Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-06-02
U7The concluding part of the article on Taxa


facts here presented, connected with the subject
of free trade, and bearing upon the interests of
the agricultural portion of the country, deserve
more than passing consideration. Were there no
great principles involved sufficient to induce cor
rect course of action as regards the system of re-
strction upon trade and commerce, it would seem
that motive of interest should decide the matter
in the minds of farmers, particularly those of the
Great West:
"The great disadvantage of indirect taxation is
not so much the amount actually paid by the
sumers OF taxed goods, great though it be- as the
diminution it occasions TO their revenue, by de-
pressing prices. In this country the leading pro-
auctions agricultural, and they far exceed the
wants OF the people OF the United States. What
ever tends, therefore, to circumscribe the foreign
market, contributes to gut those at home, and by
so doing depresses prices As thus, for four years
down the close OF the fiscal year 1915 the export
of flour from the United States was small, aver
aging 100000 bbs. per annum. In all these
years the average value was less than So per Dbl.
| In the fall of 1915 foreign demand sprang up,
and the exports for the year ending July l. 1916,
were 2,2SS, 476 bbls. valued at Sll ,GGS. 900 So
10 per Dbl, against an export of 1,155,230 bbs.
in 1915, valued at s. $685. 1913, or 81 so per bbl-
/
Dbl. amounting to S13,2OO,00O in the pockets of
the farmers In the year 1917 thus far, the price
flour has been over So so, and the expectation
! large. The exports of -four down to April 1st
! lS47, have been 100000 bbls., sustaining the
| price, 81 per hbl. above the average of previous
| years, which, on the production, is Sj0,00O0OO in
favor OF the farmers on flour alone. The same
facts are true OF most articles of farm produce III
dian corn in particular. The export of the year
| : a = h,,ob oI- q -
50 cents per bushe In 1916 the export was
| l,S26,06o bushels, valued at S1,1S6,G07 or sixty
cents per per bushel The production OF Indian
corn being 41OO00,O00 bushels, an advance OF ten
cents on this would be S44,000,00O supposing it
all sold The exports in 1S47 have been thus far
! 100000 bushels, averaging IS cents: conse-
quenty the actual money paid from abroad for this
article is ST. 100000, and about half as much more
for freight, while the price of the whole product
IS p CENTS per bushel higher than without that
export demand. This would amount to $4,000
| 600 on the whole crop. If we allow hall to be eX-
changeablc, it will be $55OO0OO0 in favor of corn
growers. The probability is, that all articles of
farm produce have been advanced in the aggregate
value SloO,OO0OOO, or five times the value sent
| out OF the country. According to the census there
| are 37l9,95l persons employed in agriculture OF
these, 2&o 1000 raise farm produce, and the result
is s. each profit on the export OF farm. produce.
iIOteCtlNe ineOTV, as connected with lnd-
rect taxes, is that the manufacturer obtains from
the consumer Of goods better terms than he could
derive without those taxes on rival goods Hence
indirect taxes raise the prices OF goods to the farm
er IN the same manner that large exports raise the
| value OF produce to the manufacturer. The latter
Is the result OF the natural operation of trade the
other that of the arbitrary influence of law. Iflaw
compels 4OoO,OOO to pay high prices for goods to
the remaining 100000, and the natural operation
OF trade requires the latter pay the market prices
| OF the world for produce to tie former which svs-
tenn is most calculated to draw wealth from the
many into the hands OF the few?
"This export business has grown this year out
OF the peculiar state OF affairs in Europe and can be
made permanent only by receiving in payment for
| future sales the produce of the industry OF those
who require the supplies, and to get the start of
| Europe in trade England is the great customer;
hence 1t becomes necessary first to abandon all
duties upon English products, and to receive them
as freely in exchange for farm produce as they now
receive that produce. If, to attain and pefpetuatc
this trade, by which each lamer and planter en-
hances the money value of his sales while he d
mlnlshes the cost his purchases, it becomes ex-
pedlent to abandon indirect duties, and all the lex
aItous barriers that are interposed general COM
merce, and pay a small direct tax: there are none
but will subscribe to it. In abandoning duties re-
grad should be had only to those articles which
| VIII most promote sales OF produce. The tax on
English goods should be removed and frevenue is
needed, 1t should be raised tea and coffee because
those articles not directly exchanged fer
American productions T. by transferring the duty
from English cOttons 10 teas the price OF corn is
raised five cents only per bushel the grower OF one
thousand bushels well afford small tax on tea
he manufacturer and artisan in cities would be.
compensated torthe tax and enhanced price OF food
through the great increase nthc demand for goods
and labor II, through great prosperity, the
| quantity of goods consumed doubled per head the
| demand for labor will be double
This operation must be gradual. proceeding by
the remission OF certain class OF duties as reve-
nue. from the new sources is obtained i'm sufficient
amount to warrant it. We have not gone into the
details OF the operation of the several taxes the
space OF an article not warranng discussion upon
a subject prolific; but have glanc ed in a most
general way at the outline OF that progress which is
making throughout the world in economical sci
ence, and the results to which we are now rapidly
! approaching. The tendencies of the whole world
are to freedom of intercourse through the growing
convictions of public mind that by such means
alone can the prosperity of whole people be pro-
noted"