New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-04
DEFENCE OF HONE INDUSTRIES.

Apparcntly Senator Vest and other Demo-
cratic Senators do not comprehend the reason
for protective duties Their motion to reduce
the duty on tinplate, below that fixed in the
present Democratic tariff was one OF the clear
est illustrations Of this fact. 1t was not denied
by them that American plates are now selling
at n much lower price than the nearest grades
OF foreign. In that case higher duty. II Ell
acted. could have NJ effect whatever on the
marke, for consumers Still they talk about m
agreement of tinplate manufacturers. which
everybody knows has been entirely disregarded
in actual transactions and imagine that in some
mysterious way the proposed duties might give
an advantage to a trust which exists in their
VACCINATIONS only.
The facts are not hard to understand. Inc
best grade Of American Bessemer plate. full
weight, is now selling at So 30 per box or JUS
pounds. against SO 81 for the corresponding
grade Of foreign. which dealers consider inferior
i'm quality. The duty on such foreign plates Is
now 81 10 per box of that make so that JUST
half the duty IS presented to American con
sumers and they get their tinplates about 81 ~
per box cheaper than they ever did when none
were made in this country, and when the duty
was ONLY cent per pound. 1t Is obvious that
it makes not the slightest difference. in present
conditions whether the duty is ] cent or cents
Der pound: no foreign plates of consequence
would come in or do come in except those pur-
chased by Gamers and by the oil company for
export on which they receive drawback prac-
tically equal to the amount Of the duty
But the Democrats seize the opportunity 10
posture as the friends OF tinplate consumers,
though not able to explain to anybody or to
themselves how a duty Of cent would make
plates in the slightest degree cheaper than they
are now with n duty Of IL cents per pound.
The truth is that the duty would have no effect
whatever. under present conditions. II 1t were
even lower than 1 cent. AS matters stand, the
American manufacturers are selling to con
sumers in this country tnpates al lower prices
than were actually charged prior to the enact
mcnt of the Mckinley tariff, by the British
manufacturers AT their works. without any duty
or cost Of transportation. and that large ad-
vantage the American consumers have attained
through the establishments Of works in this
country by protective duties. Yet the Demo-
Gratis profess to believe that much lower duty
Is Quite enough for protection and thus chal-
lenCe attention as uphoders OF principle
which they dcnounce and do not comprehend.
Existing conditions in the iron and steel
manufacture are altogether unprecedented.
Prices of Bessemer pig iron. from which the
best tinplates are made, are much the lowest
ever known in this country. New arrange
nents for the production and transportation OF
Bessemer ore give promise that low range or
prices may be permanently maintained. and not
as the result of a reduction of wages which has
been somewhat general in this branch of work
In 1897 in order TO render low prices possible.
But no man can say how soon the cost of Bes-
semer iron may be advanced by the large de-
ferred demand in this country. much above the
present figures. Shall the American tinplate
works then shut up and discharge the many
thousand hands they employ? Democrats in
sist that they shall, because the cost Of tin
plates would In thar case rise 50 near the cost
Of foreign with the present duty that a reduc-
ton would be fatal. Protection means defence
CT American Industries against the fluctuations
of foreign markets which would destroy them