New-York tribune., 1896-05-27
Az INDUSTRY CREATED.

4 weary friend writes that his ncIghbOr,
Cleveland Democrat declares that not one pohnd
of tlnplatcs Is made in this country. lhat
nelchbor has been made 10 appear either an ig-
noramus or liar by the newspapers when ne
trusts. their trouble being that they repeated
this same flsehood so long after Official reports
proved the production Of many million POUNDS
ench month that they have not dared to confess
their lie 10 their readers That eminent Free
Trade paper The London Economist. IN an
editorial on April II confessed the truth about
the extreme depression In Wales by saying;
This is due entirely TO the increasing com
petition II the United States, which only Few
years ago took about 80 per cent OF the whole
'pro,luction Of this country. which roughly might
"bc estimated IL equal TO about ll.oooooo boxes
"or 10000 tons. before the American compctl-
"tIon began. Now we may be said to have lost
fully onc-haf Of the American trade and the
remainder might be lost altogether by any
change In the American tariff" II the Clcve-
land Democrat cannot believe "rhe London
Economist" he can continue In his benighted
condition But II may be added that official re-
ports show that the capacity of works now In
operation in this country closely approaches the
entire consumption. British official records give
the actual exports 10 this country by months. ana
in 1889 the shipments were 336.GS0 tons or 2S,OOO
per month"; in 1890 they were 2G.IJO per month,
and In 1894 the shipments to the United States
were - O9J tons per month In three months of
this year they have been 0.2iS tons per month.
and this shows decrease Of more than half,
practically Of twothirds, In British shipments 10
the United States The balance Of the consump
ton has been supplied by American works.
This Is an industry which was created by the
Mckinley tariff as not pound Of tinplates was
made here nor had been In oil previous time. cx-
ccpt for a year or so long ago by one or two weak
concerns. which failed. British makers had the
whole market and sent hiher about 100000
boxes pcr month costing In September. 1890 the
month before the tariff went into force, but nine
months before the higher duties on tlnplates took
effect over s. per box, or $2SOO,OO0 per month
To-day British makers try In vain to sell more
than 1S4.0G0 boxes per month, which now cost
consumers here only S3 50 per box for Bcssemer
| c. coke full weight. while better American
plates of the same weight are sold at 81 10 per
box The saving Of 81 30 per box on tw0thlrls
Of the former consumption. and the saving of
| 81 20 per box by the reduction in price. which
the Welsh have made In order to keep the
trade, mean to the consumers a gain Of
S7S30OO per month. II the quantity used
were rs large as before the Democratic panic.
Yet that Is the smaller pnrt Of the gain. The
workers Of this country get the money for mining
the coal and iron. making the pig and the steel
| biets and bars, rolling the plates and Timing
| them, whereas the whole formerly went TO for
eign workers. We are paying about $16y000OOO
| to Americans per year for the same work which
the foreigners did. and it then cost us consid-
erably higher price abroad, besides the Sl0,00O,-
600 which then went into the Treasury.
a small matter, only $4,000 people or so.' An
| industry which gives work to that number Of
men. and supports 100000 more by their wages,
| in these Democratic days OF closing mills Is not
small matter. But If this new industry keeps
alive, with duties only fifth higher than exist
'ed before the Mckinley net, why were McKln-
'lcy duties necessary To give sufficient assur-
ancc and security to start the business, and get
sundry millions invested in machinery But for
| that assurance no. dollar would have been so
| invested, and not box OF tlnplates made in the
country The contract was that the duty should
stand until October, 1897. and longer II by that
! time manufacturers should have supplied more
| than third of the home consumption But that
contract has been dishonesty violated by the
| change Of duties. and by the suppression Of Gov
.ernment returns showing what quantities. are
| produced and yet the stipulation Of the act OF
| 1890 has been far exceeded. as the next Presi-
dent will be compelled officially TO decide.
Still the question remains how the works keep
| alive under reduced duties. 1t Is because pros