Middletown transcript., 1895-04-06

think; OF the Fifty-third Congress
Blaine's reciprocity treaties were pooh
poohed and tabooed off the statutes
and the idea that 1t was of advantage
to this country to treat reciprocally
with the South American countries wal
ridiculed. Ifevidence is desired refer tt
the Congressional Records. The "Re'
form Congress" passed "reform tar
iff," the ''income tax"part Of which, the
Euery Euening Gays. infringes the con-
stitution, and nullifies and robs che
people of their most important rights.
But it appears to do something more.
1t robs the pockets of the people for
the benefit Of those very South Ameri-
can countries that were too insignif.
| cant ~ to treat with reciprocally.
There are two sides to every ques-
tion, and the very worm may sting
you as you attempt to crush out its life.
The reform tariff, without reciprocity,
did not suit the South American Re
publics, and Congress had rSt ad-
journed before an export duty Of two
cents q pound was placed by those
countries on hides. Since over two
thirds of the hides used In this country
are imported from those very countries,
we are paying to the governments Of
those Republics an extra two cents q
pound. Within five weeks the price of
leather has advanced about 18 per cent.
in this country, and the probabilities
are that it is going still higher. As a
consequence all leather goods must ad-
vance in price. They may not do 81
at once as dealers long on shoes, sc,
and short on money, may embrace the
opportunity to obtain the ready cash,
but those who dance must pay the
piper. Dancing bare-footed is not
healthy, hence we must have shoes
that cost from Is to Is per cent. more
than "the robbery tariff Of the Nc
Kinley law" If you don't believe it
ask any dealer in leather goods. Who
is paying this? Our friends, the enemy,
have always claimed that the consumer
pays it, and we believe that they are
at least tw o-thirds right this time.
But who gets the benefit of this in
creased costP About one-third of the
increase goes to the producer and dealer
In hides in this country. The farmer
is benefited that much. Ask the
dealers in this town and they will tell
you thu they are getting three dollars
for hides to-day which q year ago
brought only dollar and half. II
the people in this country got the
whole benefit no protectionist would
complain. Good prices make good
times. But since two-thirds of the
hides are imported from the countries
now Collecting an export duty Of two
cents pound, the twO-thirds of the
increased cost of leather, and conse-
quently of all goods made of leather, is
paid to foreign governments, without
the least benefit or return to the peo-
pie of the United States.
To sum the matter up, the people of |
this country are to pay an increase of
12 per cent. on all leather goods be-
cause the Fifty-third Congress refused
to continue the reciprocity treaties of
James G.. Blaine, and chiefly because
they originated with that great States
man and great Republican.
1t is doubtful If the people generally
endorse the Every Evening in its i'm
Piled condemnation of President Cleve-
and, Senator Gray, and the other
Democrats Of the Fifty-third Congress,
70 forcibly endorsed by that paper as
explained in our last issue, but when
hey realize that the incapacity, the
sectional prejudice, the ignorance of
he Fifty-third Congress. will add sl
,alf dollar to every three-dollar pair
# shoes, and twenty-five cents to every
,air for the baby-a "reform" gift to
he people of other countries-they
nay conclude that perhaps for once
he Euery Euening is right. |,