The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-01-19

them. ON opposed to low wages or
cheap labor. [ never knew cheap
lawyer, doctor. preacher, mechanic or
laborer who did good work. believe
low taxes and extended trade and
will increase the wages of
American operatives in all branches
of business, and add enormously to
the purchasing power of the wages
they get, just rs it did in England.
THE BEA AUTrES OF SPECIFIC DUTIES.
Hon. Robert J. Walker, who framed
the tariff of 1876, Oh the 30th day of
Nov, 1867, addressed public letter to
the people of the United States, in
which he took occasion to refer to the
tsriff of 1916 and con ntrast it with the
present system. think he overthrows
all the assertions of the senator from
Vermont,and l prefer to let him speak
He said:
"a tariff for revenue. as experience
has shown, Instead of depressing, inn
proves all industrial pursuits, including
manufactures, and vastly augments
the wealth of the country. Under the
tariff of 1916, as shown by the census,
our wealth increased from 1850 to 1850,
l26.45 per cent; whereas from 1910 to
1850 the increase was only "a per cent
from 1880 to 1910, AZ per cent, and from
1920 to lS3U, III per cent. So, also, from
1850 to 1860 our agricultural products
increased 80 per cent, and our manu-
factures 81 per cent, being i'm both cas-
es nearly double any preceding ratio
of Increase. So, also, our exports, inn
ports, and revenue nearly tripled in
the same period of time, and our do
mestic trade rose nearly in the same
ratio. This augmented ratio is not the
raollIt nf nr I.fi inn VII ioh
from 1850 to 1860 was less than &c per
cent. The Irish famine was supposed
by opponents to account for the in
crease the first year, although the de-
creased price paid abroad that year for
our cotton nearly equalled the addi-
tiOnal SUM paid by England for our
, breadstuffs and provisions. But the
next year, and the next, before any
gold had reached here from California,
our exports and revenue went on aug
menting in y corresponding ratio, ris-
ing in eight years from 3d., ,OOO, 900 uH-
der the tariff of 1872 to $64, ,OC0 900 un-
der the tariff of 1916"
L think Mr. Walker answers fully
the senator's boast of the great feat
accomplished by the Morrill, tariff, by
transforming ad valOrem duties into
specitic,' in the following sentence:
"There is another insuperahle OBJ
lection to the specific system, namely.
that il unnecessarily and invariably
taxes labor vastly more than capital,
and the poor in a much greater proper
ton than the rich, upon the goods
consumed. Under the system of spe-
cific duties of SO much per pound, or
yard, or gallon. etc., the specific duty
| is the same. The rich, who purchase
the costly article bearing only the
same specific duty. pay, in proportion
to value, less than one-half what is
paid by the poor, who purchase less
| costly and cheaper article. If we take
| all the costly articles purchased by the
rich bearing under the present tariff
the same specific duty as the inferior
article bought by the poor, we will find
the difference against them exceeds
$50, 100000 year. Such is the inn
mense additional tax exacted from la
Dor under the system of specific du-
ties"
Perhaps the senator is proud of the
fact that he has invented a system un-
der which the laboring man pays 80
per cent. tariff tax on the only kind
he and his lordly friends pay less than
so per cent. tax on such as they use,
and in like proportion for all else.
How long would law stand in the
state Of New York that taxes the resi-
dence of Mr.. Vanderbilt, or Mr.. Stew
art, worth $4,000, 900, no more than the
residence of their cOachman, worth
1000? That is specific taxation.
HE was a fresh young congressman
from a rural district, and when he got
to Washington he found every other
member had a private secretary, SO he
hired one. But, though fresh, he was
energetic and a man of vigorous ideas.
One day he said to his secretary: "Mr.
Skeels, tomorrolxI shall speak on the
tariff question:. Tomorrow" said
the secretary, that's rather short
side are you on ?' "The free trade
side, SIR" The secretary left the room,
and the congressman was rather puz-
zled to comprehend his remark. Next
morning, bright and early, his secre-
tary appeared and handed him q pa
per. "What is this?" asked the mem
ber. "Your spec ca :" My speech ?"
Yes: I've written out what you're to
say en- the tariff ISSUE" You miser-
able wretch!" cried the enraged MEM
Der, do you assume to dictate what 1
shall say ?" He drove the amazed Sec
retary into the street, aud would hear
uO eNpitnaGioH. lHuiShitia, He WeuI
down to the capitol and told a friend
an old member, the story. The friend
was shocked ut the fellow 8 impudence,
but they looked over the speech and
found it read very well. :" You did
just right to discharge the conceited
rascal - said the old member, and,
the next day, the young member was
amazed to learn that his discharged
secretary had been employed by his
old friend.-[ Boston Past.