The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-13


In leyying and collecting a tax by means Of a
tariff, would, them have for the object the raising OF
revenue, and the raising Of no more revenue than
would be necessary, in addition 10 the proceeds OF
the sales OF the public lands and the other resources
Of The government, TO the payment Of its debts, and
would discriminate between articles Of necessity
and articles OF luxury. would discriminate be-
tween the productions of American and foreign la
Dor, so 10 place the American in fair competition
with the foreign-o booking, in the exercise of that
discrimination 10 the interests Of the whole coun
y, 30 as TO impose the burdens Of taxation as fair
~ Gs possible upon the whole country, and not UNI
Justly cypress one portion for the benefit Of an
other.
Governed by these principles, could not but be
opposed to many OF the principles Of the act of 1912
Let us examine llue into some of the pr0yi-
sions Of the act Of 1872 and see how they operate
What kind Of discrimination does il makel Whom
does II protect Aimoat all Of iIs determinations
for protection are in favor Of the manufacturer 10
The neglect and injury Of the agricultural classes.
And instead OF discriminating in favor Of the neces-
saries OF life and the ARTICLES consumed by the ia
boring classes, and against luxures and the ARTICLES
consumed by the weather. classes, which would be
the true and Just discrimination, 30 to bring the
burden OF taxation upon the shoulders of those
most able to bear then its determinations are pre-
eisely of the opposite character and the burdens of
tsxaIon are ihrown by II upon the laborng and
The hrst article which presents itself in the list
OF the act OF 1912 Is that Of WOOL one Of the great
agricultural staples. The law provides that on wool
costing IN the foreign market cents per pound and
under there shall be duty OF per cent on tho
value, and on all other wool duty of 80 per e,nf
upon the value, and 3 cents per pound specific.
This WOOL costing under cents per pound, is tho
Smyrna, Mogadore, Texas South American and
other woods from which the jeans linseys, cassnets
coarse cloths, DC, which are worn by the laboring
classes, are manufactured, and which comes in d.
rect competition with the wool-erowep~ in this
country. On this wool duty is laid of Ave per
cent for the protection Of the farmer, and ON the
article manufactured from il duty Of 40 per cent
Is laid for the benefit Of the manufacturer; thus az
ordng to the manufacturing eight times the protec.
non winch "a gwen to the agricultural interest In
aet the tax Is not protection to the domestic wool
al all; on the contrary, the manufacturer instead
OF purchasing the domestic WOOL resort to the for
eign producers for their supplies, and since the act
OF lS4s, have imported immense quantities. The
importation Of this kind Of wool in the year lS43-44
vas l3eOs,645 pounds, at an average cost Of about
81 cents per pound in the foreign market the con-
sequence OF which was disastrous upon the farmers
There was redundancy Of domestic wool in the
market, prices fell, and the growers had to seek the
foreign instead OF the domestic market. At the
same time, the attempt is made to blind the eyes
OF the wool-growers, by placing duty Of 80 per
cent. ad valorem, and 3 cents per pound specific,
upon wool costing over cents, Of which but small
lmportations were made-ony 1873, 1853 pounds in
the year lS43-4-it being the finest kind Of Sax
ony and other foreign wool; some costing, in the
foreign market, as high as 65 cents per pound and
all on an average Of cents per pound in the foreign
market, and not coming in competition with the do
nestle production.
On the other hand, the tax on the articles of ne
cessary consumption TO the farmer are enormous:
On salt, cents per bushel about 40 per cent on
us value; on glass, from 81 to $50 per cent? chains,
In - l.
rom % TO lSO per cent; cotton goods, from 95 to
l60 per cent.
Take this article of cotton goods to show one of
he most un ust provisions Of this act of lS42, and
he onerous burdens which il imposes upon the la
boring classes. The act contains what is called n
minimum duty, which will explain. The law de-
Iares that cotton goods shall pay duty of 30 per
'ent on their value. This appears fair enough
giving ample protection to the manufacturer, and
IMPOSING fair revenue duty. But the law does not
'top here u goes on to provide that cottons costing
n the foreign market not exceeding 20 cents per
square yard, shall be valued at % and taxed at
hat value. How does this operae' The cotton
worn by the great mass Of the people in this coun-
ry-the laboring classes Of all descriptions--costs
n the foreign market, about cents per yard on the
'verage. What duty is paid upon III Tue law says
you must value il al 20 cents and fixes the duty at
30 per cent, or cents per yard--one hundred psr
,e~t upon the cost y os - T.r
On the other hand, the cottons worn bv The
vealthier classes, costing over 20 Gems abroad
'ay but 30 per cent Thus, the article consumed
~ the laborng classes-by the farmers and me-
hanics--is taxed twice or three times as mncb
Is that consumed by the weather. classes--ic
rot entirely prohibited and excluded from the mar
iet, and monopoly given to the manufactured
men, IN relation to the prints, or calicoes as thew
IRE usually called. The law says that they shall
'e taxed at 80 per cent upon their value which
Gems fair enough. But here this minimum principle
g applied throW he hnr1an Of
'pon the laboring classes If the prints cost in the
oreign market, not exceeding 80 cents per SQUARE
ard, the law says that they shall be valued at 80
ents, and taxed at 30 per cent. upon this arbitrary
nd not upon the real value. How does this ope.
ate! The prints used by the laborng classes are
hose which would cost in the foreign market, on
he average, from IL to l6 cents; and this has to
'ay as much tax the article used by the weather.
iasaes, which costs in the foreign market over 80
ents. Thus, by the operation Of this minimum
|uty are the laborng classes compelled to pay two
IF three times the tax on the article consumed by
hem more than the weather. classes are made TO
Jay upon the value of the article oftheir consump-
ion.
Many instances of this kind could be pointed out
n the act of1S42; but will not detain the commit
ee with them. There are some other things in this
ct which have the same operation--a grea many of
he duties what are called called specific duties
uties having no regard to the value Of the article
'ut depending upon the weight; or laid upon the
quare yard--or the pair, &c. Let me make an
Illustration or two Of the way in which this is made
operate by the act Of lS42 Silks are for instance,
axed at - so on the pound. The strong, firm,
eavy article Of black silk is usually worn by the
wives and daughters of the farmer and the mechanic,
Who able 10 afford these Injuries, which very
desirable and comfortable to them, when they can
ford it. A yard ofthis kind Of silk will weigh
bout twice as much as a yard Of the fine figured
french silks, which are worn by the Weather
lasses, which cost two or three times much in
he foreign market. They both pay 50 so per
ound; the operation Of which is to tax the laborng
lasses two three, and four times as much as the
Vcalthier classes are taxed upon this article of
umption. l"".''
Again, take laces, article of very general CON
umption. Every family throughout the country
Use more less Of this article The silk laces are
Expensive and used chiefly, almost entirely, by The
vealthier Glasses. The cotton laces are cheap and
ised chiefly by the laboring classes On the silk
Aces the duty is 20 SO per pound. An invoice
worth $1,000, weighing twenty pounds, would pay
So or S per cent. tax. An invoice ofcouon lace Of
] 900 value, pays duty Of 5000, or 90 per cent
he laborng classes being made to pay four times the
mid he ,vealthier eli IN yalue he