Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1909 — A LINEN JOKER [ARTICLE]

A LINEN JOKER

Another Illustration of Tariff Ways That Are Dark ALDRICH HELPS HIS FRIENDS The Sort of Thing That Comes From Secret Hearings More Favors to Powerful and Wealthy Cotton Goods Manufacturers—More Burdens on the Consumers of the Cheapest Linen Articles of Necessity In Every Household. It must l;r» remembered that the Aldrii'h tariff hill, which Senator Aldrich and his Finance Committee arc now asking the Senate to kindly pass for them, was framed after a number of secret hearings before this Committee of representatives of 'certain interests which enjoyed this especial mark of favor. In spite of all tlie strong criticisms directed against this ugly policy of “star chandier'’ secrecy thrown around the statements of those who seek special privileges of taxing and plundering the American people, the Senate Finance Committee persistently refused to make their hearings public, although the Ways and Means Committee of the House had public hearings. * It is not at all surprising, therefore, that die Aldrich hill is found to lie crowded with “jokers.” Of course, these sprout most abundantly in darkness and secrecy. And they come into tile light only by slow degrees. The linen trade awoke one day very recently to find, much to their surprise, a little “joker” that was loaded for them and their customers.

A Quiet Little Trick. This trii'k, like all tin* “jokers," was done very quietly while the bill was in the hands of the Senate Finance Committee, so quietly that none of the newspapers reported any change in the linen schedule, over the rates fixed iu the l’ayne bill. But when Aldrich’s bill came to be carefully examined it was found that one little wptd had been introduced in Just the right place to carry the effect of substantially increasing the duty ou a long line of linen articles of necessity in every household. Effect of a Well Placed Word. The little word that did the business is “plain.” Being carefully Introduced just before the word “woven" in Hue 24 of paragraph 352, it has the effect, in connection with paragraph 353, of carrying from a 35 per cent to a 45 per cent duty almost all the cheap grades of damasks, napkins, damask crash, huckabacks and all figured linens which have been paying 35 per cent duty under the Dingley law, this rate being considered an extreme protection. Harder to Get Linens. Here is a sly Increase about 80 per cent on the existing rate of duty. It appears that this was done as a special favor for certain manufacturers of cotton goods, who seek In this way to drive the American people to use more of their cotton goods and pay more tor them, by making It much more expensive and difficult to get the real linen articles which, for sanitary and other reasons, are most suitable and necessary, and which, for climatic and other reasons, are not nude In this country. The Revenue Sacrificed. The revenue for the government has

no consideration here. It is sought to restrict, If possible prohibit. Importations In this line. The cotton goods have already received Increased and most extreme protection In the schedule covering goods In their own line. The outrageous increases In the cotton goods schedule, concealed and otherwise, have been openly exposed and denounced In the senate by Senator Polllver, of lowa, long a Republican leader in the senate and a high protectionist, who has been driven Into open revolt by Aldrich’s high-handed demands for unlimited plunder for his favorites. Mors Wealth For ths Wealthy. The cotton goods manufacturers have grown very rich and powerful under the existing protection. Less than two months ago the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing Company, of Fall River, Mass, was reported in the New York "Journal of Commerce" to have issued to its stockholders a $300,000 bond Issue aa a dividend, this being equivalent to 100 per cent cm its capital stock. The man who is believed to have .. been the active representative of the cotton goods manufacturers before the Senate Finance Committee is a commission merchant and manufacturer who, beginning with almost nothing, Is said to have become a millionaire. He Is a great entertainer and Is said to have 4 wonderful Influence with the Senate Finance Committee. He seems, in fact, to be a man very much of the type of L, N. Llttauer, who has become famous because of his wonderful influence with the Ways and Means Committee of the House in making upj the glove schedule. One of the manufacturing concerns of which this powerful cotton goods manufacturer Is* Belling agent and In which be Is soldi to have a large Interest, Is what 1b 1 known as the Stevens Mills at Fall! Jliver, Mass. Concerning this enter-! jprise the Now York "Journal of Com-' tnerce” said on May .4: "The business' of the mills has grown from small beginnings until today it Is stated that $2,000,000 worth of merchandise Is turned out annually, Including quilts, damask and cotton towellngs. The ■took of this company has been advancing steadily of lute and prospects of a large stock dividend are discussed at Fall River.” How the Prices Rise.

Yet to add «to the profits of these already very prosperous people, the secretly arranged increase of duty will be enacted unless the people who are to tie burdened protest most vigorously and without delay to their Senators and Representatives in Congress. The .masses who buy the cheaper goods will lie the sufferers, for the, increase applies to what are known as “light weight" goods, which go into the consumption of those who cannot buy the high priced or heavier qualities. On a great deal of the crash toweling now retailing at 10 cents per yard, this increase of duty will force the retail price up to 12Vi cents per yard. Iluck and damask toweling now retailing at 12Vj cents per yard will have to be sold at 15 cents. Linen table damask now retailing at GO cents pier yard will be 00 cents and that retailing at 75 cents will be 00 centsp much of that which is now SI.OO will be $1.25. However, almost all the linen table damask now retailing at more than SI.OO per yard will not he advanced. Similarly, linen table napkins now retailing at SI.OO per dozen will be advanced to $1.25, and those now at $1.50 per dozen to $1.75; hut those now retailing at $2.00 per dozen and over will be practically unaffected. This matter illustrates a genera! characteristic of the l'ayne and Aidrich tariff bills. The poorer the consumers are, the harder they are hit.