Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-07-01


lieved that the trusts and the monopo-
lists would shape legislation pretty
nearly as they desired. These combi-
nations and individuals were unani-
nous in their support of Mr.. McKln-
ley, and it was only natural to sup
pose that they would be amply repaid
when opportunity came. Few persons,
however, had any conception of the
colossal plan of plumber that these
sharks have formulated for robbing the
government and the people and for
filling their pockets. The Dingley tar
iff bill, which is the vehicle they use'
is the most gigantic swindle ever i'm
posed upon a people. We have here
tofore referred to the deliberate steal
of many millions for the benefit of the
Sugar Trust, which has made its own
schedules and, backed by the Repub-
lican majority. simply laughs at pub
lie sentiment. Another gross outrage
put into the bill, and exposed during
the past week by the Democrats, is the
silk schedule. On the cheaper grades
of japanese and Chinese silks, which
have become so popular here, a duty
of 700 per cent is placed, so that
certain manufacturers in Connecticut
may shut off competition and control
the trade. Another corporation that
demanded an enormous share Of the
swag is the Pacific Coast Borax Com
pany. Borax and its compounds enter
into vast variety Of uses, and has be-
come a necessity in the household
Yet the company referred to, not sat-
isfed with the legitimate profits that
they have been making from this gift
of nature, have had placed in the Ding
ley bill duty of 425 per cent on this
product, which will, of course, shut
out the foreign product and enable
them to charge extortionate prices.
White pine lumber has been on the
free list. A duty of 81 thousand
feet is imposed by the Dingley bill,
shutting out Canadian pine. This is
for the benefit of a very few million
aire lumber kings, for it is said that
the white pine timber lands Of the
United States are controlled by less
than dozen firms. They already have
such profitable monopoly that it Is
stated as a fact that the stock Of one
company has increased from $500 a
share to $4,000, and vast fortunes have
been made in the business, The mil
lions that will be squeezed from the
people by this protective" duty are
beyond computation. The Beef Trust,
engineered by Armour & Co., and the
great monopolies in that line of busi-
ness, are also taken care Of. They get
their share of the Doodle by increasing
the duty on hides from l ] to 4 cents
pound. The plea was fimsily made
that it was for the benefit of the farm
er, but it was not demonstrated how
much more the farmer would get for
his cattle from the butchers because Of
this duty. The real and only bene-
fciaries are the great slaughtering es-
adjustments.
1t seems inconceivable that such de-
liberate and barefaced outrages shall
be perpetrated upon the people, but
the bargain made by Hanna last year
with the trusts must be kept. The
Democrats in the Senate have exposed
these shameful and corrupt schemes,
but the Republicans came up sohdly
to their support and everyone of them
is triumphant. The country ispaying
an enormous price for having declared
for sound money last fall-and the
currency question hasn't even been
touched upon.