Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-12-14
TARIFF REFORM.

In advance of the publication of
the report of the Commission appoint
ed to examine and report on the con-
dition of our tariff, it may not be wise
to declare what ought to be done by
Congress. That report was made a
few days ago, but neither the members
nor the public have been able to read
aud digest its suggestions. Enough is
known however, about the report, that
very important changes are recon-
mended by the Commission. This is
right. Our tariff was made during
the war for the purpose of securing as
large a revenue as possible. To do
this, Congress placed the tariff rates on
those articles most extensively used
throughout the country. These inclu-
ded mostly articles of necessity. In
the distribution of this tariff, the arti-
cles of prime necessity, such as cheap
blankets, bought by the poor, etc,
were more heavily taxed than the
the better quality. The wool hat of
the better manufacture paid less tariff
the cheap kind. For instance, dia.
monds pay ten per cent. blankets pay
20 to 100 per cent.-highest priced
ones 10 per cent, low priced one %
per cent. balmorals 66 per cent, if
high priced, 50 per cent. if low pric-
ed hannels, worth not over 80 cents II
pound, pay 80 per cent, if over 80
cents, 81 per cent. ; hats not over so
cents, 66 per cent. over, go per cent.
so rs to cotton and carpets and other
wooden goods. PIows and all farming
aud mechanic tools of steel, are 40
per cent. Thus it will be seen that
this War Tariff was made to produce
large amounts of revenue that is no
longer needed except for River and
IIarbor steals. The revenue is ample.
II exceeds the expenditures Of the
government sl00,000000. This being
admitted, let the tariff be wholly re-
moved on such articles as are not man
ufactured in the country. To tax an
article for revenue when that revenue
r not required, is simple robbery. As
to articles manufactured here and US
ed By our people let there be a geuer-
al reduction in the interest of the peo-
pie, at the same time having due res.
pect for the interest Of invested capi-
tai and employed labor. Such is the
drift of public sentiment. The days
of high protection are few. Tariff at
best, is simply taxation, and when it is
levied for any purpose other than to
provide revenue to support the Gov
ernment, may properly characterized
a tax of the many for the benefit OF
the few. When the principle of dis
elimination on plea of encouragement
to home industry was instituted,
was not with view that it was to
reach out to perpetual oppression. But
what was encouragement at first, came
to be considered a matter of right.
Whenever the business of special elias.
ses became dull, more tariff was aked
from Congress. The steel men finally
secured s2S per ton on steel rails, and
the profit became so high that manu-.
facturers Of steel rails multiplied at a
rapid rate. The competition became
so great that steel rails sold at $40 per
ton. some $50 cheaper than the foreign
er can sell the rails in our market with
the tariff of. Let the whole tariff Be
revised in the interest of fair and hon.
orable dealing between the manufact-
urers and the public. The Commission
although strongly organized in behalf
of protection, yield to the force of
public sentiment aud urge a general
reduction along the entire line.
CoSsIDERISo the frequency with