Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1891 — Higher Prices for Fruit Jars. [ARTICLE]

Higher Prices for Fruit Jars.

There will be an enormous fruit crop in most parts of tho country this summer, and as untaxed sugar is very low thero will of course be a great deal of canning dono everywhere by fsfrmers wives. Under these favoring circumstances the glassware trust has just decided to advance the price of g ass fruitjars. The trust evidently thinks that with abundant fruit and cheap sugar the housewiio will stand some imposition in the matter of jars. No reason is given for the advapee in prices. There are no indications that it has become more expensive to make jars now than it was last year. But it is a little too much for the housewife to demand of the manufacturers that prices remain unchanged. Has she not heard that the good Maj. McKinley raised the duty on her fruit jars from 40 per cent, to 60 percent.? That, increase of duty could have had but one abject, viz: To enable the home manufacturers to charge higher prices. At any rate, the good Maj McKinley defended his tariff bill on the ground that “where merchandise is cheapest men are poorest;” and he added. “w 6 want no return to cheap times in our own country.” . Neither do the glass manufacturers. They simply take you at your word, form a trust, and straightway proceed to raise prices and enjoy the “benficences” of your tariff law. Thero was absolutely no excuse sotMcKinley’s higher duties on glass jars. There is ample evidence to show that the manufacturers of these wares make from 25 to 50 per cent, on their capital every year. They ought to be satisfied with that, but they are not. There never yet was a protected industry that did not squeeze as much as possible oqt of the consumer. McKinley, the gushing patriot, gave the jar manufacturers a better than ever. Why should they not make profits of 60 or even 75 per cent ? Meanwhile the housewife should not complain. She Is only a consumer; and consumers have no rights which tariff makers are bound to respect.