Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-14
The Internal Revenue and the
Tariff.

Tariff.
A Protecuonists' Congress is shortly
10 be held at New York, at which there
will be a free interchange Of views on
the interests of American manufactures
and other economic subjects. Despite
the fact that Republican stump orators
and organs frightened the credulous last
fall into the belief that if the Democrats
came into power and revised the tariff
the mills would be closed and the
furnaces let down, there is now no
great objection on the part of the benef-
cisries of the tariff to see the provisions
of the Eaton or a kindred bill carried
out The heads Of numerous great
manufacturing firms profess the utmost
readiness to have the duties revised
The shrewder OF the fsyorites of the
tariff, however, though appearing to be
public spirited enough to help bring
about this needed reform, are ready with
a scheme which, if adopted, will, they
hope, rebound much to their advantage,
while satisfying the public. They pro
pose to abolish the internal revenue.
The leader of this section of protectionists
is Mr.. Wharton Barker, of Philadelphia,
proprietor of the american, a wealthy
manufacturer, banker and contractor.
The Amser5caa a short time ago pub
Hshed a remarkably convincing argument
in favor Of the abolition of the internal
revenue. and Mr.. Barker now traverses
much the same ground, in an open letter
10 Senator Morrill,, of Vermont. In the
article of the american and the letter OF
Mr.. Barker it is shown pretty clearly
that, with economy in the departments
and reasonable dispatch in diScharging
the public debt, enough revenue could
be derived from tariff duties alone to
meet the needs of the government
Mr.. Barker and his journal have rem
dered an important service to the people
in establishing this fact. But his object
and that of his school Is their own profit.
For were the internal revenue abolished
these public spirited gentlemen would
be clamoring for more protection. They
state two alternatives, one Of which they
say must be chosen-either the abolition
of the internal revenue or the revision OF
the tariff. If Mr. Bankers argument on
the internal revenue is sound, and it GER
tainly appears so, there is every reason
why the drain entailed by it should be
stopped.
The two alternatives 20 which Mr..
Barker calls attention are clearly indie
pendent propositions. The morrill,
tariff, now in force, has not and never
had any great merit as a revenue-pro
ducing agency. 1t is simply a Chinese
wall of protection erected for the stimu
lation of home industries when capita
stood in fear and trembling at the pros
poets of civil war. As a quietus to it
apprekeufions this tariff has beer
marvellous success. 1t was
from the very feet thai
the duties levied by this tariff failed tC
fill the Federal Golfers that the internal
taxes were established, and it has beer
mainly by means Of the internal revenue
that the government conducted its gigan
tic operations for the past twenty years.
Abolish the internal revenue by al
means, and relieve the people OF its Eur
dens; but when it is abolished, down
must come the tariff duties as matter
of necessity. The lower the duty the
more goods will be imported, and the
more goods imported the g.ez.er the re
turn iG the Federal Treasury. This Il
the great pTlaeip,e of indirect taxation.
which is paid by the CONSUMER.
The internal revenue has been The
prop of the government and the shield
of the favorites of the tariff. Without
the internal taxes the Morrill, tariff coulC
not have si601 six months, and wheT
they are abolished & new tariff must be
framed forthwith 4 tariff framed to
bring the largest return to the govern
ment should not average over % per
cent, in its scale of duties. The Morrill,
tariff averages Il per cent. Abolish
the internal revenue sad the average
price of dutiable goods must fail twenty
two per cent The abolition Of the in,
ternal taxes would be manifest boon TO
the people, and tariff for revenue,
which it would necessitate, would be a
benefit equally as great.
The Barker school of protectionists
are spreading the light, blt how, when
they get the internal taxes abolished,
they expect TO I'll the Treasury with the
present OF q higher tariff is hard 10 see.
4 tariff for revenue would in such an
event alone Oe possible.