The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-24
MUST SHOES COST MORE?

Between $100,00O,000 Ana $780,
100000 a year would be added to
Americas boot and shoe bill by the
tax on hides put into the tariff bill
which has been reported to the United
States senate by the senate finance
committee, says the shoe trade, which
is preparing a battle for free hi les,
free leather and free shoes.
Manufacturers estimate that the
proposed duty on hides would put 50
cents to 70 cents more on the cost of a
pair of brogans. while the public is
\ calling for cheaper footwear. Cattle
raisers are reported to be asking for
the duty on hides, deeming it a good
thing for the cattle industry. The
farmers, on the other hand, seem to
be taking a different slant, and the
American Farm bureau has filed a
brief with the senate finance commit
tee urging that hides, leather and
leather products should remain on the
free list.
The farmer. the brief pointed out,
would come out at the wrong end of
the horn. Even if a duty on hides
should give him an increased returA
from his cattle, which is open to ques-
ton, it would be more than offset by
the boost in the cost of boots. shoes,
harness and other leather products.
Critics of the bill as it stands point
out that hides have been on the free
list as a traditional policy, with the
exception of one period from 1897 to
1899. Prominent protectionists of the
past, Mckinley, Dingley, Blaine and
Payne. all went on record they say.
against a tariff on hides and refused
it a place in bills they sponsored.
Chief benefit of hide tariff. they
point out, would go to the packers.
Arthur Evans, writing in the Chi
cago Tribune, declares that the United
States does not raise cattle enough to
supply its hide demand. The annual
hide consumption, he says, is around
1850, 100000 pounds and the Amer
lean production is about s5O.O0o,0Oo,
meaning that about As per cent must
be imported.
If imports kept up as they have
during the last ten years, a duty on
cattle hides, it is estimated by the
farm bureau federation, would yield
a customs revenue OF about $16.o0O,-
600. As against this between $780,
100000 and $3.50. 100000 by another
estimate, would be added TO the cost
of the 2Oo.ooO.000 pairs of shoes used
in America each year.
A campaign has been launched by
the National Shoe Retailers associa-
ton and the National Association of
Shoe Manufacturers to get consumers
to write senators and representative
to vote for free hides. In a circular
the National Shoe Retailers associa-
ton says:
DO you want shoes to advance In |
price? If the duty is put on hides it |
will benefit no one but the large kill |
ers. They already control a large
OF the United States and a duty ON |
hides would eventually give them alb |
solute control, and when they get that |
prices will begin to rise by leaps and /
bounds.
Cattle are bought for their meat, |
not their hides 1t is absurd to be-
lieve that the killer would pay the |
farmer rs cents or 81 more for a hide |
would not get a penny. 1t would be
just extra profit for the killer. Even /
if the farmer did get a small advance |
in price, he would pay it back ten
IN Nn5 increased cost OF SHOES
for himself and family.
The only thing that will give the \
farmer more for his hides is a greater
demand for shoes, leather, etc Just /
as soon as shoes become lower in /
price. more shoes will be sold, our ex-
ports will be increased. more hides
will be used, and the farmer will get 1
more for his hides. The public the
retailer, and the manufacturer are all /
striving to reduce the price of shoes.
The building boom is not coming.
It is here so far az the cities and large
towns are concerned. according to the
American Lumberman." The build
ing boom has not as yet extsnded into
the country districts, it says, hut the
farmers are purchasing more mater
ial than previously and are carrying
on much deferred repair work. The
paper also notes that there was re-
Gently placed by one railroad system
an order for 5000 freight cars. the
largest single order placed during the
last five years.
@@=s@@
More than 500, 600 coal miners have /,
quit work. A similar number of rail-
road shop employees are preparing 70
follow suit. Perhaps it would be
good plan for everybody to quit work