The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-25
BFFEcTs OF THE GoRMAN TARIFF.

1t is not In so short a period as one or
two years that the flIiG effects Of the WE
son-Gorman tariff will reveal themselves.
But even In the brief term which has
elapsed since that tariff went into opera
tion we are enabled to see Its results in
largely Increased imports, disp,acing by
so much the goods of American manu-
facture, and in relatively diminished eX-
ports. During the fiscal year ending June
So for only ten months of which the Cor
man tariff was In operation, our imports
amounted to 1888 3,6SG,8I2, against $295,OT
S65 for the preceding year while the Nc
Kinley tariff was in operation. This
shows an increased importation of $685.
c0S,977 under the German tariff. And OF
this gain to the trade of foreign countries
at the expense CT American manufacture
ers, $51 51,746,0O0, or nearly 90 per cent. goes
to Great Britain, the remaining 40 per
cent being divided chiefly among France,
Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Neither
lands and Switzerland. So far as the re-
duced duties have the effect of restrict
ing American production by rendering
the manufacturer unable TO compete
with the foreigner, It cannot fail to have
a disastrous influence on the Industrial
development of the country
All through the last presidential cam
paign the attempt to establish tin plate
industry in this country under the Nc
kinney tariff was the stock subject OF
Democratic derision. 1t was everywhere
jeered at by the Democratic speakers
and newspapers as a failure--ts alleged
successes denounced as frauds. Forced
at last to recognize the fact that as a
result OF the Mckinley tariff tin plate
industry OF great proportions had grown
up in this country In the short space Of
three years, they affected to find a tri-
umphant vlndlcation of the reduction
OF duties on tin plate under the Wilson
German bill in the fact that the tin
plate manufacture had survived this at
tempt to destroy 1t. The fact was g.ee-
fully cited that the American tin pate
mills were successfully competing with
the Welchmen In spite Of the reduction
OF duties. This was temporarily true
during the unprecedentedly low prices on
steel and the low wages, which form 80
per cent Of the cost of tin plate, result
ing from the depression OF trade and in
dustry which followed the election of a
Democratic president and congress. But
Vt is now announced that In consequence
OF the considerable advance in the price
OF steel, all the tin plate mills in this
country VIII be competed to close theSr
| doors.
Under the Mckinley tariff there Mad
sprung up In this country 1877 of these
tin plate mills, employing capital of
$l00O0,0OO and from 10000 to $1,000 men.
If the Mckinley tariff had been continued
for Ave years longer, this industry would
unquestlonab.y have been developed to
such proportions as to have supplied the
entire American demand for tin plate
and rendered this country entirely inde-
pendent OF any foreign source of supply,
Under the Wilson-Gorman tariff the in
dustry is being strangied to death by
the competition of the foreigner. Proba-
bly before the end Of six months, unless
there Is some improbable reduction in the
price OF steel, every tin plate factory in
this country will be closed. The leading
manufacturers predict a shorter lease OF
life for II than that SO that one achieve
ment of the Wilson German bill will be
to annlhllate this great and growing in
dustry, and this is a fair illustration OF
its effects, more or less pronounced. along
the wAo,e line of American industries
which were hourlshing under the foster
Ing care of the Republican protective
! policy.