The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-12-17
TnE TAulrr QUESTION.

for revenue only, submit the following
First-A tariff for reyenae does not
mean free trade for under the present
system of deriving duties on imports,
large amount of the revenue necessary
to defray the expenditures Of the ma
tional government tariff for revenue
necessarily means comparatively and
absolutely high taria, and one that in
all conscience ought to satisfy asy res
sonable demand for protection.
Second-A tariff for revenue does
not mean further continuance of high
taxatlon-imposed originally and solely
to meet the exigenoies of a great war
in time of peace, when all necessity for
such taxation has passed away.
Third-It does not mean the further
continuance of a mixed system of du-
ties; so much specifically per pound,
per gallon or bushel, and then in addi-
ttOD hO MUCH du fOtOACAi
Ne ordinary porson-of;en experts
can readily tell what such daties
amount to in the aggregate. They
we're Intentionally made complicated to
prevent knowledge. They afford con-
seant temptation on the part of i'm
Dorters To deceive and of officials to
abuse their trust.
Such duties, furthermore, act as pro
hibitors Of imports, and so dry up COM
merce, increase enormously the cost of
commodities to tho people, and to pre-
vent the treasury from obtaining reVe-
nue..
In support of these statements, take
the following illustrations and proofs
In lS79-s0 we imported s39, $50, 900
worth of woOlen' goods; in this vast
amount only $4,000 in value represent
imports of blankets, and the people of
the United States use annually Blankets
to the value Of Sl20,000,000.
Now the reason why only $4,000
worth of blankets were imported in
ls79-S0 is that on the commonest,
cheapest class of blankets, such as the
poor man can only buy and must have,
that the miner, the traveller, the en-
ployes of our railroads, conals, forges
and furnaces generally buy and use.
such blankets as cost thirty cents per
pound in Europe, the duty is twenty
cents, and thirty-fve per cent. ad valo-
rem. Now, how many persons know
how much these mixed duties amount
to They amount to one hundred per
cent
How many persons, when the facts
are explained, would counteuance such
an out and out steal
How many members Of Congress
would ever be returned by their con-
stituents if they voted yea on plain
andSimple proposition to tax an essen
tial article Of consumption Of our poor
laboyers to such a degree
In lS79-S0 the duties on blankets
were so heavy that almost none were
the treasury deriving from:
Our imports the pitiiul sum of 1928,
while the people were no doubt unnec-
taxed over and above what tAs
apzet mus could require ,tOr protec-
ton several million Of dollars.
A tariff for revenue only-as viii be
seen by the classification hereafter sub
forty per cent. would give
some revenue from this source to the
treasury and protect the manufacturer
Again, worsted yarns, which cost in
thirty-one cents, are charged |
with duty Of twenty cents per pound,
and thirty-fve per cent. ad valorem,
exual to over SO per cent The conse-
luence was that we imported and con-
sumed exactly s44 worth in value and
The treasury received just forty-eight
lollars revenue.
Certainly 10 one viii dispute this
demonstration than if the above propo-
ition were subject to duty of forty
per cent. ad valorem the treaeury would
,eceive more and therefore diminish the
necessity for taxing other things in or
Ter to secure revenue.
A tariff for revenue, and taking a
Dad Of taxation of the shoulders of the
masses of the people.
Fourth-A tariff for revenue only
means simpTifcation of our tax laws,
md more receipts in the national treas
lry.
1t will he the lifting of a load Of not
ess than several hundred millions Of
Iirect and indirect taxes from the peo-
lie and at the same time insuring a
of protection of domestic
manufacturers, degree Of protection
,reater than was ever granted under
my tariff enacted from the foundation
# the government up to 1881.
The undersigned, in order to make
heir meaning clear in detail, have
lrawn and here submit what in the
resent situation of the country, they
Understand by tariff revenue only,
.ased on the importations of 1879.