The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-28
DIR INDIRECT TAXES.

For the fiscal year ending June ~, 1879,
-bR recelpt5 into the treasury OF the United
States ,rora duties on imports are estimated
"a $50 0O0 600. The cost OF collection OF these
frties vii! amount to about forty millions
more. making $500, 5000 On the imports
.hich pay these duties the importers must
haye profit which will suffice to cover III.
.erest, insurance and profits on the increased
value Of importations equal to at least ten PEI
To- ST on tie cost or about $50, OOC,O 600, main g
the direct loss to CONSUMERS OF imported ar
.icies fully $4,000.
But this is by no means the full extent Of
the loss The duty on every imported article
As rule adds in equal proportion to the
price OF every similar article made IN this
country, 50 that in consequence CT the tariff
the consumers of American made wares and
merchandise are obliged to pay from twenty
% thirty per cent higher for them or Tor q
grea, proportion of them. This last men
1ioned loss is enc that cannot be calculated
sven approximately, but it cannot FIJI short
y the total amount paid for duties on inn
ports While it goes to benefit the manuiac-
.arinc interests Of the country, it is to the
agricultural S atcs precisely the same In effect
rs if the loss we're felt equally by the whole
country. which would be an aggregate Of
$4,000, 900 in . single year.
Louisiana, an agricultural State with q
population OF about 800, 900, or about one
aitieth part of the population of all the States,
if bearing 10 more than her proportion Of the
Above estimated annual loss from the tariff,
safars from it to the extent of nine millions
Of dollars year. Or if there were no tariff,
.he agricultural products of the State would
command more foreign and American goods
70 the ex.en. Of nine millions of dollars This
loss is in the nature Of tribute paid to the
United States Government, with this excep-
zion, that the treasury receives onlyabout half
:hs sum that consumers Of foreign products
lose by the tariff. A direct tax of five per
sent on all the taxable property Of louisiana
.pg the support of the General Government
golld be less onerous than the loss or indi-
rect tax now suffered from the operation of
the tariff
IN addition to the tax put on the agricul
rural States by the operation of the duties on
the imports which they consume, they suffer
from the internal revenue tax, which, for tie
year ending June 30, 1915, is estimated to
yield one hundred and eight millions. This
saI enhances the cost Of articles taxed, SO
that the loss from this source to consumers
amounts to more than the aggregate sum
produced by the tax. Bat if the loss was
only equal to the amour. of the tax, the
share that would fall to Louisiana would be
more than two millions, swelling her contri-
button to the Golfers Of tho Republic to an
equivalent Of eleven millions.
1t is true that tho Government Of the
I nited States must be supported, and that its
must be paid, the cost being three
sandrod and forty millions Of dollars each
year but the people of agricultural States
need not wonder at hard times when their
indirect taxes are SO great and collected in
such costly and damaging manner. The
arme.s Of the United States are working one |
day, Mt least, ont of five, for the benefit of |
.heis Safe and General Government, and for |
hose who import or manufacture the goods
nd wares which the far mers consume and use. |