The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-05-26
PRACTICAL TARIFF TALKS.

Brass is one of the metals very
largely entering into the trade of this
country. 1t is made of an alloy of
copper and zinc, with sometimes a lit
tie tin added. The American market
consumes something like $1OO, OOO,-
900 worth year-$99, 100000 in
1905, as per government census.
Brass goods are protected by duties
ranging from Is to As. per cent, most
OF that used by the average person
being under the high rate. The gov
eminent census for 1905 states that
the total labor cost of making these
goods is II per cent The average
duty is more than twice the total
labor cost. With this high tariff wall
around the industry it naturally fol-
lows that there is a brass trust, the
American Brass Co. The trust ex-
ports 100000, its surplus. which is
sold at the world market for less
than the price charged here. The
duty is so high that the importations
amount to less than 100000 worth.
1t scarcely needs a demonstration
that an industry that produces $780,
900, 200 worth year is no longer an
infant and that when it sends abroad
$4,000,000 of its products to be sold
at the international price it needs
very little tariff.
This, however, is but one of many
trusts. There is the car builders
trust and locomotive trust. Both of
these industries have As per cent
tariff, and there are no imports.
Their labor cost approximately 20
per cent-and As per cent is levied
to represent the difference between
labor costs here and abroad. The
car building industry produces $685.
100000 year, and it sells $4,000
600 abroad. There are no statistics
on locomotive production, but they
sell freely abroad, as everybody who
reads knows. The American Fork
and Hoe Company controls 80 per
cent of the yearly production of farm
tools. 1t has As per cent protec-
ton and exports $3,50O,0OO a year.
The linseed oil trade is controlled BY
the American Linseed Oil company,
a Standard Oil concern. 1t is pro-
tected by "a per cent tariff, but the
refining process involves labor cost
of only per cent of the total.
The United Lead company controls
So per cent of the pig lead business.
The refining cost is per cent, and
the tariff runs from ten to twenty
times the labor cost-see page 1922
of hearings before ways and means
committee of the house. The wooden
trust, the American Wooden COM
pany, controls so per cent of the
nrnHnrfinn
Is per cent and it is protected by
tariff running from SIS to 1875 per
cent on cloth, 20 to 118 per cent on
dress goods, 80 to 141 per cent on
knit fabrics, sc to IA per cent on
fannels, and SO per cent on felts.
The glucose industry is controlled by
the Corn Product company. It's labor
cost in starch making is II per cent
and it's tariff protection 46 to SO per
cent, while the labor cost in glucose
making is but per cent, while the
tariff protection is SIS per cent Three
million dollars worth a year is sent
abroad. The Diamond Match COM
pany controls IS per cent of the
match making industry. Its labor
cost is 20 per cent and its tariff pro-
lection under the Dingley law ran
from Is to AZ per cent. 1t was re-
duced to from IL to "a per cent.
Then there is the meat trust, with
it's S per cent total labor cost and a
tariff protection of from 10 to 10 per
cent. 1t sells nearly billion dollars
worth at home, and ships abroad
something like $170,000,00O year.
The rubber goods trust has a labor
cost of Is per cent, and protection