New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-10
MR.. WOODS SPEECH.
THE TARIYF NOW ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
on

general remarks on the power to tax, and the lacl
that the United States has never had permanently
established system with reference to revenue ana
the regulation Of commerce The lack OF a perma-
nent system he attributed to the remarkable
changes in the National prOgrcss-the first quarter
of the century being devoted to cementing fraler-
nifty; the next to ascertaInng the National ie-
sources; the next to development on lana ana
growth toward becoming great maritime power
and the fourth for war; the extinction OF slavery
and the prostraton of the present times.
Dwelling for moment on the present prostTauon'
be said that no question is more important today
than that of establishing policy of international
commercial intercourse, connected with policy OF
taxation;whch shall be wise in its inception per-
manent in its character less oneTOus in its eXac-
lions and have for its prime object fuller develop
ment of our material resources and more proht-
hble disposition of the fruits of labor the results OF
Enterprise and the security and profits OF capital
The fundamental basis upon which legislation
should rest. he said, is that production and COM
merce are twin sisters, and should go hand in hand
MIR. Wood then plunged into his subject. He took
up first the present tariff system. He said:
TIE TARIFF IN NEED OF REVISION.
lam not undmndf.l of the difficulties attending the
accomplishment OF any change in the present system OF
taxation so far as implies TO the impOsts see 1t at
every point ana meet IL ~ 10 W ~" i
In every interest, with every class in every section
Nor am surprised at this Individual good is almost
always made paramount to the general welfare. That
which people feel in the aggregate is always subord-
nate 10 that which they feel in thepersona 1t rarely
that they can be convinced that the attainment
OF a desirable distant object VII warrant any present
sacrifice The abuse Of the power TO tax by dveTtng 1t
TO the advantage Of special interest has become so in
terwoven with our mechanical industries that TO disturb
1t at all even in the gentle proposed, IS sui
eent to create irritating alarm, though without real
cause Although it is certain any future event can
be, that the policy proposed allowed TO be carried out
will a hundred times over than compensate the
manufacturing interests Of this country for any tempo
SO strong that the great future with all its bright adj
Vantages 5 altogether lost sight OF.
acted until 1876 there passed l2S laws in relation
TO the leyylug and collection Of duties IN the law as
passed fifty years some IN the language as
Originally passed which Yet remains, others have been
modified and amended and consequently exist IN part
~ s,TrijfSirg and c0nsoidatipg the then exist
ing statutes served rather to COmpcate confuse and
add many respects TO the previously existing dlI-
cultes But this not the greatest objection 10 that
revision. II actually changed many Of the rates levied
as duties though purpOrtilg to be only cOdcaton Of
those already established by law The laws they now
exist are mainly the creation of the last fifteen years
Within the period from 1861 to 1876 passed 103
Nearly every of these the creation OF
special domestic interest or to subscrve some partisan
The present tariff laws subject to the following
Firsi~They comprise 2l62 articles each subject to
duty to official examination at ports Of entry.
SecOnd-The dutiable articles in many cases, snb
ject to compound duties that is the ad yalOTem and
the specific combined in the same article.
Third-Their ambiguity of language and doubt as to
construction and the complex rates Of duty tend to t
cation, loss of revenue, aud jLry to the importer.
EOTh-They have the effect 10 increase the duty levied
In an inverse ratio to the value OF ther merchandise
thus the uXiee of the rich are less highly taxed than
Tifdt-Their high rates encourage fraud by under
valuations Of invoices ana other eyasiOns, ana also
Smuggling thus inducing PERJURY and other kindred
SiTttOn many articles the duty is made altogether
while upon the whole they operate 10 enhance the
price OF any imported article when, as consequence,
enhances tue cost To the consumer OF any domestic
SerenthETnns loss of revenue follows, which causes
the necessity OF imposing additional taxation IN other
ways 80 as TO make up the dehclt in the treasury.
EigiH-The large, complicated, and cumbersome ma
chinery required in its administration is made the pre-
text the employment OF great number Of subordi
officials, who IN general are par san retaners, with
little work, but great opportunities Tor profit
Ninh-The expense OF collection Is equal 10 about
per cent upon the sum collected, which, added TO the
Toss by collection and false valuations upon which the
duty assessed would be equivalent to the ordinary
penses OF the whole Treasury Department. admins
tered upon an economical basis. ,o
rageous that 1t is dlhcult to speak OF them with
patience. They the results OF series OF assaults
through legislation upon the pockets and labor Of the
people They are immoral in theory utterly ndeensibe
In practice and without any merits upon which their most
ingenious and welpad DenehcaIles can maintain their
defence And yet do not propose 10 deal with them
as their dement's IrecOCniZe implied moral
which they afford the manufacturing interests The
bill reported affects them, So far the rates OF duties
compared to what they should DC, and in my opinion
they could wen afford 70 bear If had the power to
commence de nOvO j should reduce the duties 90 per
instead OF less than per cent upon an average as
THE FARMERS BURDENS.
To specify fully the evils following the present pro
tectiye system would be impossible, and Will furnish
bat one example, showing its effect upon the agricultural
industries;
The farmer, whose whole mind is bent on his agrcul
tural pursuits has neither the time the opportunity
70 the influence OF the tariff tax on his house
hold expenses; it fact however that every article
he uses is either directly subject to tariff tax en-
HANGED by the tariff Let enumerate these burdens
The farmers in the West where lumber Is scarce
pays either direct or enhanced tax OF 20 pei
cent on the lumber his house is built of; a tax
of 50 per cent on the paint it is painted with
OF 80 per cent on, his wndow-glass; OF %
80 per cent doOrocks Of from 80 TO 40 cent
on the hinges of 80 per cent on the wall-paper OF
from go 60 20 his carpet OF 40 cent
his crOckery; OF IS per cent on his iron hoOwware OF
30 per cent on his cutlery 40 per cent on MS Gass
ware OF from 80 per cent TO 40 per cent on the hen
he the households of 81 per cent on the common
CASTLE soap he uses as per cent on ne s5tGi men ne
he pays 80 per cent on the iron he USES % per cent on
NAV use AZ per the bacKsaw; 40 per cent on
cross-cut saw 80 cent on the handsaw and OF 80
per cent on any sheetrOn he may require. on his med
icnes pays 20 per cent? on the qmnne pills he s"a
lows. 20 per cent; blueps 40 per cent ana Az per
cent on any medical preparations The female portion
OF his house 90 into hyste1a without pay
ing tax OF 20 per cent on assafGtda That
may be required TO quiet their excited nerves. On
his sugar he pays tax OF at least 60 per cent As oi
the clothing he and his family uses let me enumerae the
fax spparaely On his wool hat he pays from go 30 50
pe cent on his fur hat from 40 TO 60 per cent on his
suit wOOen clothes some 55 per cent on the Leather
for his Shoes 20 per cent on his hosiery, 80
per cent mis- wifes and daughters common alpaca
dress pays 65 10 20 per cent spOOthread 20 pei
cent and on needles 80 per cent II inclined TO
pursue thesg topics further Il would take up too much
iaS: sfee h TO say that the furnishing Of his cbids
cradle and the coffin in which he Is finally buried
direct enhanced in price by our iarh system
The committee has not undertaken 20 reform all the
abuses the present tariff Though fully conscious OF
the necessity Of enecng many radical changes sooner
or later, content with a simpllncauOn 0i
meihOds Of assesslng the dutes chlngng The phIabeO