Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-04-04
THE DUTY ON LEAD.
To The Editor of the Tribune:

weak and %untenahle; and the arguments
adducrd therefor u%nsoun 1t seems de-
sirahle that tae defence Of the present
duty on lead he placed upon a more
stable and ~impregnable basis. We have
that position, when we ask TO have the
duty on lead retained as II source Of rer'
eaue In he ~gorernment, not rs "a special
huunfv tax Tor the heneft Of any man or
set OF men under the specious Gulse OF
protection. let US xalnine this matter
carefully.
The HeraM informs US that two dis
tinct interests are beSIeGing Congress 20
ha e lead admitted free OF duty the
one, representing English, Spanish and
German mining cap tai the other, about
fifty manufacturers in the u ;. engaged
in the manufacture of sheet. lead, lead,
pipe, white,lead and sIo'
Liee oil business men, importers OF
lead Wish to make the largest possible
sales at the highest rates OF profit and
"a the increased price ct lead and rs
products, occasioned by 'ne specific tax
OF two cents IL pound on lead, or about
fifty per cent al eaiorem, levied by the
tariff, necessarily lessons the power OF
consumers and the non consumed, to
the extent Of that tax. inportttlons and
profits are also lesscpcd 10 the same ex-
tent. The fifty manufacturers mentioned
would also desire, on the strongest
grounds of interest, tn have the duty
nbated Tor, besides the greatly dinin.
irliei power Of consumption just mem
toned, fifty pev cent, more capital Is re-
quircd 10 carry their stocks, without any
corresponding increase OF prolits,
The We~0id further informs MS that
the manufacturers of sheet.lci,d, lead
pipe and White lead during She past few
years have made enormous profits and
certainly ngcd no turtber assistance
from the general government Ne; and
then 81 gnlacau,ly asks If any one sup
poses that those fiji y manufacturers
would give to the public the benefit aris
ing from tt repeal OF the duty tax on
lend2 Assuredly not, any more than any
Of the other protected Interests OF the
eoUatry have done or are Likely to do,
wlthoat beng obliged u DO it.
Ent sappoSo they should need govern
,aental aid, or claim To need 1t, what
shen? Must they therefore have it? Is
it any part OF the right or luly Of Con-
gresS to see that any man, or classes OF
men. are making money, and to tax other
gl;l49ps 50 secure that result Does 1t
condnce to the general welfare or add
to the wealth of II nation, to take from
some and give to others, without an ad~
cQuate consideration in return or III
other words, 10 compel by law, Il major
itv Of the people engaged in pc9t1nble
industries, to pay II tax to others, voiun,
tarilv engaged in snch industries. rs arc
.l con,e.sedly not seif sustaining TO covor
their losses and give them handsome
pro.iss besides IL any enterprise any
less IL losin. business to the country,
because its losses are borne 10y other
industries which are self sustaining and
profitable Cun any industry be really
valuable cs desirable, THAT n'cesoMA,es u
daily waste O. wealth upon it2
Protcctiunists maintain, that although
various industries can only be prosecu-
ted with loss to those engaged IN them,
, without sxtraneuns ala, it Is nevertheless
policy Tor the cOultry o Sustain them-
even with the loss aui that the nation
Will be hert,r oil thereby, by reason OF
the greater diversity Ct industries thus
maintained rs il diversity with loss.
were better than simplicity with profit
Il \ pays B STA 90 Tor II coat, that {, it
allowed, woulA gladly have sold fer
$1,000; \ has lost SluO, and Is has it.
aud it he has made il all, be has robbed
and if no mora than II fair profit. he
should throw up his business and enter
into some other and leave the business
to &, because t. has no wight 10 force \
to lose his s. 90 for the heneht of Is
=. ManilcsAY no wealth has been created
by the transaction, although an unjust
transfer has been made FROM p to b.
"l'rotec itn' is Il process ot hot,hed-
ding Industries, to force them iutG pre-
mature exiStnnce, before the wants of
consumers create n demand Tor their
products and under circumstances pre-
Guiding their prosecution without hss.
AT the same time it pushes aside, places
in the back ground, or loads with OPP
=. p~ressive taxati0u. such industries Ms are
Already established and self sustaining.
Being unable to start without ~extraneous
aid. such industries like all hot>hed
growths, need continual help to maintain
an cxiStance. and lett to thcmsel e. they
ian uish thruugi,a brief sickly life and die
Not content to wait until such healthy
ieman' tor any article arises, as to In
duce Il suthe:eury Of producers to enter
into its production, the protective scheme
/, seeks To produce Everything consumed
, in the country, whether this can be