The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-12
The Morrill, TariH Law.

The Morrill, TariH Law.
The MORRILL, tariff law, passed by the
Republicans, finds tut few champions. In
New York, every leading Journal, except
the Tribune, denounces 1T. Here in st. Paul,
the Press attempts feeble defence, princi.
pally for the reason, we judge, that the
measure was voted for by Messrs. W1LK1N-
SON, ALDRIcH and WINDoM-the channel
through which the Federal pap permeates
the State. There are in the Republican
party of Minnesota, thousands of voters,
who, opposed to protection on principle,
will at the proper time, express their dis
appreciation of the authors of this obnoxious
tariff law. If carried out, it will collect
from the pockets of the farming and labor.
ing classes an amount of money wholly dis
proportionate to their ability to pay. 1t
not only does not discriminate in favor of
the poor, but it discriminates directly against
them.
The Chicago Times reviews some of the
provisions of the law, forcibly and clearly.
We are glad to adopt its language and ar
guments.
In the first place, says the Times, the
MORRILL, tariff furnishes large free list or
schedule of articles not taxed, which are
used almost exclusively by the weather.
classes. In the next place it taxes most
disproportionately the necessaries of life and
the luxuries of life. A very casual glance
at the scale of taxation will prove this to
every impartial mind. As examples, we
will furnish few items taken at random
from the several schedules: The article of
foreign wines, known to be exclusively used
by the rich, are only taxed 40 cents per
gallon-the average on all foreign drinks
being about 80 per cent. ad valorem fine
foreign carpeting is taxed from Is to 33
per cent; raw silks only 20 per cent.--the
average on silks being from 20 to 80 per
cent; silk velvets range from rs to 80 per
cent; china and porcelain wares only 30
per cent; watches only Is per cent; on
jewelry generally the charge is Is per cent;
while diamonds, canoes ,xnosaics, gems, pearls,
rubies and other precious stones, are charged
only per cent d! Every reader will recog-
nize these as articles of luxury, and used
almost exclusively, if not entirely, by the
rich; and yet they are taxed at an astonish-
ing low figure.
Let us now turn to the other side of the
pictures: On all iron, and iron manufac-
lures which enter into general consumption
and are regarded as necessaries of life, the
tax is high and onerous to the last degree.
For example: on bar and rolled iron we
have tax of SIS per ton on railroad
iron, $l2 per ton; on boiler plate, 500 per
ton; on fine wires, two cents per pound,
with an addition of Is per cent. ad valorem;
average on rolled and hammered iron, 500
per ton; on thin glazed sheet iron, $50 per
ton; on steel, an average of $40 per ton.
Thus on these articles of daily use and re-
quirement to the business and toiling mil.
lion, the tax is monstrous; while the million
aire is permitted to ship his Montedilado,
Champagne and Johanisberger at 30 cents
per gallon!
But again: All wooden clothing is taxed
at IL cents per pound, with an addition of
Is per cent. ad valorem: all wooden shawls,
etc., 16 cents per pound, with an additional
20 per cent. ad valorem common delaines,
80 per cent. Thus we have the poor SER
want girl and the laborer's wife or daughter
paying tax of 30 per cent. on her cheap
delaine dress, and l6 cents per pound, and
20 per cent. added, on her plain wooden
shawl; while the rich and silken-curled,
novel.reading heiress Tolls on silk velvet
sofa, paying Is per cent, and sports silk
morning wrapper paying 20 per cent.
Then, again, we have the laboring million
paying tax of 6 cents per bushel on bag.
ged salt, to season their potatoes while the
child of wealth is filling with exotic flowers
Q porcelain vase taxed at 80 per cent ad
valorem, and her bosom swells under richly
carved canoes taxed per cent, her ears
burthened with diamonds taxed per cent,
and her snowy neck and arms bound with
jewelled necklaces and bracelets paying 5
per cent. And the gallant snob, who makes
her morning call, sports bis golden Tobias,
paying Is per cent. ad valoreml
Think of it laboring men-your wives pay
ing from 80 to so per cent tax or their
plain hard earned apparel, and you your.
selves paying tax of six cents bushel for
your salt, while watches pay Is per cent,
rare wines pay 30 cents on the gallon, or
about 10 per cent, and diamonds, pearls
and rubies pay per cent. 4! And while
non ID think of # newer FORGET that this ia