Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-12-14
A Proteetlve ra11n--Aa valorem ana Specific Dudes

Protective Tatif--Ad valorcm and Specific Duties
To the Editors eff the Union:
In my last glanced at the delusive, apron string
rights or claims of England to the Mosquito coast
and country, preliminary to view of the Nicaragua
treaties but instead of giving that view now, being
again in the interior of the State amongst the hon
est su-burnt farmers, will glance at the tariff again,
in continuance of my communication of the 9Th inst
find the subjec still one of earnest discussion at
the meetings of citizens around the stoves of the pub
lie houses, and at the domestic freside; and, as
said in my last you must expect the whole baterng
train of the protectoniss with you this winter and
all the friends of the act of 1876 ask or wish is to
have it discussed upon the immutahe principles of
1chat is right and jttst to all.
Most of the argument levelled at the revenue law
of 1885, (other than the duties coal and iron are
at that feature of it adopting the ad vaorem mode of
collecting the duties, and I WILL in my former
communication, convey the sentiments entertained
in a dialogue, making them better understood, as
think You will, therefore consider the audience as
composed of farmers manufacturers, and other pur-
suits, promiscuously, after town meeting.
Manufacturer. WE'LL Mr.. Farmer hope you at
tended the meeting and heard the beautiful speech
of Mr.. Attorney S upon the abominabe tariff
you have fastened upon the country!
Farmer. | did, and heard all the gas let off,; but
your orator wandered so far from home and plunged
into such thickets of high-sounding words that lost
myself, as | think he did himself.
| Manufacturer. But you understood how clearly
he stated the monstro,s frauds committed on the
enue by the ad yalorem mode Of levying the duty
Farmer. Yes heard him assert 1t ; but still am
not quite sure that he correctly did SO.
Manufacturer. Now have you. Explain your
self
Farmer. l will try to do So Your great wings
said at the time the act passed, that it would not
yield sufficient revenue to support the government
and now we are told that it does this, and leaves
large surplus of seven millions. Now either there
cannot be much loss by fraud to the revenue your
great viii must be much prophets than could
well be imagined. T.
| Manufacturer You will see it in the next report
of our Secretary of the Treasury
| Farmer. Well, until do see it, | ask to be cxcu-
sed from believing it naked assertion. But to go
back to your orator Did he not say that the ad
loren principle was laying duty the value of the
article without regard to its texture Or material!
Manufacturer. Yes, to be sure; therein consists
the difference between ad yalorem and specific duties
Farmer So [ understood him and then he labor
ed to show that by false low invoices the importers
eyaded the duties.
Manufacturer. Yes, of course and robs us of all
protection.
Farmer. Not so fast, neighbor. First tell me who
values the goods.
Manufacturer. The United States revenue officers
| Farmer. Well, have not officers the means OF
Judging OF the true value Of the goods imported :!
Have they not great experience much practice and
these, combined with their ahs and duties, would
should make them true and good detecers of false
these aids, | cannot well see who could
/ Manufacturer. Still they may be deceived.
Farmer. Not easily; for has not he, the revenue
officer, the pricecurrents of all the foreign markets
to refer to- and the weekly statements Of all our OWL
domestic markets, accompanied with the views ant
statements of all other ports ofentry and custom
houses to aid his judgment!
! Manufacturer. Yes, allow he has
Farmer. Well, with all these aids to detect fals'
and fraudulent entries, with the penalties,
taking goods at such valuations as they may thinl
too lowif all this is not sufficient to prevent sucl
frauds, merchants and importers very bold anC
cunning rogues, indeed
Manufacturer. You will sec they do it, in the Sec
retary's report when he gives it to
Farmer. Well, if he does, let him suggest mod
to Congress to prevent it. But, Mr.. Manufacturer
let look at the great principle of the thing, ant
not waste all our time upon the mere mode devised
to prevent fraud. Now, | ask you plain question
is not the ad vaorem mode of collecting duties, JUS
and equal to all and the specific duties UNI ust AM
unequal In that we all interested, are we not
audience. Yes yes! You will explain that to us
e Farmer. will, so far as my part of the argumen
calls or Suppose any of go to Philadelphi
to buy silk gown for wife or daughter, and tn
duty is 90 per cent. ad valorem: we give s. for it
c we pay ST duty tax for it. Suppose rich ctize
S buys for his wife daughter for S50ten time
duty-namely SO duty tax. So it is equal, and tn
burden of taxation is equally divided between tn
t rich and the poor, according to their means
audience, That's fair and just
Farmer. But that is not all. 1t has another grea
advantage to all and that is, kno1r arhdt
pa and can choose to decrease tax du
, ties by purchases, and man can complain, a
r all are treated alike.
o audience Does the tariff of 1916 work in th
way!
Farmer. To be sure it does Now ask the manu-
facturer here if his tariff of 1912 did or if his spt
i cifc duties worked equality in taxation.
g AUDIENCE He is not here. He went away whe
. you explaining the operation of the tariff
e 1876
r Farmer Just as | thought He svamosed tn
E, rancho when he found he had to come down frol
his generalities and give his bill of particulars
- audience. Cannot you explain it !
~ Farmer Yes. The specific mode of levying d1
ties is unjust, because unequal taking money out
the poor consumers pocket out of all proportion
his use of imported articles. If he buys silk gov
for his wife for five dollars, he pays just the dl
- ty as the rich does for his ffty-doar silk cow
70 taking out of his pocket much more than his propo
a ton of taxes In that way robs him and it rol
l. him in another way. Being deceptive in the mode
y, which it levies duties it is also deceptive in II
n amount it takes and it were, slips slyly round
your ignorance of the real amount it exacs and d
N ping its hand into your other pocket, takes lar!
70 sum from you, which you pay in bounty for all
80 nestle manufactures you And that is the re
son why it is great favorite of all the leadir
i; wings. 1t is of the tricethievng tribe-species "a
=, coon! genus wing! and all go for it-your Stnun
N whig; your gallant whig; your arhole Clay whis
of your rhoe uhtg and quarter orer in fine the Whc
,t coon tribe
u. AUDIENCE But Mr.. Attorney SIS said that Il
Il tariff of 1912 made money plenty.
:, Farmer Made money plenty. Now, my FRIEND
h. bear in mind always few fundamental principles
government and they will enable you to see throu
these deusive and enticing arguments-namel.
Il that governments cannot make money for youth
onlv Srpnd IL for Won: thew cannot Won N