Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-08-30
ro.c,. of "a Present Tariff.

FHeCGR of th6 Present I0FAa6
Iron the Free Trade Report of Mr.. Boyee.l
AS regards the present tariff, we think us
principal defects are
/. That too large proportion of the duhesls
thrown on articles Of prime necessity. For IN
stance, nearly one-half of the present revenue
is raised from duties on cotton, woollen, iron
manufactures and sugar. These articles are IN
dispensable to the great mass OF the people, the
laboring classes, so that an undue portion of
the burden of taxation is thrown on the labor
ing classes. Toreduce duties on articles OF ne
cessity is, in effect to increase wages, as the
same wages will go further
2. It's protective in its character, as is obvi-
Gus from the following considerations. Ordinary
cotton manufactures pay "a per cent, baggingd
pays 10, but all bleached, printed, painted OF
dyed goods and de LANES pay 80 per cent. Manu-
features of iron pay "a: pig, bar, sheet and all
other iron, "a. SWoollen manufacturers pay "a,
except fannels and baizes, which pay 19. Su.
gars of all kinds, "a per. cent. Manufacturers OF
silks pay 10 per cent. AIDES pay q per cent.
Blacksmiths' hammers and sledges, 24i boots
and bootees, for men or women, "a. The fact
that silk manufactures, used by the rich, pay IL
per cent, and cotton woollen, iron manufactures
manufactures indispensable to the industry of
the country-pay a and 80 per cent, when 20
per cent. may be assumed as the highest revc-
nue. standard of duty on these articles, indicates
the Difference paid TO the principle of protection.
A minute analysis of the present tariff will only
further illustrate this fact.
8. There are certain imports on the free list
which should not be there, as, for instance, tea
and coffee. These articles, tea and coffee, are
peculiarly suited for taxation. They are not
produced in this country, therefore there would
be no indirect tax paid on them. They are of
general consumption, and tax upon them, be-
sides furnishing an addition to our income, now
much needed, would fall equally on all classes
and sections.
The reason of placing these articles on the
free list is obvious enough. 1t is to prevent
the necessity of reduction on such articles in
troduced from abroad as enter into competition
with similar home products By diminishing
the free list, we could diminish the general rate
of duty on many articles entering into universal
consumption.
If the policy of collecting the revenue of the
government by duties on imports is to be con-
tinued, we think the tariff should be modified on
the following principles: s.
1. a total abandonment of the policy of pro-
lection. No duty should be laid with the view
of protecting any form of industry. The tariff
should be considered purely as fiscal instru-
mentality. We have no idea that any tariffcan
be instituted that will not in some degree, eth
er more or less, operate in protective charac-
ter. Such will be the unavoidable effect of all
duties on articles of a similar nature to home
products. And the production of this effect
becomes constantly greater, from the fact that
the cost Of production is steadily decreasing in
the country, from the increased population and
capital, aided by the increase of skill and im-
lprovement in the processes Of production
From this cause a lower rate of duty will oper-
| ate protectively now, to what it did twenty
years ago. The operation of this principle con-
stitutes one of our objections to any tariff, as
we would wish SO to regulate taxation as that
no class should, in any degree derive benefit
from it as bounty.
2. Articles of prime necessity should be taxed
at the lowest rate of duty, and articles ofluXury
at the highest revenue standard. The reasons
of this are so obvious that we do not think it
necessary to enlarge upon them. Our purpose
would be to relieve the producing classes as
much as possible from the burdens of taxation
| 8. The free list should be confined to such
articles as furnish so inconsiderable an amount
Of as not t9 a s fE tie tE9gR
of domestic manufactures. According to this
principle, tea and coffee should be required tc
pay duty. As regards the exemption of the
raw materials of manufactures, this, while q
benefit to the home manufacturer, would toper
ate no injury to any class, us the effect would
! only be to cheaper production, an advantage
which would be shared by all the consumers
that is, by the great mass of tho people. Upor
this point of the free list, we submit the follow
ing statement showing what amount Of revenue
might be derived from laying a duty of 90 pei
cent on certain articles which pay no duty
Statement exhibiting TIE aOrnt Of dates that sUoua Aar
ICE SCGtneu gx ~ @ o. gseraS l
ing Jae 80, 1856, had 20 per centrum ice,
| charged upon them.
/ Articles. S. Value. Duties.
757 $3.50 $1,15l,672 o.
Coffee 223s6sT9 4477,8T5 81
/ sheathing Of vessels els. 85181l 7O,Q6Q 9
Copper l4403l4 $3.50 8
sheathng metal 1882 1854 4
plants, $50 ] ase5o4 1890 $
Total.,............s..... 8l,N7l,24o. c.914,24s o
MORMON DEGRADArioN--A correspondent o
the Cincinnati Enquirergives the following state
mcnts: