Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1895 — HOW ELASTIC ARE HOTEL BILLS [ARTICLE]

HOW ELASTIC ARE HOTEL BILLS

| The Wilson tariff law was one I year old last Wednesday. The purpose of its framers was to decrease taxes on th ? necessities of life, to stimulate competition ana encourage industry. From the day the law became operative until now there has an improvement in business There has been a continued increase in the number of men employed in the great productive industries and a remarkable rise in wages. The Indianapolis Journal, which bows blindly to the god ot protection, is authority for the statement, that in the industrial histo y of this country there have never been as many voluntary increases in wages as since the Wilson tariff law w-ut into effect.

Pleased With Its Workings. Hon. AV ra . I. Wilson, author of the new tariff law, expresses deep s itisfaction over the first year’s results of tariff tax reduction. “The country is beginning to see today,” he says, “that there is no way to protect American industry except by relieving it from burdens upon Uie materials with which it works; no way to insnr (good wages ard steady employme t to bomelalo' except by freeing it from the shackles which have confined it to a glutted home market and prevented it from|-:eeking its customers all aver the world.

“It is the first of all gratifying therefore, to see the | rogress already made by our manufacturers in reaching out for the world’s market’s. With temporarily diminished exports, chiefly in food products— ; n no way due to recent tariff legislation—we behold in a single year an increasing volume of manufactured products sent abroad. “This al.eady appears in our exports of agricultural machinery, luilding hardware, locomotive engines and iron t.nd steel goods generally; also in leather aud manufactures of leather, in pianrs and organs, paper manufactures and many otherjtems of the treasury statement, issued at the close o.’ the fiscal year.

“In all of these indus.ries the wages of labor haye been increase ed. As the daily pay of the American artisan was already much greater tnan that of any competing .aborer in any other country, thi? growing foreign market for our manufacturers is especially significant. “There is no doubt that the iron and steel industry of the world is soon to find its chief center in the United States. We are constantly strengthened in the belief that our supply of oars of all kinds is more exhaustless, more cheaply mined, more cheaply transported and more cheaply wrought into finished pro ducts than the supply of any other nation, and this must eventually carry with it the manufacturing supremacy of the world,”

Drummers May Beat a Tattoo on Their Employers’ Bunk Account. “How much shall I make out your bill for?’’ Inquired the country hotel clerk, as the guest was leaving. “Make it out for what I owe,” replied the man, a little surprised. “The bill Is $6,” continued the clerk, with an Ingratiating smile, “but I’d just as soon make it out for $9 or $lO. It’s all the same to us.” “Perhaps it Is,” the puzzled guest exclaimed, “but It Isn’t to me. Why should I pay $9 or $lO when my bill is $6?” “Aren’t you a drummer?” the clerk suddenly demanded. “Certainly not.” There was a pause, and then the guest suddenly demanded: “What’s all this business about fake bills, anyway?” “We always make out bills ‘to suit’ for drummers,” exclaimed the clerk, “so’s they can come out even on their expense accounts. A traveling man who pays us $6 can get a receipt for $lO if he likes, and when he settles with his employers he shows them the receipted bill and pockets the difference. I thought you were a drummer.” “No, I’m not,” replied the guest, “but I know a good many drummers. In fact, I employ about a hundred, and I notice that when they come to this town they always stop at this hotel. I observe also that it’s a $2 joint and that I’m always charged $8.50. Never mind, though, I’ll lay for the next man who stops here.” And as he went out the clerk looked as if he thought he had put his foot right in it and the foot was held there. —New York Herald.