The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-25
From the ST. Albans (yt) Republican Nov Is
GOV. EATON ON THE TARIFF.


GOV EATON ON THE TARIFF.
"But no Argument or theory could be needed
when we have such ample evidence upon the
point in our experience under the protective tariff
OF 1912 general prosperity, before unknown,
here exhibits ITSELF and asserts in unequyocal Ian
guage, the wisdom and benefeence Of the policy
embodied In that measure. Under il, industry
has been reaping, in every department Of labor,
a competent and sure reward for her tolls; and an
increase Of the comforts Of life among all classes has
been so palpably and So universally apparent that
the least observant could not fail 10 perceive t. nor
could the srgdiest dare TO deny its reality. And
why has blight been wantony thrown over this
cheerful and gratifying prospect"
Although the tariff occupies one-fourth Of Gov,
Eaton's recent message to the legislature yet the
above paragraph presents his views in full upon that
important question. The remainder is little more
than the flash rhodomontade that has appeared in
the federal papers during the discussion Of this sub
ject.
The federal tariff of 1912 under which Mr.. Eaton
asserts, ths. Vermont has enjoyed general pros
perty, before unknown" was mainly enacted for
the express purpose Of benehtng and enriching the
manufacturing capitalists Of the country at the ex-
pense Of all other classes and interests. Its proyi-
sions were devised by manufaetures--it was voted
for in Congress by manufacturers and those bribed
TO their interests, and is advocated by manufae-
turers and their parasites. Its determinations are
In favor Of the manufacturer, against the producer OF
the raw material Ii discriminates in favor Of the
| rich against the poor-in favor of capital against
labor-in favor OF pampered idleness against honest
industry.
As il is our intention to prove the above a.ser.
tons, we will go into thorough examination Of its
provisions, and their effects upon the various inter
eats Of the country.
The duties imposed by the tariff Of 1912, are OF
three descnptions-ad uaiorsm, minimum, and sps.
eife IL is eontended by the democratic party that
Nha hFaI ~ be La mat
posing duties The term "ad yalorem,n means in
proportion to the value. When a commodity is
charged with an ad valorem duty Of 80 per cent.
the importer pays at the custom-house $50 for every
500. Thus every person who purchases an i'm
ported article pays duty in proportion TO Its value.
We viii suppose that silk, under the tariff of 1912,
pays duty OF 80 per cent, ad valorem, and that
Messrs. Brainerd had imported two pieces, one
costing hfty cents, and the other costing dollar
per yard. The person purchasing the cheap silk
would pay duty Of only fifteen cents on yard,
while the person who purchased the dear silk would
pay thirty cents. Thus an nd valorem duty falls
equally and impartlally upon all .
The minimum duty is called, by the trainers
OF the 1912 act, an ad valorem duty; but il is a
fraudulent and cheating device to collect duty,
in many cases, four times higher than it Processes
TO collect. The term minimum means the
smalles, quantity possible; and in the tariff Of
1912, IL applies to cotton fabrics and yarns Three
minimums apply to fabrics-the 90 cents, 30 cents,
and IS cents minimnms-two TO yarns-the 60 cents
| and rs cents minimums. The tariff of l842 pro-
fesscs to levy only 30 per cent. ad yaorem on all
imported cotton. Thus cotton costing in England
3 cents per yard, would be charged only with
mills duty But when the importer enters il at the
custom-hosse, and tenders his 9 mills, the officer
tells him that the duty is 6 cents. Although you
may, says he, have actually bought your cloth al
cents yard, yet for the purpose of protecting the
great Lowell and other manufacturers, the law pre-.
sumes your cloth to have cost 90 cents per yard and
the duty is 6 cents. IL will be seen at once that
under this fraudulent device, the importer is COM
PEELED to pay nearly 200 per cent. under the mini.
| mum clause. Well, the merchant goes home and
adds this enormous duty to the price Of the cloth,
| and the poor man who purchases it must pay il.
This cheating device prohibits cheap cotons, and
gives the manufacturers the monopoly Of the mar
ket.
A SPECIFIC duty is a certain, precise, and inva-
riable duty, imposed upon a particular description
of articles OF the same kind without reference to
their cost value. ......
Brown sugars pay specific duty of 81 cents per
pound, whatever may be their cost or quality--the
poorest well as the best.
Silk fabrics, used for dresses, pay specific duty
of 80 5Oper pound, whether coarse fine, cheap or
| costly. A silk Dress weighing one pound and
costing not more than $40, pays just as much duty
to the government as pound of rich silk lace which
costs $50.
Flannels pay duty of IA cents per square yard,
and as some qualities cost but IA cents per yard the
purchaser is compelled to pay duty Of 100 per
cent. The most costly fannels pay no more than
the cheapest. This is discriminating in favor Of
American industry with vengeance! We might
enumerate hundred articles, the prime necessaries
| of life, which are used alike by the rich and the
poor, that taxed in this unequal and oppressive
| manner. But the above will suffice for the purpose
of illustrating the injustice of tariff which has
been officially sanctioned by Governor Eaton. 1t is
| tariff containing such deceptive and abominabe
impositions upon the poor that this sordid man. this
pmp of the purseproud aristocrat is calling on the
farmers of Vermont to sustain. We shall pursue
this subject further in our next number.