The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-10-03
The Tariff Discussion,

hAlolOlS w OCpI' oV VI
Editor Kenosaa Telegaaph:
In the Chicago Tribune Of the 18th, the
editor in answering a communication of
nline on the tariff question in one portion Of
his paper, dismisses one interrogatory with
the very brief reply that the question is not
pertinent, But on the next page he singles
out this same question as text for long
discussion, not before consi Tered pertinent.
To this sent reply which the editor de-
clines to publish AS the Kenosha free trade
Union has copied the article from the Chi
cage Tribune for eGtenSare circulation, and
as the Tribune declines to to publish my re-
ply; ask for an insertion in your paper of
the reply to the article.
Yours &c, p. JUDsoN.
EDITOR CHICAGO TRIBUNE, SIR Though
you are professedly mindful Of my "horror
of long articles, it appears not practically
so. In yours of the 18th in answer to the
question implying that the foreign exporter
in introducing his products into this coun-
try for sale, pays the duties, you dismiss
with the very brief reply that cit is not per.
tinent." But on the next page find long
article, seemingly embellished with more
figures than facts; no doubt intended as rem
edial for ''hallucinations Of mind. | wish
to reply as briefly as the question will ad-
NIT. avoiding puzzling arrays of figures in
Choctaw Arithmetic
Some years ago Daniel Webster "a man Of
good repute as to brains) in a speech on
the tariff question, demonstrated the fact by
quoting from circulars issued by foreign
manufacturers to their factors IN this coun-
try, that they were instructed to pay the du
ties whether high or low and take them out
of bond and sell at prices, adjusted to com
pete with the American manufacture; so as
TO supplant the American manufacturer in
bis own market; and charge the duties tc
profit and loss amount. Who paid the du
ties? An Illinois corn grower having home
market of % cts per bushel for his corn and
being possessed with the ''halucination'
| that the more remote the market the more
abundant the returns, rushes to try for
eign market. Visions of a PLETHORA purse
nurse his "hallucination. In due time the
returns of his cargo arrive with bill of sale
embellished with charges for freight, insur-
ance companies, shrinkage scalpage, duties
&c, &c, with the usual consoIatory post.
script, ''tle market tending downward he
finds that his corn netts him ten cents Del
busheI, the price for corn in his ueighbor
hood. In a wrathful mood he tries a little
Choctaw ciphering; but it does not enlarge
his pile in the least He finds that lie has
paid Is cts per bushel and all charges over
and above the home market price to place
his corn in a foreign market. When for
eign exporter ships his products to the
American market he must pay the duties
before he sells If the market does not suit
him he can bond them until it does, or re-
ship them. The supply and demand will
govern prices regardless of cost of produc-
ton and duties, There have been times
when the rates of exchange would warrant
the shipment of produce to Liverpool, duties
paid; to be sold at less than New York
prices. Who pays the duties? The Cana
dian who smuggles his whiskey across the
line does so with view to avoid the pay.
ment of duties The honest dealer brings
over the same amount and pays the duties.
Both sell ia the same market The honest
dealer returns minus the amount of duties
paid, compared with the smuggler. Whose
pocket did the duties come out OF; not the
consumer-for he paid the market price
moe or less Why was it an object for the
British free-traders to run the blockade dur
ing the rebellion? Was it not to escape pay
ing duties and to aid in breaking down a
nation that imposed duties on importers?
Equitable tariff laws, not prohibatory,
think is what majority of the republicans