Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-03-30
THE REPUBLICAN.
TOLEDO. IOWA.
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1871.


4 Tariff for Revenue.
Those uneasy politicians who think
they can make political capital by a
pretense Of sympathy with reform,
and thereupon call themselves "Rev-
enue Reformers," say that they want
% tariff solely tor the revenue it will
raise. The declaration OF the Repub-
licans Of Clark township, last Fall,
probably expresses the main object
Of the new party as clearly ~ it has
been expressed by any Of its mem
bers Their declaration was that the =
favor THAT tariff that will turn the
largest amount of funds into the Ma
''tional Treasury for the payment OF
"the Republican national war debt" !"
Conceding that this declaration ex-
presses substantially what is aimed at
by the 50 called "Revenue Reform
ers," it is unnecessary for us to take
issue with them on that point. With
no issue raised by the declaration OF
the Clark township Republicans, the
only question is on the details of the
tariff. Z. does a low tariff raise
more money than a tariff so high as
to be satisfactory to the Protection
,sts? Coming to the point in the dis
cusslon, all we have to do is, TO ex-
anime the history Of the different
American tariffs and Judge of the
revenue-producing power OF each.
The tariff of March 3, 1919, was
protective to the extent of the duties
imposed, Of course, just the same as
any duty, however light is, to that
extent, protective. The commence
ment Of the protective period, how
ever, was on the passage of the ayow-
edly protective tariff of 1924, May
90 Before and after the passage of
this act, the Free Traders of that day
declared that it's effect would be to
greatly diminish the revenues Of the
government from imports and that it
would palsy the nation" The real
effect Of the tariff as regards revenue
is illustrated by official reports. As
most tariff laws do not 60 into effect
for six or twelve months, the effect
of any act cannot be seen until the
following year. The official reports
ofthe Secretary of the Treasury show
that during the four years of 1921, p.
3&4, the average annual revenue from
imposts was slG,l72,0G3 81, aud, un.
der the operation Of the protective
tariff, which, it was predicted, was to
diminish i,npost revenue, during the
years 1825-6.7 and 8, the average an
nual revenue was s2l ,5s9, 49,. 99, ian
increase of s5,417, ,399.32.
BY the act of May 10, 1928, a largo
increase was made in the tariff rates
aud in the years 1929 30.31 and 81,
the average annual revenue from i'm.
posts was s24 ,323, ,2235 o. ali in,rcase
over the four preceding years OF 81
733,772.10, per annum.
OF course there will not be want.
ing those who, while unable to dis
pute the accuracy of the figures, vii
arg1e that tha increase of revenue
was the natural, inevitable result o.
tho growing population and wealth
This is plausible, but we should sc,
all the facts before we draw con
clusior.
A slight modification was made il
the tariff rates by the act of May 20
1880, and very serious ones by tn.
acts of July II, 1882 and March 2
1888. Let US see the resalt of these
acts The average annual revenue
from imposts for the years 1888 4 !!
aud 6, was reduced to $22,Ol2,179.29
In the years following, 1887 -3S-So- 40
Al and AZ, the average annual reve
nue., from imposts, was still Jwthar re
daced to SIG, ,44O53. Can any on,
call this decrease Of revenue an accl
dental circumstance without receiv
ing sympathy for his lunacy?
In August 80, 1912, return wa
made to the Protective system thongl
ITS rates of duty were not placed a
high as they were in the moderate
tariff act of 1919, and but trifl,
higher than they were in the act o
1888, the effect 1T this increase OF rate
was. to increase the recenas to an annu
al average 0. $25,230, ,266. .26, during
the four years OF lS43.4.5 and 6.
So far, in the investigation thcr'
has been no seriously disturbing ele
ment to interfere with the simples
calculations, and the most eviden
logic. War with Mexico in 1916
and 8, together with the acquisition
of Texas, New Mexico and Califor
mia, the gold discoveries OF Calitor
MIA and the immense immigration t
that State, certainly contributed no
. little to swell our imports and thu
increase tho revenue theretrom. Cor
sequently. we find that under the la,
of August 6, 1S46, which reduced tn