Arizona republican., 1913-09-12
Passing 1t Along


 The protest of the representatives at Washing ton of the banana" republics Wednesday, fol- lowing the passage of the Underwood Simmons tariff bilL which imposes duty d cent pound bananas, brought out the statement which. suppose. represents the democratic un- derstanding this duty will raise a revenue of $2,5OOO0O by a small to pass along That be laid upon the consumer It must be borne by the importer or laid upon the foreign producer.
 There be small passed along experience has uniformly shown. If it were only passed along in it's smallness case. it would make imperceptible difference to the consumer, but in passing it along enough is added to carry it and make it dvisble A tenth of a cent pound bananas is not much in itself either to the consumer or the retailer, but the vast amount of bananas the United Fruit company. both importer and producer, handles annually. a tenth of cent a pound vast sum. The government estimates it at $2,50OOOO. Inasmuch as the United Fruit company, which is a monopoly does not have to stand this loss it will not do so There is nothing to prevent it adding a half a cent a cent a pound o the price of bananas as it passes them along the middIenan. who Will not pocket such loss, but he will pass along to the next, either in the shape in which ceived it or with slight additional tariff of his own Finally it will reach the consumer, the tenth of a cent pound multiplied many times. He is
 
 one to whom he can pass it along. He is mate. the goat, of the banana industry The con sumer does not buy bananas by the pound but by the piece, by the five cents worth dimes worth the quarters worth, etc. He will get fewer bananas for his money. Thus is the fruit of the poorf' at the same time delcacy and a food taxed for the first time in history. This tax will amount to several millions of dollars, but the government will only s2,50O,00O.
 The government has thrown away many times that amount of revenue by removing the tariff from articles turned out by industries which pro- lection (we have no banana industry. Domestic sugar live stock, wool, farm products generally have been thrown into competition countries which raise all of these things more cheapIy than we can, in the hope the high cost of living may be reduced. If the consumer would bene- fitted by this legislation there could be no reason able complaint whatever might be the effect upon the industries concerned. There many sumers in this country than there producers in these particular lines, government is or should be. for the good of the greatest number.
 But while the tariff s passed along the bene- fit from the reduction the tariff is held up We cannot conceive of the sugar passing along of the profit it will derive from the reduction. and three years hence the the duty on sugar. It may permit small share the profit to to the jobber, and he, turn smaller share to the retailer, but the residue will be too small to pass along" the consumer.
 As to wool. have already shown that the small difference made by removal tariff in the cost of the four five pounds of going into suit of clothes is small almost indvisble and De absorbed before it reaches the consumer If it should reach him intact it would greatly benefit him. The manufac- turer of the cloth gets the greater part it The manufacturer of the clothing in for small share, and the wholesaler, and, remotely, but
 
 appeared before the clothes reach the consumer.
 In fact the tariff is passed along because producers and importers have the power to pass it. Benefits o the reduction the tariff passed along producers and importers do not have pass them.
 This a general criticism of the tariff bill which will become a law. No now precisely how it will work, for it framed without any study of the need of the various the effect them. But, it is at rate improvement upon the inquitous Payne Aldrch law which it will suppant. It is quite cer- tain that it will do the country harm. The breath relief by Wall street when the struggle ended in the senate may be taken as sign that the has been passed. The country had largely adjusted itself it. Of course, industries here and there suffer, but country at large will be