Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1892 — Poorer Good. and Higher Prices. [ARTICLE]

Poorer Good. and Higher Prices.

Mr. Whiting, a Congressman from Michigan, and one of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, has an interest in a large mercantile firm in St. Clair, Mich. Being in the business he ought to know what effect the McKinley tariff has bad upon prices. When he was asked, on his return to Washington from New York, where he had been buying goods, what effect the high duties have had upon prices, he said: “The Importers of New, York are protesting with one voice against a policy of the custom house, which is now to exact the highest possible rates of duty, and to treat all importers as dishonest and guilty of undervaluation. I have no doubt that the moving cause is the fact that money is needed to fill an empty treasury, but the people must pay the bills. The high tariff now being collected encourages American manufacturers to support the Republican ticket with large contributions, and I have no doubt the administration knows what it is about. “The claim that goods have not been made higher by the McKinley law I am able to deny with emphasis, after a practical experience of several daps in purchasing all classes of importations as well as home goods. In many cases the quality of goods is degraded in order not to show increased cost. In other cases expensive goods are dropped from the counters of the wholesale houses and cheaper articles are substituted and introduced as a ‘change of style.’ It is but a poor subterfuge to make the poor consumer think he is paying no more for the same articles he purchased a year ago. Ido not think any buyer is deceived. “Hence it is that they are organizing a trust with the galvanizers in order to maintain the high prices which they are now charging for kheet iron. “The only wayln which the tin plate industry can be established in this country on a substantial basis is by putting iron and steel sheets, now controlled by a trust, upon the free list. Until this Is done consumers will be forced to continue the payment of over $17,000,000 in duties on Imported tin plate into the treasury of the United States.”