Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-01-15
Labor and Taxation.

Dlnict " eb>te ca 81 OH isNf'AN -
yre test statesman Of the age, because his legs
tive inv, stigaiions aud measures e&tendea 10
he most humble concerns of everyday me
There is a general truth contained in this re-
mark that our legislator would DO well 10 pun
Ter. Financial schemes, apparently as eiil'A-
-ious rs patent medicines, are abundant NJ
" ashiucton; but our decreasing commerce ana
disorlered industry receive but little attention
The relations Of labor and capital ana the eeono-
nv of production are less attractive helds Tor
ambitious Congressman, than the restoration oil
the currency and the funding of the national
Jeb, These are certainly important matters
I'D cannot he studied too closely but are there
not some other subjects, which come first in the
order of importance The condition Of the la
horinr and producing classes is the key to the
,rosnerity of every nation. Especially is this
the case in our own land where each man Is A
sovereign. The equal and impartial distribu-
ton Of wealth has always been the dream OF
Philosophers, and the shining feature of imagin-
ary republics. The agrarian laws of Rome were
designed to correct the abuses Of moneyed
aristocracy, and the object was commendable
one. But the evils resulting from such ar0itra-
rv measures are always much greater than the
advantages, and they can be adopted with safety
only in the most crude aud uncultiyated socie-
ties. 4 great deal can be done, however, law
fully and wisely, to improve the condition Of
those who subsist by the labor Of their own
hands.
The hardships Of the poor are frequently ex-
agrcrated. but it cannot be denied that they are
often severe. Many Of them are, Of course,
wing to causes that affect all classes alike while
,ther- are clearly chargeable to defects in cur
labor system. The late report Of Commissioner
Wells contains a vast amount Of useful infcrma-
lion ON this subject. Il appears from Til, that
the average increase, s.nae 1860, in the cost Of
the necessarics Of life is seyenty-eight per cent
During the same period wages advanced, on an
average. but fifty Per cent. Ii this is so, here
/, d difference of over twenty-five per cent unfi-
yo9able to tie latorer. rs this comparison is the
.-iuarv one to be made in all Inquiries Of this
character, 80 it is about the only one in which
,b, depreciation Of the currency can be pracfi-
ally disreearled. The working man receive
,ri paws but one Kind 70. money. Since the
adyauc. price Of every article he buys is large
ly owing to the premium on gold, it was natural
that wages should increase ia the same ratio
That they did not, is one Of the misforunes OF
labor. but it cannot be attilutel 60 the cuuen-
Y. The decrease In immigrati.u Is due, doubt
les, part, To- the fact tina, the adylniages held
ont by this country 70 the laborers AMI me,ha-
mics Of tie old world, are les than former ly
The peasants Of Germany, and the artizans o.
England, are learning this, and refuse to ieay'
their old homes unless they aIe assured Of great
er confor; and prosperity hege.
This difference between the cost Of living an,
the compensation for labor, "a, compared with b.
same Ief5re the war, is unfi,orlble TO the D.
borer. It is a burden which god sosenmeu
ami rue craftsmanship viii strive 60 tighten
This can be done by securing an Increase o.
wages, or b, reduction Of the cost Of living
The first process must be left TO the operation O.
the general law Of supply and demand ha
cannot vie and prudent legislation material.
aid the second method: our tax and .4rilI Law
need a thorough revision. They ale tgll q un
lust provisions ana iucgu lite-, most # them d
favor If the rich and against the poor. Ever
tax, be II direct OF Indirect, on tao necessities
/ life. should far as possible, be reduced. VI
/ think it can be shown that such "a course woul
benefit the Treasury De vel a- The htorin
classes. GA many articles tle tariff as. as moi
/ fxcl. too high f,r revenue, and higher tiian
required r pr t5ct... Tea, flee, sugar an
molas.cs are practically, il Dot theoretically
nece,-a7,- .fc,ers h.u-eh.il. Noone pretend
that q high duty on thee commoiities is needle
for protection Ye. these four articles pay
third of our entire rgvenle from customs. The.
pric vary exactly as the duty upon them, whic
shows thar the burden falls upon those wh, III
least able to bear 1.-THE great body Of the con
sumers The case # lumber is s,iil more DO
ti,elble. A protective tariff on this article mean
two very undesirable thing>-tha destruction ,
American forests, ami high prices for houses au
homes. We incline 20 the belief that policy an
Justice. alike. demand tllt Canadian lumber b
fire. to Americ "a dealer and American huiiiar
Tie cost Of clothing s due both 90 tie tariff an
to the direct tax on the manufacture. It ma
be that the former cau;,, De reduced without
violation of on established policy Of protection