Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-04-22
THG TARIFF AN0 ITS EFFECTS.

per cent during the ten years q the
Dingiey tarid between 1856 and 1907.
how much more will q cost the aver
age family % live under the tariff bin
nov before Congress?
This a. a problem In tariff arithme-
tic for the public 20 think over while
Congress b. preparing 60 pass the
Payne bill with a few minor changes.
The Payne bill. after revision by the
Senate Finance Committee. Is admit
tedly an advance In rates over the
Dingley or present tariff law. Just
how much OF an advance. not even the
Republicans know for a certainty.
The increase over present rates g.
estimated all the way from la 10 30
per cent. The exact increase cannot
be known until the last administra.
tive feature Of the bill has been in
corpOrated. which will probably be tn
the few minutes just preceding the
passage OF the measure.
To understand what the real mean
Ing OF an increase OF tariff rates over
the Dingley Law Is TO the consumer.
the record OF the effect Of the Dingley
tariff Is interesting.
Dunn's Commercial Agency has for
years kept careful track Of prices Of
the commodities which are OF general
daily consumption. The cost OF living
increased 47.4 per cent during the
ten years OF the Dingley tariff pre-
ceding 1907. What could be bought
for S72.45 in July. 1897. cost S1O6.7S
in June. 1906. The rise was steady
and gradual
While wages during the same period
increased nOminally IS per cent. the
cost Of living increased 294 per cent
I'm advance Of wages.
The Statistical Abstract Of the Uni
ted States shows the effect Of the
Dingley law on various commodities. |
In reading each Of the following com
parsons Il should be borne in mind |
the present tariff bill materially in
creases the Diagley tariff:
Breadstufs costing SlO.50 in 1896 |
cost s1S1G in 1907: meats costing |
sos IN 1896 cost 1894 IN 1897: dairy |
and garden costing s7.s7 in 1896 cost |
SI4.46 in 1907; other food costing |
$3.50 in 1896 cost S9.S2 in 1907. Cloth |
ing costing $3.50 In 1896 cost S2OlO |
IN 1907; metals costing 1929 in 1896 |
cost Sl7.52 In 1907: miscellaneous
items costing S13.52 in 1896 cost
1924 In 1907.
The Increase OF the cost OF wear. /
ing apparel and foodstuns under the
Dingley tariff was gradual and |
steady. said Hon. James N. Graham
Of Illinois. IN a master tariff speech /
In the House recently. Figures speak /
eloQuently OF the absolutely scientific
manner in which the workingman's
wages are reduced In fact. although
the unions have been able TO obtain a
slight nominal increase. They give
the laborer IS cents witls one hand
and take a. cents from him with the
other"
The condition Of labor az the end Of
ten years operation OF the Dingley
tariff was shown az a meeting Of the
prominent labor men Of the country /
az the Office OF Former Secretary of
Commerce and Labor Oscar 5. Straus.
on Feb. 10. 1909.
Samuel GCmpers, on behalf OF the
American Federation OF LABOR. report
ed that he had sent out circular letter
20 the executive Officers Of the Inter
national Trade Unions IN December. |.
1908, and from the replies gathered \
the following information:
Blacksmiths. 50 per cent unemploy-
ed, those employed averaging about
four days a week; carpenters. 80 per
cent unemployed; cigar-makers. 10
per cent unemployed; commercial
telegrapners, 30 per cent unemployed: |
freight handlers, 80 per cent unem.
plOyed; bod carriers and building Ia
bOrers, 80 per cent unemployed. II
butcher WOrkmen. 40 per cent unem-
ployed, tobacco workers. working ON |
twO-thlrds time; iron moulders. 20 II
per cent unemployed.