Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-04-08

cause of the imperious necessities of our
present condition." He said "that now up
on the return of peace, we ought to begin to
practice the stern duties Ut economy, and
make some approach to the former rule of
estimates, when an advance of even 5 per
cent. in our scale of duties was weighed
with as much scruplousness as gold dust is
weighed in the balance That WAS the
language Of the Chairman of the Committee
OF Ways and Means when he introduced in
to the Thirty Congress the tariff
measure increasing the duties imposed un-
der the act Of June 30th, 1864. He said
that it was made necessary by the mper-
Gus necessities of our condition. And what
were those necessities? They were neces-
sites imposed by the existence of tax upon
tax.
1t cannot be claimed that Mr.. MORRILL,
was not and is not in favor of a protective
tariff. Yet he characterized the measure
i'll the Thirty Ningth Congress as "tempo-
rary measure" because of the taxes that
were imposed by the internal revenue lFws
taxes upon the manufactures of the coun-
try, that amounted in the very year the bill
was reported to $l2e,0O0,0 900, or more than
twice the amount that is to-day collected
upon foreign manufactures by reason Of
import duties. OF the $l29,0O0,OO0 col
lccted in 1866, the iron interest-and ] re
fer to it because it is great interest, and
not because wish to make any individions
distinction the iron interest paid $l2,000,-
600 into the Treasury in the shape of inter-
nal taxes.
| Now, what are these internal taxes as
applied to iron? | am again compelled to
call the attention of the Committee of the
| Whole to the statement of Hon. d. J. NOR
RELL as to the tax paid by iron manufac-
turers in 1866 in the shape of internal taxes.
He states that the amount of direct tax
upon gro IS ton OF on rails was $5.40; the
amount of indirect tax paid by the laborer,
| 1888; and other indirect taxes about 81
matchmaking the total tax $l6.23 per ton,
or So cents pep ton more than the entire
import duty upon railroad iron at that time.
Now, all thessr.axes: with the single ex-
ception of the taxes on stamps and upon
used have been abrogatec. There is now
small tax of 81 per 81 600 upon sales; but
| that tax will doubtless be removed before
the adjournment of the present session.
In 1866, when Mr.. MORRILL, introduced
into the Thir'y-Ninth Congress q tariff
measure as temporary measure, the man
ufacturers of this country were groaning
under a weight of taxation equivalent to
1928, OO0,o 900 per annum.
These taxes, by successive acts of repeal
| have all been removed. First came the rev.
| enue act of July 18th 1866, when the inter
| nal tax was removed from most manuac-
| lures of iron and steel, and reduced upon
manufactures of woolens, and the Tree list
| enlarged. In March, 1867, further reduc-
ton of taxes was made, and by the act of
March, 1868, all taxes upon manufactures
were abolished, save only the tax ofS2 per-
81 600 upon sales; thus practically reiev-
ing the domestic industry Of the country of
a burden which in 1865 was $4,000 900 in
round numbers; in 1866. $l2S, 100000; in
1867, $92 600, 600; and in 1868, $4,000
600. The abolition of these taxes success
lively upon domestic manufactures had the
effect to increase and still increases by SO
much the tariff upon similar articles, mas
much as no reduction has yet been made in
the tariff
A GENERAL REDUCTION OF DUTIES SHOULD
BE MADE.
1t is admitted by all that the increase of
the tariff was commenced and carried on
upon the basis Of the protective duties of
the morrill, tariff OF 1861, the increase Of
direct taxation, which, added to the price
domestic manufactures, rendered an in
creased tariff necessary in order to prevent
our country from being flooded with cheap
er foreign productions. Certainly, then,
upon the decrease of internal taxation the
tariff may be and ought to be decreased
in proportion, the danger being no longer
in existence which was sought to be ayerted
by those increased duties.
But may be asked how this reduction
shall be made | think it should be mad
upon all leading articles, or nearly all and
tunity in the House, If no gentleman does
it before me, shall move that the pending
bill be recommitted to the Committee of
Ways and Means with instructions to report
a reduction upon the existing rates Of duty
equivalent to 20 per cent. upon the exist
ing rates, or one-Gf,h reduction. Even this
will not be a full equivalent Tor the removal
Of all internal taxes upon manufactures.
1t will not be difficult TO make reduction
upon this basis.
propose reduction Of 20 per cent up
on the leading articles. Or course do not
mean to say that we should make a uniform
reduction of 20 per cent. on every artcla.
This reduction, as my friend knows, should
and will be made with discretion, and apply
to leading articles of production, having
al, u,l; .h IL
crease was originally made. ] am not to
be told that such u reduction will impair
the revenue. 1t cannot have that effect il
$l50,000,000 only is to be raised. The Az
erage per cert. Of the existing tariff under
the importations of 1869 is 10! per cent.
upon a total Importation during the year of
100000, 900 i'll value. An average re-
duction of 20 per. cent. upon the same i'm
portation in value, would make the average
of the tariff 81 per cent, which would yield
an annual revenue OF about Sl5G,O0O,0O0.
But as the consumption of leading articles
not produced in this country is constantly
increasing, it may be safely assumed that
under such reduction the revenue would
reach Sl60, 900 annually which would
allow the free list to be enlarged as provid-
Gu lOT III tHe Diii HoW HCHuiuS anu ntlh
leave ample revenue.
The average rate under the tariff of
1862 was 274; so that with the proposed
reduction the tariff would still be an aver
age of % per cent. in excess of that of
1862, which was passed according to the
declaration of Mr.. Stevens, AS a measure
to compensate manufacturers for the inter
nal taxation imposed that year.
CHARACTER OF THE PENDING BILL.
| desire now to call attention to the lead
ing features of the bill under consideration.
The bill is remarkable for what it omits as
well as for what it proposes. No substan-
,ial reduction has been made upon the
leading articles, excepting sugar, tea, cof-
fee, spices, and small reduction upon pig
iron. 1t is true that the free list lscnlargcd;
but it is equally true that this enlargement,
is to a great extent in the interest of the
manufacturers, as will be seen by an exam
nation of the leading importa,ions under
the existing free list, which importations
amounted last year to about Sll 900, 900.
will not deny that there are exceptions;
but in the main the pending bill -looks in
the same direction, the most of the articles
placed upon the free list being such as are
leading elements in the protected products
of manufacturers. And if the manufacture
er has the tax taken off the articles enter
-. 80 L., G., ot,,ro, tho pr;oa for