The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-26
TARIFF FOR REVENUE AND TAR.
IFF FOR PROTECTION.

TARIFF FOR REVENUE AND TAR
IfF FOR PROTECTION.
Mr.. KERR, OF Indiana, made q speech
in Congress, the other day, upon thu
Tariff question, which we find pub
lished in full in the Congressional GIob'
of the 18th inst. 1t is speech which
should be widely and carefully read
and if our space and our inclination
could be made compatible we shoule
re produce the entire speech in our col
umns.
Probably no man in Congress ha'
studied the tariff question more
thoroughly than Mr., KERR, and we cal
say to our readers, if they desire t.
read an instructive and enlightened
discussion OF this question, set forth II
language of singular clearness and
force; a discussion which is wholly
philosophical in its method, and with
out the least trace of the buncombe
party spirit, we cannot point them to q
more meritorious production than this
speech Of Mr.. KERR's. After reading
Mr.. KERR's very admirable and con-
vincing presentment Of the subject
what is tariff for revenue" one can
not help regretting that there are. COM
paratively speaking, 80 few men in
Congress who have an adequate concep
ton Of the importance Of the tariff
question, or who are in any creditable
degree competent to !egislate upon ii
intelligently.
We shall best help our readers to an
idea OF the tremendous importance on
this tariff question by quoting such
passages from Mr.. KERR's speech as We
can find room for.
Thus, as showing what a man who
has long and deeply studied the subject
thinks OF it, Mr.. KERR tells US: ut il
subject OF vital importance to ever!
citizen, for it affects almost every In
terest Of human beings in their relations
to business or society.
More than any other subject Of current
legislation it demands the most careful
study, thoughtful analysis, and wide
range of facts and comparisons.
Indeed, it may be confessed tina
human life is too short and human
knowledge too limited to permit an.
one fully TO master this great subjec
in all its details and relations. But 81
far as it is practicable, the faithful legis
lator should attempt it. We should a
least endeavor to comprehend its grea
principles, a task by no means diff
cult"
Mr.. KERR assumes that the Lawful
object of all taxation is revenue; IS
long as government is a necessity t
mankind, taxation and revenue will b
also. But taxation for any other pul
pose than revenue is in it's best form
questionable and partial, and almos
always absolutely wrong, dishonest an
oppressive" Now, it should be born
in mind that Mr.. KERR is member &
the Ways and Means Committee
committee whose leading business it
to make and unmake, modify An
amend, the revenue laws Of the country
and, when one of such a committe
chsracterizes tariffs for other purpose
than revenue as wrong, dishonest an
oppressive, it must at least be above
that his means and opportunities G
forming an opinion are of the mos
ample and excellent order.
But what are some Of these othe
purposes for which tariffs are some
times imposed2 In this country the
are sometimes imposed for what
mildly called protection" But wha
is protection In the pointed languag
of Mr.. KERR, it "is tax imposed upol
all the consumers Of the article il
question for the benefit Of the protecte'
producer of the article, and to eDsbl
him to charge for it higher price tha'
it would otherwise cost" Now, sine
such tariffs are not for revenue, and car
not be, since they fail in revenue jus
in proportion as they protect, for who's
benefit are they devised and enforced
Let Mr.. KERR answer: 1.-THE protectiv
tariffs are never made for consumer
The consumers, ~ a class, cannot b
protected; only the few favored pre
ducers. The Government does not pa
the co.t of protection. It only iega
ICES the means by which the protecte
pets compel the consumers to pay I
1t bars the seabosrd against the admit
sion of competitors, keeps out compel
ton. and thus enables the favorites {