The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-18
FREE HIDES.

Here is how the reduction Of the
tariff on hides strikes The New York
Journal of Commerce:
The first effect of the removal of the
duty on hides is a sense Of great relief
on the part of the industries Of which
they are the chief raw material, and
that is likely to be the only effect that
will be perceptible even in the long
run; but a benefit to free competition
in industry will be quite general
whether 1t is generally perceived or not.
1t Is doubtful whether there will be
a material reduction in the price of
hides themselves, AMI certain that
there will be little that is perceptible
to the consumer in the price Of leather
goods. With the revival of the in
dustry there will be an increased de-
mand, and 1t has been already felt in
an advance in the foreign price, be-
tween which and domestic prices an
equilibrium will be speedily established.
While the level Is not likely to be
lower than IT has been In the last year,
1t will be lower than 1t would have
been IL the duty had been maintained.
The prevention of future rise that
would be more than normal Is some
thing that will not be noticed.
The benefit of the free market for
hides" will appear in breaking the
control which the beef packers were
gradually acquiring in the tanning and
leather business, and were believed to
be intent upon extending to manufac-
lures from leather, due to the control
they already had in the market for the
raw material. 1t is from that that re-
lief comes to the tanning Industry and
the leather trade and to the manufac-
turers OF leather goods. The result will
be freer and larger purchase of hides,
both foreign and domestic, which
means an expansion of the industries
greater than could otherwise have
taken place. This will give more en-
ployment to labor and a wider diffusion
OF profit to capital. There is no longer
the danger that some may be starved
that others may grow fatter. which is
the natural result of any considerable
degree of monopoly control
| With the increased supply Of mate
rial there will be increased activity in
the several industries affected, and IL
the difference in the cost of products
Is not sufficient to be felt in the retail
price of shoes and other leather goods
OF general consumption, there Is likely
to be some improvement In quality and
durability on account OF a better va
riety of material, and there will surely
be an increase In the surplus pro-
duct to contribute to the export trade.
! There is evidently no fear of foreign
tcompetition on account of the reduc-
ton in duties on leather and its manu-
factures. and there is no occasion for
any. The fact that there is a con-
siderable export trade and that IL viii
increase Is evidence that little IL any
! protection is needed with materials
/ free.
The main improvement will be in the
industry and trade in leather and
leather goods, the wider diffusion OF
the benefit OF untrammeIed competi-
i tion, making for more healthy condi-
ltions, and the prevention of the re-
strictioD, higher cost and poorer quality
that were threatened from permitting
the coils OF trust to extend and
tighten The immediate benefit will bs
substantial IL not Immediately per.
tceptible to the ultimate consumer
and the averting Of future evil is q
still greater boon, though Ii may mo-
be appreciated at all by that needles:
individual. The change 10 one OF re.
lief rather than OF positive stimulus
Il and that means q condition OF norma