Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-04-04
For the Portage Sentinel.

GENTLEMEN: The way our general gov
ernment compells the babies in The land to
help along its financial concerns is worthy
a moments notice, The ad valorem price
OF 15,047,2s pounds of raisins brought to
our country in the year ending July LIST,
1548, according to the report OF the Regis
ter Of the Treasury, is 5s2,54O dollars
Giving the wholesale dealer or importer
10 per cent. on this amount, and the re-
taller 80, the whole amount OF the import
alton, were it not fer the tariff, might be
sold to the babies for s33, ,032 dollars, or for
about 81 cents per pound. To this, how
ever, should be added the transportation,
which, suppose, need not exceed 2 cents
per pound from the place where purchased
This would, when added, make the cost I ]
cents, and glorious times among f'the young
and rising generation"
But am not very particular about this
amount, whether it be too large or too
small. My object is to show how many
cents Uncle Sam adds to each pound by his
tax system. The duty on "Preserved Fruit
or sweetmeats and Dry Fruit of all kinds
(Which includes raisins) is 40 per cent.
The value of the whole importation for the
last year as above stated, is 1852, $40. A
40 per cent. tariff collects from this amount
$685. ,0l6; and ttraethe importer must pay
before the babies can get the raisins unload
ed in our country. This would add to each
pound upwards of cent and half, and
nearly one half Of the original cost in the
ports of the Mediterranean. 1t is not nee
essarv to discriminate between the different
kinds, or the different places from which
they are brought.) But this $233,oi6 is
not all the additional expense which the
babies have to suffer in consequence of this
40 per cent. The importer has advanced
| the money to the General Treasury, and
wants something for the use of it while he
is making his sales. His rule is ten per
cent, raising the original cost 23,3Ol
more. Add this to the sum he has paid the
government at the custom house, and you
have the amount which the retailer has to
pay before he can bring the raisins into the
country where the babies are. 80 per
cent. for him upon the money which he
has been compelled to pay for the raisins
more than he would have done had it not
been for the tariff, levies another SUM Of
$76,s ,s95 on the little consumers before they
can get their hands hold Of their favorite
article. Add the three last mentioned sums
together and you have the whole amount
of the tax which they have to pay. 1t is
1888, ,212-and considerable more than
half of the first cost, which it will be recol.
lected was only S5s2, $40. l have placed
the retailers profit at only 80 per cent
which | suppose altogether too low on this
article Of commerce.
This is great business for the legislators
of this ssgreat country y and will conclude
by showing how the money collected from
the babies and their mothers is spent by
the gaeernment after it gets it. l have on
ly mentioned the article of raisins, saying
nothing about almonds, figs, &C., and |
will mention only one place, New York
city, where the money is squandered.
Here is list Of the officers employed a.
bout the Custom House in the city of New
York, together with the amount Of their
salaries:
tG17S Tnsnnotors each Al 0Q5 S1o1o1o