Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1906 — TARIFF OBJECT LESSON. [ARTICLE]

TARIFF OBJECT LESSON.

Protected Product* Sold Cheaper Abroad Than Here. In a store on Broadway, New York city, a large placard covering th* whole upper part of the window told the passing throng as follows: “Great Protection Sale Waltham and Elgin Watches. Bought In England Cheaper Than In America and Brought Back to Undersell This Market.” Here was another proof of the claim long made by the Democrats that American products are being sold cheaper to foreigners than to our own people under the plundering tariff that the Republicans have enacted to protect monopoly. An enterprising watch merchant discovered how to beat the watch combine—by going to Europe and buying American watches there for more than one-third less than he could buy them of the manufacturers here for the same grade and mark. There is a tariff tax of 40 per cent ad valorem on watches, but American made watches that have been exported are readmitted free of duty, so all the watch merchant had to pay was the freight and some profit to the foreign watch merchant who had originally bought them here. The fact that he could sell these watches that had been exported and then reimported at onethird less than other merchants were selling the same brand of watches for shows how much less they were sold for export than is charged for thorn here. As there are but few watches imported, the tariff tax was evidently Imposed for the sole benefit of the American manufacturers, who thus collect the tax by charging the American people more than they do the foreigner. Watches are only one of a long list of articles that are sold abroad cheaper than in this country, but the Republicans Who control congress refuse to even consider a revision of the tariff bill that allows such plundering of our own people. Before election some Republican congressmen talk of revising the tariff, but never vote to do it, and the tariff never will be revised in the Interest of the people until a Democratic majority is elected in both houses of congress and a Democratic president is In the White House to sign the bill.