Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-08-05
THE TARIFF AND PRICES.

THE TARIFF AND PRICES.
While much has been said during
the discussion of the tariff question
with reference to the effect OF high
rates OF protection on the welfare Of
the ultimate consumer good au-
thoritiea agree that prices in most
directions are likely to continue to
be high and in some cases to In
crease owing to the fact that the
demand for nccessaries has been
rapidly overtnking the supply. While
the population Of our manufacturing
towns and large centers has been
rapidly increasing, the extent of till
able land has not been enlarged to
a corresponding degree; and the same
thing Is true to certain extent with
reference to manufactured products.
The Washington correspondent OF
the democratic but Independent Brook
Ign Eagle says the wise men Of Con-
gress have come to the conclusion.
Of living is TO be reduced by legisla-
ton. ii must be accomplished outside
OF the tariff few OF the obstinate
ones still maintain that. with any
thing like real downward revision
all along the line. the cost OF living
would have been lowered without
serious injury 10 any of the large In
tersts
lie declares that only the bravest
among the supporters of the tariff
bNl have the hardihood to contend
that the ultimate consumer will he
able to buy anything cheaper than
formerly as result of the tariff leg
islation.
The Boston Transcript takes up the
question asked by the New York Sun.
whether the reduction Of the duty on
shoes from twenty-five per cent to
ten per cent. will make difference
in the retail price to that extent and
whether the dealer with "A two-dollar
shoe upon which the tariff would now
be approximately nifty cents. will low
er the price by thirty cents. deriving
only twenty cents in advantage from
the tariff. The Transcript says In
reply: No such questions can be ask
ed seriously. II the shoe industry were
monopoly these might be the con-
dItions. But the competition among
tho hundreds and thousands of inde-
pendent manufacturers Is what now
regulates the price of the shoe. Had
the duty been n hundred per cent.
| for the last twelve years II would
have made no practical difference In
nor will this reduction. The removal
of the duty on hides ought to help
the consumer somewhat by arresting
the upward trend Of shoe prices,
which could not otherwise have been
| avoided,
It I. probably entirely safe to say
that nobody can tell exactly what
Will be the effect OF the new tarin
rates on different products for con-
siderable time to come Manufacture
ers have long been awaiting the set
Element OF the tariff controversy, and
as soon as the measure now pending
has been passed they viii resume
| operations all along the line. and the
supply may not be able to keep pace
with the demand
| Not unti business and industry
| have resumed their normal pace Will
II be possible to say with any degree
of certainty what the effect OF the
new tariff rates will he. but 1t Is safe
to say that high prices will prevail
for a considerable time to come ow-
ing to the fact that there is n short
age of practically everything the
farmer has to sell. to say nothing OF
the waiting manufacturer.