The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-10-07
DOUBLE PROTECTION.

When Congress has taxed the country with a
view IN support and protect private enterprise in
any particular business at the expense ofthe agri-
cultural interests, the democrats think it has lar
transcribed iis constitutional power. They remon-
slrale and vote against the injustice, and believe
the country will not submit To it. But the !eder-
allss, us il impressed with the idea that a man
may be made to relish dish which he loalhes. by
not siaiply single doses, but double doses of pro-
lection. The duty which their black protective
mrr law puts on salt is an instance of this The
Onondaga salt works are owned by the state Of
New York, and are rented by the state to ndvid-
uals by whom the manufacture Of salt is carried on
The consumer of salt not only pays duty on that
article to the United States Government, but he
pays duty to The state of New York. In lS4l
the State Of New York received in duties on the
manufacture OF salt the Onondaga Salines $780,
4l6. 10. The quantity made there in that year
was 3,3I0, 769 bushels, on each bushe Of which
the State of New York received duty Of six
cents That State has received in dntes on salt
within The last three years over half million of
dollars. How much she can realize from her salt
works we care not, provided the country is not
made by law 10 contribute TO her wealth Though
the protective system. The fact is however that
been active in raising the tax on salt. When i,
has been proposed 10 make salt Free the interests
of the great State Of New York have been inter-
posed.
The Wholesale price of Turks Island salt in
1871, at New York, was tpenty-seren cents a
hushe Salt can be obtained at Turks Island for
about ten cents bushel. l, costs so lite there
tina, i, could be imported and sold ut New York
for some fifteen cents bushe, were il not for the
duty. The Liverpool salt costs about eighteen
cents bushel ut Liverpool The cost Of salt in
Italy is about five cents bushel; In Sicily about
three cents; in Portugal and Cape de Vcrd Island
about seven cents; in Spain either on the Nediler-
anean or Atlantic about four cents. The average
COS, at the different Islands of the West Indies ex-
cep,ins Turks Island, is only about seven cents IA
b,shel. The average cost of salt imported into N.
York in the year 1910 was about IA l-3 cents n
bushel. in 1871 about IL IA cents and in 1912,
up to JOY, about I2 l-3 cents bushel.
It will be seen tina, the foreign cost of salt is a
mere trihe-ju.t enough to pny for picking it up,
The expense Of its importation is very small II
is very often broush, home ~ ballast, and as be-
lore stated, the price Of pure Turks Island salt in
New York the last year WAS only tpcMy-ssrsa CTS,
bushel.
The duty laid upon salt by the new Wing mo
nopoly, protective Tariff is Ell hl cents II bushc.-
But by system Of cheating the farmer and consu-
mer is made to pay twelve cents duty bushel.-
Our farmers buy sal, by the measure hushel, The
duty is to be extor,ed by the weighed bushrl which
is fixed II, Gfy.sir pounds. Table sal, weighs
about fhy-six pounds 10 the bushel, but the Liver
pool, Turks Island and solho other kinds of salt
weigh about eishiyjour pounds tn the buslel.-.
the measured bushcl is just half ~ much. or iwcn-
Iy-eigM pounds more than the weighed bushcl Of
tilly.six pounds, by which the duty is calculated
So that the real duty is t,rsire cents u bushe.-
Add the six cents duty to the State Of New York,
and the actual tax on salt, wrung from the people,
is eighteen cents bushcl.
'fhe duty on salt is mons,rous, and while it in
creases the price to the consumer it will diminish
the revenue. The Liverpool salt Is taxed about 10
| A la, ,lnty n,II a.
revenue, and enable the consumer to &c, salt chca-
per by the hall Or less.
For the purpose Of packing and keeping beei
and pork for any length of time. the Turks Island,
salt is worth double as much rs the New York salt.
But our farmers are To be compelled TO use the
poorer SALT because the protective system must be
extended 10 hepa State to raise taxes for Its sup
port. But farmers mus, pay a duty to the u. $.
government Of ireire cents II bushel, duty to
| New York, Of sir cents n bushel und an extra
prize TO the manufacturer over and above wha,
pure, good salt might otherwise be got for, in OIL
der merely 10 participate more freely in the benc-
fits of the protective systems They nre taxed to
support the manufacturer and taxed TO enable the
State Of New York to raise 5000. 900 year from
her salt works. Here is n tax for the U. $. gov
ernmen, protection TO the manufacturer and pro-
lection 10 Stately II Patriot.
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE!
In answer to this question the Ere. Jour."pon,.
proud. to tariff" 1t points also to what wing