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Show ! FOREIGN CI0TH ! MAKER GETS IT ! English Prices Increased By Just the Amount of the Reduction In the Tariff Here I Tho contention of free traders has I always been that customs duties entered en-tered lnrgely, Indeed was tho most i important factor. In the high cost of ' living. When Mr. Underwdod spoko for the revenuo tariff measure which benrs his namo ho warned his associates asso-ciates in congress that thero would bo no immedlato reduction in living costB. Mr. Underwood did not bo-llovo bo-llovo it to bo good politics to claim tho tariff was tho ono great reason for ndvnnced prices In those commo- i dltles which enter most largoly Into tho dally expunso of tho housekeeper. AVool is now free, and tho duties j on woolen goods nro lower than over In the history of tho country. According Accord-ing to tho preachments of tho free trader tra-der thero should bo radical reductions In tho selling prlco of woolen goods. Is this tho case? , Interviews with local dealers In 1 woolen clothing do not oncourago tho promise of lower prices. A tailor who uses in his business a largo volumo of Imported cloths Is nuthorlty for tho I statement tbnt tho foreign manufacturers manufac-turers havo Increased their prices by just tho amount of tho reduction In tho tariff. Old human equation Is at work. Tho expected profit of tho rovenuo tariff Is nbsorbed by tho foreign for-eign manufacturer. Tho wearer of tho suit of clothes paya tho samo as usual. In ready to wear lines tho word is that no material reductions may ho oxpecti'd. It appears thai, In tho medium grades of woolen cloths American manufacturers havo long slnco reached tho degree of expert-news expert-news formerly held by tho foreign manufacturer. It Is only in special grades, tho product of tcchnlcnl ox-pertness ox-pertness and laborious handwork, that tho foreign manufacturer excels. In theso linos thero has nover boon real competition nnd the foreigner absorbs ab-sorbs for himself tho reduction In duty. du-ty. It may bo po3s!blo tlrao will dom-onRtrato dom-onRtrato that tho duties on wool and woolen goods havo offectod tho cost to tho consumer. Tho now law has not had a fair trial. Fresent Indications dc not Justify tho claim that clothing will bo cheaper becauso of tho substitution substi-tution of n rovonuo tariff for a protective pro-tective tariff. Johnstown Tribuno. |
