New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-21
TINPLATE AS A FACTOR
MANUFACTURERS PARTICULARLY INTER
ESTED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN.

ELECTION OF REPUBLICAN TO RESTORE
TO THEM PROSPEROUS CONDITION OF
AFFAIRs-THE DISASTROUS EFFECT
OF THE WILSON BILL-Gov-
ERNoR MKINLEY FAVORED
AS A CANDIDATE
The approach of the Presidential campaign
with the probabilities that 1t brings OK re-
newed discussion Of the tariff. Will prooapiy DC
greeted by nc persons with more Satisfaction
than those engaged in the tinplate industry.
There are in Brooklyn and New-York several
leading manufacturers whose interest In the
welfare Of the tin business is extensive. The
annual dinner of the Manufacturers Assocla-
ton of Kings and Queens Counties on Monday
evening followed by the publication in The Trio-
une on Wednesday Of the Presidential prefer
ences of ffty-e.ght memt ers OF the association.
has started considerable discussion among Brook
Ign manufacturers of the merits Of the several
aspirants to the Republican nomination. and the
probability of thorough overhauling Of the
present tariff rates by the next Administra ton.
which both Republicans and Democrats alike ap-
pear to grant will be Republican In all Ito
branches.
j. L. Somers, Of Somers Brothers, proprietors
OF the Somerton Tinplate Works. at Third-ave.
and Thlrd-st, yesterday said that the tinpate
dealers of the country were determined TO work
for the incoming Of Republican administration.
which would restore to them prosperous condi-
ton Of affairs which existed for the two years
following the passage Of the Mckinley bill. Mr.
Somers also spoke in the highest terms Of Nc
Kinley and said that he by all means
his favorite candidate.
TEMPLATES IN POLITICS.
In discussing the present condition Of the TIN.
plate industry, Mr.. Somers said: The tinplate
business has been for some time pet hobby
of the politicians. and its advent into politics
has injured it considerably. 1t seems to have
been picked out by the politicians on both sides.
| who choose to make 1t a political issue. In the
| first place. Major Mckinley raised the duty In
| order to induce the manufacture OF tin in this
| country, and in his bill provided that, the
| people Of the United States invested their money
| in tnplate work and started that industry. the
/ rate Of duty which his bill made would be per-
| II anent. Five years were to be lowed for the
| experiment which was TO determine whether
| bis rate should be maintained. and the decision
| was be based upon carefully prepared statie-
! tics. The manufacturers who took up the in
| dustry did so with the understanding that Mr..
McKinleys provisions would be carried out.
| Upon the change Of administration. the WILL
| son bill substituted for the Mckinley bill,
| and in its reduction Of the tariff it seemed 10
| discriminate unjustly against the tinplate in
dustry to such extent that It made the tariff
| in tin plate less than that upon the steel plate
| on which it is made. That Is, they made raw
| material higher than the finished product This
| crippled the industry UNNECESSARILY. II the Nc
| Kinley bill had been allowed to stand for five
| years its rate would have been kept up, and the
tin industry would to-day h(ve been one OF the
| leading Industries in the country. The condition
| of affairs now is such that the manufacturers
embarked in the business see little or no en-
couragement in its manufacture, so that many
| OF the mills throughout the country are working
| on half time and some have temporarily stopped
| operations.
CHECKED IN TWO YEARS.
| After the Mckinley bill was passed about
| forty firms began operations, and the plants
and mills erected exceedingly expensive.
! But the Mckinley bill in force only about
| two years and this time was barely long enough
| for the manufacturers to get their mills built
| and in running order. The result was that
| just as the manufacturers had reached the point
where they could begin 10 reap their harvest II
was made impossible for them TO carry on their
business with any prospect Of gain. Under the
proper tariff ours would be steadily drawing
industry. But under the present conditions,
| II is next 10 impossible to make expenses The
| American Metal Market in its last issue stated
the condition O.. affairs as follows: The most
| unsatisfactory article in the trade continues to
| conditions that have in the last year made lie
| burden 10 all connected with this article.
whether English or American MANUFACTURER.
| importer or dealer. II would seem as II time
| alone can work out the cure to the present
demoralized and disorganized condition or ar
fairs The revolution started by the enormous
| increase in the American production continues.
| and the trade awaits the answer that time Will
| give to the following problems:
| - Can the Welsh manufacturers decrease
their cost (wages, etc.) sufficiently TO compete
! with or beat present American prices?
80 Can the manufacturers OF American
! plates make a profit at present prices II not
how long can they continue TO operate ana IN
! crease the capacity OF their mills?
| 80 Is the ratio of increase In consumption
continued in the future. or. in spite Of phe-
| nomenally low prices, have we reached the limit
| for the present in our canning industries; Is the
| falling off in use of tinplates for roofing pur'
| poses permanent. and are other materials TAX
| ing their place for household utensils?
ATTACKED BY DEMOCRACY.
TT looks to me though the Democrats
selected the tnpate schedule in the tariff bill
as an especial target for their abuse simply
because Mckinley had treated II with marked
favor change in the tariff Is absolutely
essential for the revival Of the industry. and
II goes without saying that tin manufacturer
will be unanimous in demanding the restora-
ton OF McKinleys rates from the next ADMINS
tration
1T also seems to me probable that McKin'
lev's stanch championship Of the tinplate indus
try will make him the favorite candidate Tor
the nomination among the tin dealers he u
by all odds my choice. | think that ne nas
large and broad views Of the copntrys anair:'
| and a wide knowledge of the country's needs.
Mr. Somers Is a member of the TfnpIate
Manufacturers Association Of Pittsburg. inns
association has not hitherto attempteu ~. ~
@nr,har its ends by appealing to the poti-
| clans but II may take an active part IN tne
| coming campaign in the interest OF us chose"
industry.
SUCCESSOR TO PRINCIPAL RIDEAooh.
Charles D. Raine of Mount Holly. n j. mas oeen