Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-18
A Practical View of the Tariff CUES
ton.

tated into the campaign last year at so
late date that full discussion was i'm
possible, it was plainly evident that a
great majority of the people were wholly
uniformed upon the topic. Since then,
there has been much discussion, and it
is hardly probable that a few catch
phrases would again deceive intelligent
persons. To this better understanding
of the question the New York Times
Republican, has largely contributed,
not only through editorial articles, but
by publishing letters from persons well
informed upon the subject. On Satur-
day the Times published a letter
which treats the matter from practical,
"everY day" standpoint, as follows:
About IS years ago, when the writer
was 10 years of age, he made the follow
ing comparison: His father was a me
chanic. In the family were the father
and mother and II children. The father,
mother, an older brother and the writer
supported themselves and nine younger
members of the family. The gross earn
ings of the four productive members of
the family were about $500. Since
everything was purchased for the sup
port of the family, about $500 was paid
out for articles the price of which was
affected by the tariff. On some articles
the tariff was 80 per cent; on some as
low as 10 per cent. A low average would
be 90 per cent. 1t appeared to the writer
that his fathers family paid 800 to sup.
port the National Government; that the
four productive members Of the family
paid 800, or $25 apiece to the National
Government, besides supporting them
selves and the nine non-producing
members of the family. In the same
town was State Senator. He was
worth in real estate and money loaned
out $50, 600. His family consisted OF the
father and mother, two sons, who were
men, and one young daughter. One son
assisted his father in legal business, the
other was teacher. The gross income
of the family was at least S., 500. / heard
him say that he bought about $240 worth
of articles each year on which there was
duty. 1t appeared to the writer that the
Senator's faraily paid $50 to the National
Government, or that the four producing
members paid SIP 80 and supported
themselves and one non producing mem
Der of the family. The writer made
these comparisons: Our family, without
one dollar of property, except house
hold stuff and clothing, pay 500 ma
tional tax. Senator BIS, with $50 600,
pay $50. Each productive member
of our family supports himself
and two and one quarter helpless
persons and has no property to
help in doing it, and pays $25 national
tax Each productive member OF Sena-
tor B. s family supports himself and one
fourth of helpless person, has the fourth
of the income of $50. 900 to help him do
it, and pays $12 90 national tax. Is such
taxation just and equal7 Did the fact
that in our family there were nine help
less persons render it our duty to pay
twice taxi Did the fact that we had no
property, and Senator B. had $50, 900,
make it our duty to pay twice the tax
the Senator's family paidS Is such
taxation just and equal? l remember
another incident. A prosperous neigh
Dor, who was a high tariff man, was dis
cussing the question with my father,
free trader. Father had just purchased
a dress suit. He took pencil and paper
and handed Mr.. S. the following state.
ment:
Cost of cloth in England. .S16 90
more hnT1a 9g SEE expenses pens and profts 90
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. .S2s 90
'Now," said he, had to pay IS tariff
on that suit. could have got it for $50
with no tariff. l had to pay sos for it.
l can see easily what the tariff cost me
on that suit. Now, will you set me
down like bill of benefits and show me
where the tariff returns to me So, or even
8 cents 2" Mr.. s. began to talk of protec-
ton to industry, home trade, home mar
ket, higher price for home products, and
higher wages and increased prosperity,
etc. "Mr. S." said father, "set down
what each item would be without tariff,
what it is now under tariff, show the
amount each is increased; prove your
figures to be facts, not fancies-that
they are as undeniable as mine.
Then, when you have done that,
prove that myself or any other
iaboring man, or ordinary farmer,
or mechanic is benefited 10 cents in
year by protection as you call it. Give
me the facts and figures, not assertions,
theories, and loose defamation. "
''Well," said Mr.. s., ''have you any
objection to supporting the govern
ment?' NO" replied father, 81 have
not. But want burdens to be equal
pay 500 tariff, and support my large
family out of my wages and the wages
of my wife and two sons. You pay
about $25 and have good property,
and your family are all producers. Is 1t
Just? still want to know if did not
pay IS bounty out of my pocket to
American manufacturers l want to
know why should do it, and what l
get for it?" / have never heard his
queries answered. Can you do it7