased demand
is likely to follow the failure to
epeal the law imposingthetax. English
nine owners hope to initiate the sharp
which was adopted before the
in plate duty took effect. Our dealers
anxious to import large ouanti-
les before the higher duties became
'peratiyc, The manufacturers accord
ngiy put up the price and were there
" enabled to extract several millions
II dollars from our consumers. II is
'robable that importations Of block
in will be large between this time and
'uly |, and the mine owners will do
heir best to collect a part of the tax in
.dyance.
The tax on block tin is no great mat
as compared with other oppressive
axes, as it will amount to no more
han twenty per cent. 1t is valuable,
lowever, as an object lesson, because
t is a tax ayowedly levied to protect
american tin mines, although no Amer
can mine is now producing a pound Of
in, 1t is therefore a good illustration =,
the madness of protection during
he Mckinley era, o happily past .
louisville Courier.Journal.