Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-07-30
UNMASKING.

UNMASKING.
The last Patriot contains an elaborate article up
on the Tariff and it goes the "whole hog, brstles
and ALL" for McKay's British Bll.* We arc not
surprised at this-though it is bold departure
from those professions of favor TO the doctrine Of
Protection with which the Locolocos were vince.
died into the support of Polk in IA. The Patriot
evidently thinks that it is best to carry out the
game Of deception to the last as the people were
deceived into Polkcry at the last election, so shall
they be prevented from seeing their by still
fresh deception To this end, it boldly advocates
nj raiorem duties, the most Just and best adap-
ted to give "equdt protection 10 all branches of in
dustry," and argues that cooi is better protected
than by the Tariff of 1912! We quote from the
article as specimen Of the honesty of the writer
and the conclusions to which he has arrived:
"'The bill TIA: has recently passed the House of
Representatives at Washington has furnished this
essential requisite equality by its ad valorcm du-
ties, dboshing all that is specific, bearing lightly
Oh the ncccssories Of life, admitting Tea and Cof-
fee duty free. making reduction on Salt to 90 per
cent. thereby saving TO the farmers of the United
! States hundreds Of thousands of dollars yearly on
that one Indispensable"
|
ted than by the Tariff of 1872"
The honesty of the writer may be justly apprcc-
uted when is understood that this BILL as it came
from the hands of the administration, proposed 10
lac tea and coGec-two important neccsstrics of
life: so far the government from adopting the
principle of clearing lightly on the nccessaries of
life" Salt we believe it was proposed to admit
duty free, but it being important to secure a few
votes for the bill in New York, it was agreed to
buy these votes by imposing tax of 20 per cent.
on salt! Every Vernonter may therefore see, that
while the government rcpudiates the principle of
protection, it is quite willing to make him pay for
sailing do,tl the votes of New York locofocos.-
That is the princiPic Of the administration and of
this bill.
But the Patriot goes for the system of ad ualorcm
duties, and graveIy holds it up for the admiration
of its readers. No system is more fatal, both to
protection and to the revenue of the government,
because it opens wide the door for fraud; no sys-
TEN is unjust. Under that system, the import
or of foreign goods substantially has the matter all
his own way, and fixes the amount to be paid for
duty as he pleases, by forged invoices and other
) tricks known to the trade Hence it follows, that
there is no equality or justice in the matter at ALL
Articles of the same value will come in under dit
ierent invoices at different rates. and always the
consequent difference in the amount of duties will
90 into the pockets of the rascals--the biggest
sums into the pockets of the biggest rascals. lie.
us take wool for an example.
Under the Tariff of 1872. McKay's.
100 lbs 3 cts per ID. specific, $500 5000
cost 20c. 80 per ct. ad valoicm, 900 600
Total duty, 5000 5000
Now let us suppose that the importer undertakes
to dcfraud the revenue by invoicing his 20 per ct,
wool ut 10 cents. Tho figures will stand thus;
? Tariff of 1912. McKay's.
100 lbs. wool ! 3 cts. per 10. specific, $500 600
G at 10 cents. s 80 per Ct ad valorem, 800 300
Total, 5000 $500
f 1t will thus be seen, first, that on all wool save
} coarse, the Tariff Of 1912 gives 8 cents pound
more than the Polk Tariff; and second, that the
same fraud which would leave only SO duty under
Q the Polk Tariff would leave double that duty (46)
r under the Tariff of 1912 1t is the specific dtiy Of
the Wing Tariff of 1912 which is the main stay
of the wookgrowers. Let that be abandoned, and
they are in the hands OF the Philistines.
The Patriot, however, ate mpts to illustrate the
: inequality Of specific duties, thus:
d "To illustrate: the duty on Aannels is specific
= so much per square yard; II cents. If you arc
only able to buy piece worth 35 cents, say 10 pie
ces at35 is $3.50 or 81 40 duty, equal to about 20
c per cent. If you purchase the same amount at 1s
S Cd $780, Sl,40 or about % per cent"
This duty on flannel was intended to be prohib-
l. tory, and had it been so, there would have been
?, no inequality at all in its operation, since there
would be no foreign flannel to be operated upon
If Prohibition is generally the design Of specific du.
ties; and it is only to very limited extent that the
alledgcd and sometimes real inequality ofsuch du-
y ties is practically felt As TO Aannels: the whole
h imported in 1915 205, 1870 square yards, valued
= at only $7G,055. OF this amount about 1000 yards
l. were exported, leaving only 72 sos to be consum-
n ed. Now noe are willing to have the people, who
prefer foreign flannel to the beautiful article turn
ed out by our own manufacturers, pay the duty up.
+ on it, and to CRAFTY such men, we would not be
willing to strike out The specific duty and the fan
!, mel factories at blow. The specific duty of the
n Wing Tariff has almost wholly excluded foreign
The article appears a but seems to hav,
fteon adopted by 10 editor as