The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-07-06
THE TIN PLATE DUTY.

Editor Providence News:
There Is one industry in the United
States which, more than any other is in
debted for It's existence TO protection"
The Mckinley tariff levied n duty OF 100
per oct on tin plates. When the tariff took
effect the price OF tin plates was nearly
doubled. This had a al 'astrous effect ON
American Industries dependent on tin
plates. The persons employed In such
industries were estimated at 1000. 700;
those employed in the reduction OF tin
plates we're only 1900; thus 100000 peo-
pie were injured In the shadowy hope that
is, ,0c0 might receive a benefit.
The Dingley tariff imposes duty on
imported tin plates Of IA cents per pound.
There Is a drawback. however. o" 20 per
cent OF the duty paid for wares manu-
featured from imported plates and ex-
ported. The result of this n striktngiy
shown I'm the report OF Consul General
Bennett 20 his government tGrsat Brit
ain), on the trade, commerce, agriculture,
etc, of the Pacific Coast states for the
wear 1902.
Mr.. Bennett says: sIany OF the largest
consumers OF the plates In the United
States such as the Standard Oil company,
and the great canning companies In Call
fornia and elsewhere prefer Welsh plates.
because when they are used for exporting e
American oils. fruits, fish, etc, is IL pos
sible fer the exporter TO secure from the
custom house a rebate OF 80 per cent of
the customs duty paid on entry under
the Dingley tariff. The granting OF this
rebate has at the same time produced
Tolg .f
timed goods will not buy any American
made tins unless the seller will redue o
the price by sum equivalent to the re-
bate OF 80 per cent OF the duty on foreign
tins. The rebate. therefore, works two
ways, first TO encourage Welsh tin platoe,
and secondly to keep down the price OF
American.
The rebate on the Welsh tin In sufficient
to place the California timed goods on
the British market free Of cost for freight
and insurance. Hence, II results that Cali
che6ber in London than in San Fran
cisco.
Lord Avebury. n leading member OF the
Unionist party I'm Great Britain who finds
IL impossible ts-swallow "Jingo Joe's"
protective pill. comments on tbs above as
follows:
The net result OF the imposition OF a
duty on TN piates" Dy the united states
has been 10 attract 15.oo0 people to an in
dustry who might have been more
proftabiy employed in other pursuits to
hamper businesses employing 2.ooo, 900
people: TO compel them TO pay more for
tin plates. to raise the price to the Ameri-
can people OF all canned fsh. fruit, etc.
and to give TO the people OF Great Britain
American fruit and fish at loss than tho
same articles cost " the United States,
Sir John jenkins tells US that the money
thus spent by the United States would
Ing tin plate mNnufactories and hand
somely pension on all the 1900 persons
now employed
What an Indictment OF the tariff rob-
berry; and yet: "Tis true. It's pity. and
pity tie true"
Hut says the protectionIst Didn't the
tariff on tin plates furnish 1900 jobs for
5000 men who didn't have jobs before7
That IL what the tarir is NEEDN'T 10 do
and ~ does H."
That IL what the protectionlst will say.
hut Il isn't true, although he may believe
he r. telling the truth. The contrary Is
true. IL IL perfectly safe 20 say that
for every Job furnished by the tin plate
industry two Jobs were destroyed in In
dustries depending upon tin plate. and
the depression caused in the industries
dependent upon tin plate has spread and
spread 10 all the industries with which
those industries are allied. And similar
condition will he found upon examination
TO obtain IN other industries that are
haupered by the tarif.
The whole business ~ the tnited States
Is suffering from governmental inter
ference. We read today OF one railway
system which put 1900 men out OF "johs'
on Friday morning. and this Is only one