Prices Of Linens Go Up

When the tariff bill was about to be framed, tbe Kepublican leaders stated that they desired to be moderate and to avoid anytbing like excessive rates. Mr. Aldrich, when introdncing the amended measure into the senate, clairaed that his rates were generally lower than those of the house bilí. The linen schednle, however, is a notable one of mauy exceptions. In it the senate rates are higher than those of the house and much higher than anything ever before known. Under the McKinley bill of 1890 linens were assessed 35 per cent, with a few exceptions as high as 60 per cent ad valorem. Under the rates proposed by the senate a large proportion of the goods in everyday use will be assessed from 65 to 85 per cent and in some cases over 100 per cent. The following table shows some of the changes in the cost of medium and low grade linens : Prioe per yard. New duty PresNew per cent ent. bill. Damask tablecloth 109 25o 87%c Crash for roller towels 52% 8 6JÍ Oolored canvas for dress linings 69 8% 10% Clothing linens 99 16 22% lanen for butchers' aprons. 65 19% 22% The domestio manufacturera in -whose interests these changes are supposed to be made have stated that they do not deserve over 50 per cent duty on linen goods, and one of the principal manufacturera of linen and cotton handkerohiefs in Axnerica (of Acheson, Harden & Co., Passaic, N. J. ) states that he does not desire any advance of duty on his goods. The gross injustice of these duties can be appreciated when it is remembered that, owing to climatic conditions, good fiber flax cannot be grown or linen manufactured successfully in this country, and when it is further remembered that the kind of linea taxed is the kind that is used by the poorest classes, while a much lower duty is put on the finer grades.