Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-07-30
THE POOR MANS LOG CHAIN.

The Hon HEsHY BEDIsGER has addressed
70 us the following communication, which we
insert with pleasure II always gives Us pleas
ure to throw open our columns TO any respect
FIJI reply to any comments which may APP
pear 10 our paper upon the views and course
Of any gentleman. We wish Mr.. BEprNGER
to have ''iair play, 'and after our readers have
had the opportunity Of hearing him, then we
shall take tho occasion to show the Poor
Man how the taxes on his LOG Chain" are
reduced "more than taro hSds." under the
operation of the new system Of 80 per cent. ad
ualorem as advocated by our Representatives
WAsnrseros, July 81, 1876
To the Editor Of the .Mntiasb,ug Gazette
SIM have Just seen in the Charlcstown
Free Press Of the 23d inst, the following ex
tract, purporting to be copied from your paper ::
"THkT POOR MANS LOG CHAIN
'We suppose there is not a man in this
whole District, who does not remember the de-
nunciations Of Mr.. BEpINGER. against the
Black Tariff Of 1912, because it laid duty of
so per cent. on the poor mans log chain, and
ONLY 10 per cent on the gold watch chain of
the fop. Now what think We, poor men Mr.
BEpI.eER has voted for Tariff Bill, which
leaves this Identical tau on your log chain,
while the fop sports his gold rigging at the
same old ten per cent"
presume il cannot be your wish 10 misrep-
resent me. and request, therefore, to be per
mitted to correct through your columns, the
errors contained in the extract quoted above.
If you will take the trouble to look at the
Tariff Act Of 1912, you will find this provision
in IL:
son wrought Iron nails. on a1letrees or
parts thereof, Mil Irons, and Mill CrankS Of
wrought Iron, or wrought Iron for Ships. Lo-
romotives and Steam Engines, or lion Chains,
other than Chain Cables, and on malleable Iron
or castings. for cent, per pound"
Now this four cent. per pound, is equiva-
lent, not to 80 per cent. ad valorem, as you
have stated, but to Ninety Three per cent. ad
valorem! The only provision affecting the
"Poor Mans Log Chain'to be found in the
Act which has recently passed the House
OF Representatives, may be found IN the fol-
lowing words: "On Iron in bars, blooms,
bols loops. pigs. rods, slabs OF other form, not
otherwise provided for, )" 40 per cent ad val
orem." Under this Act "the poor maj" may
purchase his log chain, paying only 80
per cent duty on the actual value Of it
Unasr the BLACK Tariff" OF lS42, he was
compelled TO pay tax more than Three Times
as great, or nnety-thres per cent on its actual
valuel SO that ''Mr. BEnNGER has not vo-
ted for Tariff Bill which leaves the identical
tss on the Log CHAIN" but for one which
reduces that tax more than ttco thirds. If You
VA look again, al the ''Black Tariff" Of 1912,
YOU will find jhis provision in il: "On Watch
es or parts OF watche, or watch materials, not
specified, II per cent" and YOU will find in
the Act for which voted. the following -
watches and paris Of watch-materas Of al
kinds. not otherwise provided for, len per cent"
So the Act fer which MIR. BEDINGER voted"
Increases the tax on the fop's ''gold rigging"
Tco-@,d a-liGtt per cent. or oRG-third, while il
reduces the tax on the 'poor mans log chain"
more hd, Itc0 Thirds.
! have the honor to be
Your ob't. sery't,
HENRY BEDlNGER.