The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-03-20

-. A. writes IN morning Journal that
at is now about thirteen years (namely in
1862 since Great Britain-next To ourselves
tn largest consumer in the wOrd-cnIirely
swept away from her stalule.buok the last
ves,Ige of taxation on tea AMI coffee" OF
course every well.nformed person knows that
in 1862 Great Brit AIN did no such thing. She
has by no means swept away" the last YES
tige of taxation on tea aud coffee" at any
time. She has always laid duty on tea since
its first appearance in that country, and at the
present time eXacts duty of siXpenee pound
on tea, and fourteen English shillings u hun.
dred weight on coffee. 81. a." further rs.
serts it to be "a mistake to suppose that 1.-The
putting ola duty on tea would not make much
difference in price to the consumer On the
contrary he asserts that "the enhanced price
to the consumer would not be less than iifty
cents per pound" and therefore, "to tumi-
ly using one pound per week this would make
a tax OF fifty cents per week. -. AS" es'
innate of the amount of tea used weekly in
American families seems to us rs eXtravagant
as his estimate of the increase of the price IN
consequence of laying a duty on that article.
In reference to the repeal OF the duty on tea IN
1872, Secretary Bristow, whose testimony is
conclusive, says in his late report on the
Treasury: THE repeal of the duty on tea
caused little or no reduction of prices TO con
sumcrs here, but an increase ofprices abroad,
and we have the word of reputable merchants
for saying that the price of tea in the pro
ducing districts fell instantly on the an
nouncement there by telegraph of the pros.
pective restoration of the duty here The
inference from this is that the increase in the
price of tea to consumers in consequence OF
the restoration of the duty would not exceed
very few cents pound.
81. A. reminds US of Pope'S saying that
"a little learning is dangerous thing" His
knowledge of the great revision ofthc English
tariff is very slight indeed. The facts them
selves are very easy of comprehension In
lSGO-6l-and not in 1S62-the Golden treaty
with France swept away" all duties except
those laid on the breakfast-table. Up to that
time there was duty of ten per centum nd
ralorem on manufactured goods, and specific
duty on metals, watches, &c These were the
duties which were abolished, and the follow
ing were retained, namely, on tea, coffee
sugar, spirits and wine, tobacco, spices and
dried fruits. There was also duty of six
pence quarter on grain. Mr.. Lowe procured
the repeal of the duty on grain, and last year
sugar was made tree. Al present, therefore
the entire custom revenue of Great Britain is
raised on a list of six articles, namely, tea
coffee, cocoa, spirits and wine, tobacco and
cigars.
1t is a well known fact that Mr. Bright is
very anxious to help make the British break
fast table free by abolisblng the duty on tea
and coffee; but up to the present time there is
no reason for supposing that he will be able
to carry his purpose into effect, while there
is one reason for supposiDg that he will not
namely, the small surplus which remained to
the British government after paying the ex
penses of last year SO long as Great Britain
requires large custom revenue 81. A.
may be sure that the tea and coffee used there
will be taxed, and our fellow-citizens at
Washington ought to be instructed by the
experience of that country.-N. y. Erent09
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