The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-08-04
TARIFF POLICIES.

The Chicago Tribune don't like the
tariff resolution of the Ohio Democracy,
and says'
There is no proteotionist, however 81
dent, oustide of Pennsylvania, where
the tariff is "loCal ISSUE, who will not
be satisfied with the terms of the Ohio
resolution. II is too strong for the Re-
publicans in a good many states-Iowa
and Minnesota for example A Repub-
lican convention in Illinois would gae at
it; and there would be sturdy objection
to it by Republicans in Indiana.
The resolution referred to by the Tri'
bupe is as follows:
A tariff for revenue levied and adjust
ed in it's details with view to equity in
the pubic burdens, and the encourage.
ment of productive industries without
creating monopolies, and we favor the
appointment of a commission to suggest
method of revision which shall accom-
lish this result.
Except in states strongly proteCt!oni3t
or free trade, all tariff resolutions in po.
litical conventions are made to concili-
ate conflicting opinions rather than
enunciate positive ideas 1t is getting to
to be pretty much the same way on the
temperance question.
There is one good point in the Ohio
re olution, and we believe it presents
solution of the question, and the only
one likely, admitting that the present
custom duties will be revis d, and there
is not much doubt that this is impending
in the near future. That is, in a com.
mission Of revision. This is an indorse.
ment of Senator Eaton's plan, proposed
in the last Congress, and which failed in
the House after passing the Senate. The
present tariff levies duties on about 5000
articles, and abounds in buses and eX
tortions under the guise Of protection;
but it is nonsense to suppose b. ldy, con-
stituted as the American Congress, can
make an intelligent revision. 1t should
be committed to commission represent
ing the great manufacturing, commercial
and agricultural interests, and also the
various sections of the Union. Alter
thorough investigation, such a commits
sion would correct abuses and lay down
principles of tariff taxation that would
be permanent, and take the question out
of the field of politics, and this is precise.
ly what every manufacturer wants.
In this connection we get hint at i'm.
pending divisions among certain protect.
ed industries in letter in the n. Y. Post
which says:
"The high tariff on steel rails has slim.
ulated the production, until today it em.
braces more than Cne. hird of the whole
iron industry of the country. What eff,
feet has the development of the steel in.
dustry had on the general iron rade?
A protection of sos ton has had the eff
feet of advancing the prices of raw ma
terial 80 much that manufacturers of
other kinds of iron fad it impossible to
do even fairly well when the conditions
exist for doing a successful business. II Q
present price for good Lake Superior iron
ores is 500 ton at the lake ports. The
manufacturers of steel rails, protected by
duty of $2S ton, can very well pay
that price and do a successful business,
but manufacturers of pig iron, oar iron,
nails, &c.. find 1t difficult to make both
ends meet This condition ofthings has
created a feeling among some OF the
manufacturers Of iron Outside of seeD
that modification of the tariff or aDoli-
ton even, might he had with advantage
to the country. The qIestio then ari.
ses, Would it not be better to take our
chances with free trade than suffer from
the disadvantages imposed on us by the
steel monopoly think it would.
MANUFACTURER.
Wheeling, W. Va, July IA, 1881.
7 eN.Y Post, which ofCourse is intense.
ly free trade, commenting OH this letter,
declares that "the steel raj men are fully
advised that their monopoly is doomed,
and are only struggling for delay which
they hope to secure through the appoint.
ment Of some outside commission to sit
upon the tariff for an indefinite period,
while they continue to pocket their $25
per ton.-PUS Post.