Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1892 — THE TIN PLATE TAX. [ARTICLE]

THE TIN PLATE TAX.

HOW THE DUTY ON TIN PLATE INJURES THE FARMER. Million* Lost and Labor Wasted to Build Up an Infant Industry—A Burden on the Canning; Business, as Shown by a Prominent Conner. Congressman Bunting, a prominent canner, in his recent speech in congress depicted the burden imposed upon agriculture by the tin plate duty ;w follows: The canning industry, which consumes ov.er one-half of all the tin plate imported, becomes the principal victim, because it has alternative but to pay the increased tax or go out of the business. This wonderful industry emanates from the farm, and its profit is in preserving perishable farm products and the surplus of glutted markets. There are 1,200 canning concerns in the United States, scattered over the productive fields of twenty-five different states. Adding to these the meat, fish and oyster packers, we have an industry of 2,000 concerns affected by this legislation of growers, pickers, stock reisers, ranchmen, oystermen, fishermen, canners, packers, laborers, box and label manufacturers, canmakers and shippers, which stands for the support a d sustenance of 2,000,000 of our peopli

On a basis of tin consumed by oanners during the season of 1891 there were 1,200,000,000 cans used. Computing the amount, to be safe, at a round 1.000,000,000, and assuming that two-thirds were two-pound cans and one-third three-pounds, which is the usual proportion, wo have a duty cost in the used of $7,898,000. At the prices ruling in 1891 this vast sum represents the cost to consumers of 8,500,000 oases of corn. To pack this amount of oom would require the product of from 00*000 to 70,000 acres of land, and would pay the farmer and his laborers $2,500,000, The total labor employed In growing, picking, canning, packing, canmaking, labeling and boxing this amount of canned goods would not fall short of 40,0 AM) people during the canning season, or half of that number during the whole year. Here then is a tariff tax which would pension off 80 - 000 on living wages now deprived of a chance to earn their living. A bushel of tomatoes in New York will fill on an average fifteen cans. A ton of tomatoes therefore fills 500 cans. Five tons of tomatoes to the acre is a good average. The duty cost in cans per ton therefore is $4.60, and per sore it is $22.50. The price paid the farmer in most states is $6 per ton; hence the farmer has this Bublime summary of protection presented for his practical consideration.

In the absence of any duty on plates the canner could pay him $52.50 instead of SBO per acre for his tomatoes, an increase of 80 per cent. This is a loss to the fanner of thirteen and a half cents per bushel. We have known farmers, irrespective of politics, to enter Into a justifiable combination and strike for an advance of two and a half cents per bushel.

The average yield of corn per aare is three tons, whioh, at $6 per ton, nets the fanner $18; the duty cost on the cans to put up an acre of com is sll.Ol. In the absence of a tariff on tin plates the farmer could receive 04 per cent more for his crop and the canner still be able to sell his roods at the same mice. With free tin plates a revolution among the canneries would take place; the fanner wonld get 26 percent, of this tariff tax added to the prioe of his tomatoes and other products; the laborer could get 25 per cent, of this tariff tax added to his labor; consumers would ret 50 per cent, of the tax through a reduction in the cost of the canned good. This reduction in prices woula increase their consumption 25 per cent,, which means a larger home market and more acreage of products for the fanner. Again, the senate committee’s report on their measure says: “The framers have not hesitated to erect or defensive barriers which will carry confidence and comfort Into American homes.” Yet we have hero the spectacle presented of the value of 10,000 oarloads of canned tomatoes or 7,000 carloads of canned com thus added by law to the cost of the cans, which would only go to swell the dump heap where the goods are served, while men by thousands ask in vain for a day’s work, and while mothers, tortured by the pleading of starving children, beg for bread. °

The Conramera Pay the Tex. The canning and other industries required about $20,000,000 worth of tin annually before the McKinnley bill a law. The revenue from this amount was nearly $7,000,000. A few manufacturers in Pennsylvania and Ohio informed the government that they r, n within a year make enough tin plates to supply the entire country, U the duty was raised to a point which practically makes the 1%,000,000 worth of tin cost $95,000,000. It was also stated that *hia hew industry would give employment to 24,000 people. After a year’s time there is only one manufacturer who makes tin plates. There are two or three who make leaded sheets which they call tin plates. The entire output is very nearly absorbed in campaign badges. It would probably not be an exaggeration to say that 5,000 people were given employment instead of 24,000. Would it not be cheaper for the entire country to pay each of these supposed 24,000 people SSOO each and let them do nothing—s3,ooo,ooo would be saved by the operation. No people governing themselves by universal suffrage can have a series of general elections, the stake in which consists in scores upon scores of millions of gain for a strong money power, without becoming utterly demoralized and corrupted in their political life. It is high time that every American who loves his country should open his eyes to this incontestable truth.—Carl Bchurz. The rates of wages in New Engine have steadily decreased since the passage of the McKinley hill, while the protected monopolists have grown steadily richer.

f' To vote a straight Democratic ti k stamp within the square enclosing t 3 rooster at the top of the ballot, andn - where else. If any ether square is stem • ed in addition to the large square t c ballot will be thrown out. After stam • ing fold the ballot so as to leave the in • tials of the poll-olerk on the outside an t hand to the election officers.