The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-05-12

real1r for the coffee. And thus also it is that the far
mer who dnes not sell again but consumes the coeea
therefore has nobody behind him whom 10 shove
this tax, has when he hnys, 10 paya price one-sixh
greater for The coffee than he would have had to pay
but for this lax duty
In other words, when the imponer pays the two hui
dred dollars to the Government he charges IT. with his
interest and profit upon it, in his price to the retailer:
and when the retailer pays The importer, he the retail
er, also charges the same two hundred dollars, with
the importers and with his interest and profit upon
il, in his price 10 the farmer; The importer and retaer
having, The end, done nothing Than advance
thewo hundred dollars to the Government for the far
mer who, when he buys the coffee, pays in the price
ofit the two hundreddollars back to them, together
witlithe Interest and profits which both have charged
a -hndafiade upon II.
The tariff duty is called an indirect tax. It is called
so, because is taken out of the pockets ofhe people
by such roundabout and secret process that they are
thrown off their guard, and pay it, oppressive as it of
ten is, without even noticing the fact that they pay any
tax at ALL For this reason, have attempted to trace
this sly and slippery tax, which every where fel,but
nowhere seen through its crcutus passage from the
hands ofhe people to the Golfers ofthe Government &
the merchants.
And now, sir, having done this as well as could
having shown that the farmer has paid price, ones
sixth higher for the coffee than he would have paid but
for this tax, it important next to sho W: FIRST what is
the final aggregate price he pays; secondly, what is the
onosixh pah oftha aggregate; and thirdly, where that
sixthpart goes, what proportions it is divided be-
tween the public Treasury the Government officers,
and :le impc ring and retail merchants.
And first, what is the aggregate cost Of the coffee 10
the armerl That cost is sixteen hundred and seventy
two dollars, and made up of four items as follows:
FIRST. The original cost of the coffee 10 the importer
where purchased $1,000
Second. The tariff duty Of twenty per cent paid
TN the above by the importer TO the government 200
Third. The interest at six per cent on the a.
hove two sums, calculate for year fran the
time the duty is pait, and enters into the
price of the coffee. until the coffee is sold to
the farmer. ~
Fourth The joint profit of the importer and
retailer, estimated OH the $1,000 which the
coffee cost them at the rate of thirty>three and
one third per cent. which is less than the
erage profit on merchandise and which in this
instance amounts to 4OO
These four items added together, show the final
aggregate cost of the coffee to the farmer. TO be
as before stated 81, ,672
In the next place what s the one sixth part Of this
aggregae-he part which the farmer pays solely in con
Tie 1rteGHsU answer er ''''' 'N''' ''' ss7s &C
And lastly. where does this sixth part 60. and in
what proportions TO those that receveit The answer
public Treasury in part and IN part into the
pockets Of Government officers and the other part into
the hands of the merchants. And this it does in the
Frst. The 'pu5licvrreasury receives $3.50 90
Second. The Government officers and agents
(and here it is to be rem emoered that there
are, of these officers and agents no less than
between three aud forr hundred in, and con-
neced with, the single custom house at the
city of New York )get, for and in the process OF
collecting this duty, as is shown by official es
Inmates hitherto made upon an average, lOper
cent on The gross sum Of revenue collected,
and which on this gross sum of$2OO paid. as =.
duty on the coffee, amounts to ~ w
Third. The importing and retail merchants re-
ceive, in interest and profit, out Of the two
hundred and seventy Eight dollars and sixty
six cents all The balance, which is 10 DO
The two last named sums received by the Cows
ernment officers and the merchants, amount 10 W DO
Thus sir il is manifest that the Government in or
der to get $3.50 of net! into the Treasury has
by this tariff duty on the Coffee TO impose upon the far
mer a tax Of $279 g. of which 81 66 cents IS dead
loss to him, without an equivalent or an excuse.
IT, then it be true, Ihave certainly proveni to be
it, in order TO get lS0 dollars Of nett revenue into the
Treasury The Government has to impose, by tariff du.
ties, tax oftwo hundred and seventy-elght dollars q
sixtysix cents upon the people, what amount Eo tax
will it have each year to impose by tariff duties, IN Or
der to get into tho Treasury the :hree millions OF nett
to supply the place of the three millions annu'
ally dIsrbutedl
To thus important question the answer is four mil-
lions six hundred and forlyfour thousand three hun
dred and thirty three dollars and thirty three cents and
a fraction. This question. abont which there can
not be two opinions and the people Of America
generally pretty well skilled in arithmetic almost
ry test the truth oftha answer for himself
The same process ofcalruIation which l have ap.
piled to the cost of the coffee, will show that of the
hove sum of4 millions 644 thousand 1888 dollars and
33 cents, there goes -.
Frst--nto the Treasury, nett revenue, 100000 90
Second-To the officers and agents Of
Government as their COM for col. 100000 90
Third-to the importing and retail mer-
chants for their lnerst and prOhls j, ,344 333 80
The two sums last named being added
together, will show an aggregate of $1,644, 1888 80
every dollar Of which is tax thus paid by the people,
in the form of tariff dulies not into the public Treasury
but into the pockets ofGovernment officers and mer>
chants, and is Of course a dead loss to the people.
Now It must be borne in mind that the people to
hear this loss every wear in the process Of collecting n-
to the the treasury the three millions ofne revenue to
take the place ofhat sum distributed But this loss grea
as is is not alI-for, from experience in the Of
The State treasures, in the charges Of public off
cers and agents. at least FIVE per cent Of the DIS
tribute This cost on the distribution ofte land rev.
enue Of three millions wIherefore at Ave pOr cent
mount 10 $50, 900 90
This is also a loss to the people, as ithas
has to be subtracted from the sum DIS
irihu,ed and of coursa leaves for distri.