St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-19
COLLARS AND CuFFs.

The cOddling of mOnOpolieS is, un-
fortunately. not new development in
the senate of the United States Many
of the members Of that body are them-
selves monOp0iists or the attorneys of
monOpolies. Their wealth is obtained
and their official positions made secure
by their subservience to the corpora
tons and the trusts that are seeking to
rule the country with an iron hand. .
The amendments made by the senate
committee on finance to the Wilson
tariff bill are all i'll line with the past
policy of these representatives OF the
monOpolistic class. There is scarcely
an article III which trusts are Interested
which is relieved from taxation Pro-
lection for these has been APPARENT Y
the only concern of the committee; re-
lief for the people has not entered into
their deliberations. In many OF its feat
ures the new bill is far worse and more
oppressive than the Mckinley act which
it is designed to supersede Take the
linen schedule. for instance. One para
graph provides for an increase in the
tariff on collars and cuffs from 35 to 45
per cent ad valOrem. Collar and Gu If
making is practically monopoly in the
hands OF few rich corporations. Most
OF the brands are protected by letters
patent, and the machinery used in their
manufacture is SO expensive as to debar
all but few from purchasing it. Half
dozen firms manufacture all the col
lars and cuffs used by our people. The
I'm ir,,rs,
no case less than 80 per cent. But even
this profit is not sufficient TO satisfy a
majority of the manufacturers. they
want more. ami the senate is willing to
give them all they ask. Under the eX.
listing law goods of foreign manufacture
are practically excluded from COMPETE
ton. and under the proposed law they
are given an addition Of 10 per cent
profit. For this they will no doubt be
profoundly thankful,
The strength and influence. as we'll as
the wealth, of the collars and cuffs
monopoly is but little known and
appreciated. 1t is safe TO say
that every male adult in the ma
ton uses an average Of fifty col.
lars and twenty pairs Of cuffs every
year. At an average Of 10 cents apiece
for collars and % cents pair for cuffs
an exceedingly low estimate-he
spends $40 annually for those arti-
Giles. sUnder the proposed law each
consumer will be obliged to pay an an
nual tribute to the collar and cuff
monopoly of sl.12H more than he is
now paying. This is small amount to
the Individual. but when it's taken into
account that at least 12.003.00) of our
people chip in" to that extent, the
milk in the cocoanut may be discovered.
Sixteen millions of dollars are by this
act taken out of the pockets of the peo-
pie and added 20 the profits of half a
dozen makers of collars and cuffs;
There is no pretenSe that thislis an
infant industry that needs protection.
1t is we'll established, and the firms en-.
gagged in II are wealthy. Nor are the
present profits too small. 1t costs. for
material and workmanship, about "a
cent and quarter to make collar that
sells at retail for ten cents, and about
four cents to make 4 pair of cuffs that
cost the wearer a q Iarter Of acdollar.
There is ample margin here for profit
to the manufacturer, the wholesale
dealer and the retailer.
The reform" in tariff revision of this
sort is a minus quantity, and will hardly
be appreciated by the people. 1t may
be regarded by some as luxury to
wear clean collars and cuffs. but to a
majority it is a necessity, and this ma
jority should enter a vigorous protest
against paying such an enormous trib-
ute to monopoly already one Of the
richest in the country.