The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-11-24
THE TARIFF.

That changes should be made in the exist
ing tariff does not admit of a doubt to any
intelligent fair mind, who will examine its
provisions. The country should have a
tariff for revenue which looks to the greatest
good of the community as a whole-not to
the protection of any single interest or COM
munity of interests as against all others.
The present tariff is wide of the mark of
such purpose. What is wanted is tariff
so adjusted as to inure to the benefit not
only of consumers, but of manufacturers,
and also to their employees as well.
There should be reduction of duties
which tax the necessities of life. Articles
constitute the great body of the people,
should be as lightly taxed as due regard
for Government finances will warrant.
If this class of the people had fully re-
allied the heavy and unjust taxes they were
paying from day to day, as a result of the
present tariff, the Republican managers and
demagogues would never have dared to
assert as they did during the closing days
of the late campaign, that it should be let
alone
We select at random a small list from the
present tariff, that it may be seen how con-
stantly discrimination is made against cheap
goods in faver of dear: against what the poor
man has to buy and IN favor of the articles
used by the rich
Plain bleache& cotton. valued at less than
twenty cents. pays a duty whose equivalent al
cdlercsa is IS per cent. The same article, worth
over twenty cents, pays 30 per cent.
Carpets valued at ss.42 pay so per cent.
Druggets, bookings. etc, valued at thirty-six
cents, pay an equivalent al ralorem duty of los
per cent
The cheapest blanket pays 1O4 per cent.-the
dearest only IS per cent
The cheapest flannel pays IS per cent, the dear
est only Ga per cent
The cheapest hosiery pays IS per cent. the
dearest SIS per cent.
The cheapest shirts, drawers, etc, pay SO per
cent, the dearest only 60 per cent.
The cheapest hats pay 81 to % per cent, the
dearest only 6S per cent.
The cheapest other manufactures of wool pay
81 per cent, the dearest only 20 per cent.
We submit whether il is just to make the
poor man thus pay larger proportion of
tax on the articles he owns or consumes
than the rich man.
The present tariff also taxes excessively
the tools and implements of the laborer, the
farmer and mechanic, etc.
Note the following:
Chains, trace-chains. haiter-chains and fence
chains. IS TO 81 per cent.
Anyils 40 per cent.
Iron chains, and cable chains, 80 per cent
Needles for sewing and knitting machines, IS
per cent.
Files. As to 81 per cent
Hand-saws, s711 to a. per cent.
Flows, spades, shovels, picks. ETC., IS per cent.
On certain importation of Brussels car
petings of different qualities, recently
imported at New York, the duties paid were
as fellows:
First quality cost forty-seven cents; duties
paid, thirty-seven cents, or 70 per cent Second
quality cost thirty-eight cents; duties paid,
thirty-four and one-third cents or 90 per cent.
Third quality cost twenty-nine cents; duties
paid, thirty-one cents. or1Os per cent.
1t will be observed that invariably the
cheaper goods pay larger duty than the
better class. 1t is estimated that 1900, 900
pounds of sugar will be imported into this
country during the present year, paying an
average duty of nearly copper cent-a higher
duty than is paid on most articles of luxury
such as silks, laces and champagnes.
1t takes about the same quantity of sugar
to sweeten the coffee of the engineer and
the brakeman as it does the coffee of the
Goulds, Vanderbilts and CARROTS.
This is not the kind of tariff to dispense
the greatest good to the greatest number,
which justice and sound policy alike demand
should be the existing condition.
On the contrary. it is cunningly devised
system of gross inequalities and unjust dis
elimination in favor of special interests and
the wealthy classes generally against the
producing masses, and ought to be changed
TO meet the demands of justice and fair
dealing between ali classes at the earliest
day practicable.
CLIPPINGS.