Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1905-11-03

eight years ago, when the Dingley tariff
became a Law.
A slight raise in wage goes to make
a part Of this increase, but the tariff.
With the trust formations which have
found the secret OF benefitirg by the
tariff, are the chief factors. Nest OF the
trusts have been formed since lS9S, and,
since these organizations virtually pre-
vent competition, there is no factor lief,
by which to keep prices down except
foreign competition, and this the tariff
precludes.
\ careful estimate from the census
report Of materials consumed shows that
S2,0J0,ooo,00J il used annually in build.
ing by private parties for homes. The
tariff or the materials used III these
range from % TO 81 per cent. planning
mill products alone running but 10 per
cent and most " the products running
over 80 per cent.
The two reasons urged Tor tariff, now
that there eau be no cinim of helping
to establish infant industries are the
need Of venue and the power it gives
to increase wages.
Yet less than $4,000 900 came Us
revenue from tariff on building mate
rial IN 1903, the tariff being go high
as to be largely prohIbitive.
As to wages and their increase be-
cause OF protection, it is easily shown
that on the raw matcI.ials Of construc.
ton the price charged by the trusts is
many times larger than the difference
in the prices OF wages III other countries
and in America would warrant.
That American prices are far greater
than they need to be is proven by the
difference in the price asked for build
ing materials, manufactured in America,
when sold in foreign countries at the
competitive prices there required.
In the address mentioned n table is
given showing export and home prices
vely. aud the average differ
ence is seer 10 be Is per cent in favor
Of the foreign customer. For many of
the articles there is 80, 20 aud eycn 90
per cent difference.
An extract from the testimony OF Mr..
Schwab before the industrial commits.
sion is given, in which. on May IL, 1901
he admitted that it WIS perfectly true"
that 1t is generally true Of all exporters
that they sell at lover prices i'll the
foreign markets than they do in the
home market
The exports FOX 1904 were nearly
900, C0O,CC0. Does anyon" imagine that
there was any loss to tile trusts i'll this
enormous sale:
Yet they paid American wages on all
this and made a good profit besides
What sort of policy Is il, then, which
allows these organ cations Ia take from
the home builders from Is to 60 pei
cent more than is asked tor the same
materials Of Foreigners? Tho appeal Of
Mr.. Lcnbuscher is we'll founded:
-Protcctlouists should therefore JON
forces with free traders i'll demanding
tie repeal "f the tariff tax on building
materials, as not only utterly unnece
sary from the protectionist standpoin
but ms a handicap on Americans in thei
struggle for supremacy in the race o
civilization. Remove this tax, and the
demand for masons, carpenters an,
house builders generally will be 81
great that wages will rise, aud thus en-
able the mechanics in their turn I:
become home owners. Remove tbi
tax, and in n few years the number o
homes will doubled. Remove this tax
and the pressure OF population i'll tn
tenement house Districts will be lessen
ed, while little cottages will multiply il
the suburbs. Remove this tax, AN,
tens OF thousands Of little pallid child
rem, instead OF dying amid the stcnchc
OF tcn"ments, will grow to sturdy nan
hood and sweet ~womanhood i'll God
COuDtry.'