Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-04-06
THE TAX ON Tin.
A Good Illustration of the Madness Of the
McKinley Bill.

A
Mckinley Bill.
It may have Aeen 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block tin had been repealed was ex-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-
gress. The confusion which prevails
in the last hours of dying congress,
the manner in which conference re-
ports are written, referring to amend
ments by numbers, render it impossi-
BILE to tell precisely what has been
done, without a careful comparison OF
reports with the bills to which they
relate, 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 or amendment, to the neglect
of all others, to keep track of it and to
be able to know it's 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. It 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-
sents, but of comparatively little to the
general public, may easily have it in
his power to mislead 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
contradicted rapid advance in prices
of tin occurred. The advance was not
confined to New York; at London also
the price rose about three dollars per
ton (12 shillings 6d). This increase of
price was directly contrary to what
was 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.
sons active in politics, and that these
persons had been active in throwing
obstacles in the way of a repeal of the
duty.
The tax on tin, levied in the McKin-
ley bill, is to take effect July 1. Ac-
cording to the theory of Mr.. Mckinley
himself the foreign producers ought to
pay this tax. Instead of making their
arrangements to do this they have al
ready advanced the price. This is in
anticipation of the increased demand
which is likely to follow the failure to
repea al the law imposing the tax English
mine owners hope to initiate the sharp
practice which was adopted before the
tin plate duty took effect. Our dealers
were anxious to import large quanti-
ties before the higher duties became
operative. The manufacturers accord
ingly put up the price and were there
by enabled to extract several millions
of dollars from our consumers. 1t is
probable that importations of block
tin will be large between this time and
July l, and the mine owners will do
their best to collect part of the tax in
advance.
The tax on block tin is no great mat
ter as compared with other oppressive
taxes, as it will amount to no more
than twenty per cent. 1t is valua BILE,
however, as an object lesson, because
it is tax avowedly levied to protect
American tin mines, although no Amer
lean mine is now producing pound of
tin. It is therefore good illustration
of the madness of protection during
the Mckinley era, row happily past
louisville Courier j Journal