Poorer Goods And Higher Prices

Mr. WMting, a congressman from Michigan and one of the meinbers of the committee of wayá and means of the house of representatives, has an interest in a large mercantile finn in St. Clair, Mich. Boing in the business he onght to know what effect the McKinley tarilï has had upon pnces. When he was asked, 011 .Iris return to Washington frotn New n'ork, where he liad been buying goods, what effect the high duties have had upon prices, he said: The irnporters of New York are protesting with one voice against a policy of the custoin house, which is now to xai-t the highest possible rates of duty and to treat all impprters as dishonest and guilty of' undervaluation. I have no doubt that the moving cause is the fact that mdney is needed to h:i an etupty treasury. but the people must pay tJie bilis. The high tarifï now being collected encourages American manufacturera to support the Republican ticket with largo cpntributions. ana I have no doubt the adminitration knows what it is about. The claim that goods have nut been made higher by the McKinley law I am able to deny with emphasis after a practical experience of several days in purchasing all classes of importatious, ' as well a.s home goods. In many eases the quality of goods is degraSed in ! der not to show increased cost. In other cases expensive goods are dropped fron: i the counters of the Wholesale houses. and cheaper articles are substituted and introduced as a "change of style." It is but a poor subterfnge to make the poor consumer think he is paying no more for the same articles he purchased a year ago. I do uot think any buyer is" deceived.