The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-02-11
The Swindling Tariff.

One of the most interesting signs Of
the times is that the people have con-
cluded that they win no longer be
swindled by tariff MAZE in the interest
of monopolists. The people of the
United States are willing to be honestly
and justly taxed for the supported the
Government, but they are not willing to
be taxed for the further enrichment of
monopolists, and protectionists begin to
comprehend the fact, and will put forth
their mightiest energies to retain their
hold upon the hard earnings of the peo-
pie. Money will flow like water Rep
resentatives of all the monopolies win be
in Washington to resist, atwhateyer cost
may be required, the passage Of Just
tariff laws. At the recent Tariff. 4 Con-
vention in New York a monopolist by
the name of Ricketson became so over
whelmed with the protection isiaa, it
foreshadowed such princely fortunes to
the favored few, such boundless Injuries
and palatial residences, purple and fine
linen, diamonds and delights, tlat he
broke forth as follows: -
From Hampshire's icy mountains,
From Florida's coral strand,
10 WnerO the ROCKY ranges ~ ~
Roll adown their sand.
PrOtectionl Oh, protectionl
The joyful sound proclaim
Till each remotest section
Has learned the tariff q name sss
But, says the Buffalo Express (Rep. y,
"the people do not worship protection
as an everlasting principle. They do
not regard it as a fetch Reasonable
men will not assemble merely to hear it
preached and its praises sung, and they
will have very little respect for those
who do. 1t is purely business ques-
ton and should not be treated in rhym-
ing verses, but in the light of facts and
figures. When duty is placed on any
important article it should be placed
there because the prosperity Of the
country will be increased by it, and it
should be no higher and no lower than
all the facts in the case warrant. tits a
question for economists, not for poll
ticians and song-makers. 1t is possible
that if this had been thought of before
the New York Convention was called
it would never have been called at all"
1t is well said that the people do not wor-
ship protection, and tariff framed like
the present for spoils will not be toler-
ated. In the State of Indiana the esti-
mate is that there are now 500, 900
houses. The further estimate is that
the annual increase of houses is equal
to five per cent of the entire number,
and that the wear and tear of houses is
equal to five per cent. year. Leaving
out of the calculation the estimate OF
rebuilding worn out houses, and ASSUME
ing that the entire number of houses
built each year is equivalent to five per
cent of the 500, 900 houses already built,
we have the fact that $4,000 houses
have been erected in Indiana
during the past year. 1t will be
conceded by all that it is important
to the prosperity of Indiana that houses,
the homes of our people, should be taxed
as lightly as possible. The cost Of
house is taken into consideration when
the price of rent is under consideration,
and hence, every renter in the State has
direct interest in the cost of building
houses-the mechanic, the cssy .laborer--
in fact all who's pay rent. With this
statement of the case we proceed to con-
slider the tarif-taxed articles that enter
into the construction Of tn houses IN