The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-22
COMMUNICAfIONs.


For The Union.
THE TARIFF.-No. S.
Ths present isrE srtAsr eo~sidsrsd-Yscfe dsses
plsimsd-K dseriminasss IN (svov Of tAs msmssfae-
ssssr sgsmst As psedsesv e ~ res xasrisl; slss,
In svor Of ~ rich ysss he ~iddling classes and
poor--A iszs labor and srsn.ps capital, aud thus
tends 10 build up IN aissocrsey based upon money
and chartered privilege.
In my last communication, my purpose mainly
TO explain the hree different descriptions Of du-
ties, modes Of laying duties, under the existing
tariG-viz: the I'd valorem, minimum, and specific.
The first, showed to be just and impartial mode
Of laying duties under tariff-the only mode which
should be sanctioned submitted TO, by an hopest
republican people.
The second, proved to be mendacious, ffaudu-
lent cheating device, resortsd to by the friends Of
protection TO enable them to impose upon the con-
sumner duty four or FIVE times great a. the tariff
prstsnds to impose upon them.
Il remains now TO consider the nature of speeifs
duties, which is another fraudulent Legislative de-
vice, invented for the same purpose Of compelling
the consumer TO pay enormous duty, for the dou-
BILE purpose of raising revenue for the government,
and securing bounty TO the manufacturer; which
the consumer would never consent 10 pay one mo-
ment, if he understood the nature Of the duty and
the extent to which he was taxed by it.
The specific duty also operates TO exempt the
rich from taxation, and TO increase the burden OF
taxation upon the poor and middling classes. Its
nature, and its mode of operation, shall now pro-
coed to explain.
A specific duty is a certain, precise, and invari-
able duty, imposed upon particular description Of
articles of the same kind, ,otAous reference 10 their cost
on vale. It's meaning will be best understood from
its application.
For instance: brown sugar pays specific duty Of
two and half per pound; that duty 10 imposed
on all kinds Of brown sugar, whatever may be their
cost in foreign markets, or whatever their quail
ity. The best brown Havana sugar pays no
more than the poorest New Orleans or Porto Rico
sugar.
Loaf sugar pays specific duty of six cents per
pound, whatever may be its cost in foreign coun-
try, or whatever may be its quality.
Silk IA brics, used for dresses, pay specific duty
of so per pound, whether they are coarse or fine,
cheap or costly. A silk dress weighing one pound,
and costing not more than 90, pays just as much
duty to the government pound Of rich silk lace,
which costs $780,
Molasses pays duty Of four and half mills per
pound-which, assuming that gallon weighs ten
pounds, is four and half cent? per gallon--what-
ever may have been its cost in foreign market,
or whatever its quality.
A specific duty, as have before remarked, is APP
piled TO article, whatever may be it's cost or val
ue. Therefore, on some articles it is very heavy
in proportion to their value while, others, it is
very light But this subject is better illustrated by
reference to facts.
The following table exhibits the names Of several
articles imported under the present tariff the specific
duties imposed upon them, the duty reduced to an
average ad-valorem duty on the importations Of
the last three quarters Of the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1913, as calculated at the Treasury De-
partment, and the ad-valorem duty on the same
articles, as calculated from actual importations.