New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-08
THE CONSEQUENCES Not YET KNOWN


Our Democratic friends are growing fond
Of the assertion that importaiions OF manu-
featured products are not as large as III some
prosperous months undc- the Republican du'les'
and that their new tariff has therefore done no
harm 1t is curious to see them derehn '"r'h
which was avowedly intended to break down
protection on the ground that II mas not
broken down protection. That ms Is III
a large measure true, that the iarlH mai
" passed by barter with the sugar ana
whiskey and other mcnopolles did In almost
every particular contemporary disregard ana
violate the principles which the Democrats had
professed TO hold sacred and pledged themselves
TO carry into effect, every body knows who Is
capable of an opinion on the subject. But II
does not follow that the changes made have
done or will do no harm.
single case may be taken as illustrating
many. The Democrats who rashly asserted
in October 1892, and even later. that there was
not single mill In the country actually making
tinplates were by no means disposed to have
any such mill left in the country TO convince
them Of persistent lying any longer than they
could prevent It, UndeEiably their reduction "a
the duty TO the old rate Of IL cents per pouhu
under which for many years 1t had Deeh 1ouhu
impossible TO establish or maintain uhpih'c
production here. was intended and expec'eu I'D
stop that production, and we have yet 10 see
whether II will or not. But until recently the
manufacture here has been sheltered by the
unprecedented cheapncss Of materials, Bessemer
steel and fuel. and by lower wages than had
been known in the country for many years.
These things kept the tlnplate manufacture
from destruction. although the shipments from
Great Britain to this country in May were over
a sixth larger than last year, and in five months
ending with May over an eighth larger.
But II was not to be expected, nor by any
patrotic man was it desired, that the wages OF
iron and coal miners, transporters and furnace
hands. should continue as low as they had to
be in order to make $40 Bessemer pig POSSIBLE
itv In time the mine owners. coke workers
and furnace men began to restore wages In part.
Then Bessemer pig rose. and instead OF Slo III
March. 1t has reached S13 per ton. The neces-
sary advance In the cost Of Bessemer billets tin
plate bars and black sheets, ana In the wages
Of workers all around has now gone SO FAR That
the plates can actually be imported little NOR
cheaply than they can be made here, ana il 'hi'
state Of things continues the industry with man!
thousand men is doomed. Possibly 1oreish
nrices may also rise some; possibly the WIFI
drawal Of an important demand for plates anu
for Bessemer steel may compel lower prices
here. even If at the expense Of reduced wages
again. 1t Is yet impossible TO say what 'he e''
fec, Of the new duties has been. because the ex-
notation of A Democratic tariff had put uoWi
wages and prices so far. In almost every ue-
| nartment. that any revival OF business WHAT
| ever necessarily involved some advance
| similar experience is possible IN branches
| NJ the woollcn trade. So long as American
wool was cheaper. shrnkage and quality con
sidorcd. than tho wool available for manufact
urc In other countries. and So long ns woollrf
workers here were willing 70 90 along ut The tre
| nnndo,,sv reduced wages paid In expectation
NJ n Democratic tariff the domestic makers
| could barely hold their own against coihp'titun
although foreign lmpoftailons enormously IN
rrnnsrd frntn h.hiu in yards ~ woratrls IN
u,s mnntha ~ i9ni a. 2n.sgf am IN htn months
| nf js,h t,ui now Wnn ina gone NJ hhrn
ennls for aune hinia, anu II lerUira n 'l''rH
| linn vhpiher The manufacture IA rrf'h'i
| h,onnhps rnn continue The results ~ Demo
| cratic tariff inkefnp are not get hh"Wh IN
enough IN known NJ them Ia make II clear INA
prrnt Industries NJ The country are now esposr'
to dangers against which for man, years 'lhhr
Republican pruieciiOn they were rn'lf'F 't'