The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-01-06
TIE TARIFF.

1t is fifficnlt to understand what our national
Legislators design in regard TO the duty on i'm
ports. The moment that any difficulty appears
or We get into the lenst financial strait Congress
sets to work to increase the duty on imports
This would be, perhaps, all well enough, if we
could compel the foreign manufacturer and pro-
ducer to send their goods into our ports, regard
less of the duty which they are compelled to pay
before offering them for sale but this, of course
we have no power 10 do, and the only thing left
US is TO so arrange the scale Of charges as that it
will increase the revenne instead of amounting to
prohibition. A judcious tariff will always pro-
duce more or less revenue, while an injuGicious
one may and generally does produce nome If
the tariff is so high, as is the case now with
many articles of trade Importation will cease,
and tie national treasury will suffer to that ex-
tent.
I The two main objects Of tariff are to create
revenue and to foster home industry Now, it
Is very clear that If we should raise the duty on
cloth TO twenty dollars per yard, we should
have no revenue from this source for the best of
all reasons that no foreign manufacturer could
possibly afford to ship his goods at this rate. A
tariff OF this sort would, we suppose, be protec-
ton to the home manufacturer, because it would
put stop to competition; but as this country is
not entirely made up of Lords of the Spindle"
pin makers, and, we may add paper makers into
the bargain, it would appear to us that there is
large class Of consumers who are entitled TO some
small amount of consideration and attention from
those whom by their votes they have placed in
power.
Some of US have lived long enough to know
from dcar-bought experience, that exclusive legis-
lation is always burthensome TO the poor. If
moderate tariff will enable the American man.
uEcturcr to compete with his foreign neighbour
it is only because it enables him to increase to
that extent the price of his manufactured article ;
and all experience has shown, that as the duty
is increased, so does the home Manufacturer in
crease his prices, so as to keep them up to about
the price Of the foreign article in our MARKET
Then, we ask, who is benefited by this increase
ofduty? Not the government; for, if the duty
amounts to prohibition, there is no revenue from
this source. Not the people, for they have 10
pay about what the article could be imported
fo:. But somebody is beGetitted, and that some
body is the manufacturer, and he alone; because
il he can afford to make his commodity and sell
II at profit when the tariff is laid with view
to revenue alone, what must be the enormous in
crease Of his profits when the duty amounts to
prohibition, or nearly SO? %.
Take the item Of paper, and we will see the eff
fects ola prohibitory duty. Instead of supplying
the Treasury with means-the avowed object of
the present taritf-not one cent goes into the cof-
fers Of the nation from this source because there
is no Importation; and at the same time that the
government is made TO suffer this loss, she is
using thousands of dollars worth of paper every
year and what recompense do the paper manu-
facturers-we mean those who control the mar
ket-n,ake for tLis absolute protection? Why,
they call meetings in New York. and resolve to
keep the prices up TO about what it would cost
to import this article, with the present enormous
duty. But the government. is not the only loser
Notwithstanding she derives no revenue, and
pays enormous profits 10 the manufacturer. The
public at large are heavy losers, for the rea on
that the price of newspapers and all printed mat
fer must be raised in proportion, or else this
branch of industry must stop. Paper can now
be had in England for about eight cents per
pound, while to bring it here, with the present
duty, would bring it up to about twenty six cents
and this is about the price that the American
people, under the regulations of tue home manu-
facturcr, are paying. Under this rule the gov
ernment and people are made to be great suffer-
ers, when, by sheer act Of common justice
Congress might make it otherwise. Reduce the
duty to proper standard, and the revenue oud
be increased for then importation would take
place, prices would come down 10 their proper
rate, and the maker OF the home article have suf-
ficient protection, not only to enable him to pur-
sue his vocation, but to ensure him handsome
profits on his outlay. The same rule which ap-
plies to this species Of manufacture, applies equal
~ to every other.
This matter appears to be SO easily understood
that ii seems 10 us most surprising that it has
been neglected so long. Every one, except mem
bers Of Congress, appears to regard the question
in the light. ."... A..A ?,