Prices And The Tariff

New York Tribune: Because prices of many articles are higher than a month ago or a year ago it Is falsely alleged that he new tariff is making necessaries of ïfe more costly. The assertion has not even a grain of excuse In facts, thougli it s true that some dishonest nnd short sighted dealers are taking advantage of popular Ignorance, and markingup prices fgoods wliich the tariff does not effect n the least, usine that measure as thcir retext. Consumera can punish tliis exortion, if they chose, by transferring heir trade to merchants who are more ïonest. That they may have fcorne light oguidethem, a brief, review of prices may bc tlmely. Breadstuffa are higher tbat a montli ago and inuch higher than a year ago and tlie reason which controls the trade s found in the official report of the Deartment of Agriculture, showing that he frosts last winter and the drought ast summer caused a loss of about 90,'JüO,000 bushels of wheat, nbout a lifth of the corn erop and about 200,000,000 bushels of oats. The tariff did not cause either he frosts or the drought, nor has it caused he recent advance in dairy product, nor he recent decline in some vegetables and n cattle. With a short erop of corn, log producís are naturally higher, but the supply of hogs bas been so large that he effect is as yet but little feit. Sugar, lops and rice cost just what they did a montli ago, and coffee is a little lower. On the wbole, farm products are much learer than usual, but owing to causes with which as yct tlie tariff lias nothiiig to do. Cotton is a little lower than a month igo wliile print cloths, sheetings, and other cotton fabrics huve not changed n price. Wool is a shade higher, on many grades about 1 cent per pound, but no chauge has yet been made in prices of woolen goods of domestic make, and if ilgher prices are by anybody charged for mported woolens it ia on goods which were imported at the old rate of duties, so that an advance in price is simply taking advantage of customers. Carpeta and 1 mncls are quoted just as they were a month ago, and also boots and slioes, but n the latter a moderate advance was nade some time before the tariff paseed, on account of the higher prices of bidés ind of leather. Since the act bas passed ■ des have not changed at all and leather s a little lower. There bas been no clnmge in iron or steel, or any of their mportant products since the new bill insscd. Tin plates were advanced about i month bi-tore the act passed by heavy juying abroad in order to import into this country, though the new duty does not take effect until July 1, 1891. Tin s active in speculation though the new law makes no change for three yeurs in ;he duty, and copper has not changed in price. Lead and products of lead liad advanced sharply before September, because of the act. Lumber and brick are ower than a month ago, and linie, latli, glas?, paints and paper are unchanged. The truth Is that the new tariff does not enhance the cost of a single neces8 iry of life, but reduces the duties on many. If higher prices are charged by dealers for any neecssary of life, aud the taiiff is mentioned as au excuse, the CUStomer may know that he is being cheuted and can find more honest trader who muke no such exnetion. The cost of living has Indeed been enhanced by the partlal failure of important crops, and the effect ot that serious logs is not yet fully feit perhaps. Buttbere is no manufactured product, in any measure a necessary of life, the cost of which has up to this time been affected in the least by the tariff. The political tricksters who pretend thecontrary need the merited correction of defeat in November.