The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-01-27
Washington Letter.
The New Tariff and High Prices.

The New Tariff and High Frees.
WASHINGTON, D. c., January oath.
High prices continue to be the subject OF
general interest and the public is fast
learning that the reason cannot be at
tributed to the new tariff. In this con-
nection it may not be amiss to chronicle
an incident which is one of many occur
ring daily. A few days ago merchant
from fair-sized city of one Of the mid
die Western States came to Washington
and called on his Congressman: The
merchant was an active Republican, and
at once warned his Congressman that
there was danger of losing his district.
CLOVIS that?" asked the interested
Representative. "Well, it's all due to
the high prices" responded the mer-
chant.
''But how do you connect me with
that?' the Congressman asked.
"Well," said the merchant, ''you voted
for the tariff, and Of course the tariff is
the cause of all the higher prices"
Lets see about that" responded the
Congressman. Il have here the new
law, and can compare the rate on every
article with the rate in the Dingley law
Now tell me some of the articles on
which you have raised the price"
So the merchant, who owns pretty
big department store, mentioned article
after article, and the Congressman in
each and every case showed him that the
duty had either been reduced or left un-
changed
"Now," said the Congressman, ego
back home and make all the money you
can, but when you charge more for an
article be honest about it and don't lay it
to the tariff. In fact you ought to lower
the price on nearly everything you sell if
the tariff governs the price,
Later in the day the merchant went
into store to get a pair of gloves. He
found just what he was looking for and
asked the price.
''$2. 75," answered the clerk.
"But, said the visitor, 81 bought a
pair just like those here last year and
only paid s2.25.''
ooh, that may be so, but the new
tariff has compelled us to raise the
price" very calmly replied the clerk.
But the Western merchant was now
taking his own medicine, and his talk
with his Congressman had given him
knowledge he went to the proprietor
and said, ''Your clerk tells me the new
tariff has increased the duty on men
gloves and for that reason asks me So. rs
for pair similar to those | paid you
1925 for last year. Now | happen to
know that the duty has not been in
creased on mems gloves"
"Oh, WE'LL" interrupted the proprie-
tor, there must be some mistake" and
he directed the clerk to accept S2.25.
This sort Of thing is going on ali over
the country and the public should be pre-
pared for it. In the first place it can be
said that the tariff was either reduced
or left unchanged on about every one of
the necessaries of life In fact, SO many
reductions were made that if prices are
governed by the tariff then they should
be very substantially lowered on many
articles and left unchanged on many
others. 1t would be we'll for all pur-
chasers to find out exactly about the
rates. Any local editor knows. Or your
Congressman would be very glad to tell
you. Don't submit to eXtortion and
then blame the tariff. Investigate for
yourself. Perhaps i. some cases the
merchant is justified for some reason or
other in raising the price of an article,
but if he says the tariff is the cause, he
should be asked to give the old and new
rate
1t is announced that the price of shoes
is to be raised 10 to II per cent-that is
on the average about so cents per pair.
1t may be necessary to impose this in
crease, but not because of the tariff or
Republican Congress. Let it be remem-
bered that hides We're placed on the free
list and that the duty on shoes was re-
duced SO per cent, that is from % per
cent to 10 per cent.
The tariff on soft coal was reduced 80
per cent, there being no duty on hard
coal. On nearly everything the farmer
has to buy the duty was reduced 1t was
reduced on lumber and all iron and steel
products. Again the reader is urged to
look into the facts when he is confronted
with higher prices. Whatever the cause
he will learn it is not due to the splendid
tariff law under which we are now en-
joying a greater volume Of employment
and wages than ever before in our his
tory.
AS Congressman Longworth truthfully
said in a recent speech:
1.-The American people can not be mis-
led by those who tell them, from what
ever motive, that the Payne tariff law is
responsible for the increase in the price
of the necessares of life. If there is
anything in the theory that higher duties
increase prices, and lower duties de-
crease them, then the effect of the Payne
law by itself would have made cheaper
almost every necessity. We must seek