The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-10-17
1Inir.nlns lirnnl, 30 per confirm.

lIair-pus iron), d6 per cenum
Druggcts and booking, - cents per square
4 yard and IS per cenlum
These. and all the rest, arc demands y
tariff gives nothing 1t takes. At its best
estate, hen most simple ana honest when
there are no "pro'cCtirc' features IN II, ana
M combination of specific and nd ra'Ore0 du.
ties on the same article when Is device OF
i"nrotrctlnn," AS in some o. the samples above
riycn, taril is a body OF taxes, which the
6eoplr haycto pay. Il is necGful to note this
!d,s,inctly n the outset; because there are
some ncorIr who seem 10 think tariff has a
sort OF creative power, that 1t is u positive,
Inrnluctiva agent that can do no good, that ii
has something to confer. Not so. From the
very nature OF it, il puurs nothing in but only
takes something udt lis sign is minus and
NOT Mus. |, comes To take something from
the people, and not to give anything to the
Ipeoplc.
TARIFF TAXES.
There are decided objections to raising a
revenue in this way, even when the sole pnr
nose N laying the duties are so adjusted as
that the government really gets the most that
the people have To pay in consequence of the
duties. II is very plain, that whenever tariff
taxes are levied solely for the sake Of revenue
to be derived from them, they ought to be
laid in accordance with these Fundamental
principle; first, on goods like tea and coffee,
for example, which are wholly imported from
abroad and not also grown or made at home,
otherwise the tax on the portion imported
will also incidentally raise the price of the
portion produced at home, and the people
Will have to pay more in consequence Of the
tax than they get In revenue, because the GOV
eminent only gets the tax on the pant import.
ed second if such taxes are to levied at com.
paratvely low rates, so as not to iDtertcrc Is.
.entally with the bringing in Of the goods or
encourage smuggling at all, for in either of
those eases the revenue from the impOrta.
tons would fall Off; third, the taxes should
be simple, SO that everybody can calculate
their amount and know how much of the
price paid is owing to the tax, and ii is just
rs much for the interest Of the revenue as for
that Of the people that these taxes should b |
simple and honest, So that both importers and
consumers calculated them beforehand and
knowing Just how much the government is to
take, will not be deferred from importing and
buying by indefinite taxes; and fourth, it is
agreeable 90 reason, and taS been found trUc
in experience, that it is not ncedful to levy
even low rates Oh all articles imported, in or
Ter 10 realize as large revenue, but only on
certain classes Of them, so rs to burden at as
few points as possible the ongoing of inter,
national and profitable exchanges Laid |
strictly on these four principles, which are
very important, ~ on goods wholly imported
p at low rates, (3) at simple rates easily cal. .
,ulablc, a. Oh few classes of goods used by
almost everybody, tariff taxes, though obiec |
ionable because falling unequally on rich
md poor, are yet cndurable, and are infinite
Y preferable to the tariff taxes laid at present
n this country.