The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-27
MIR. oALKINs ON THE TARIFF.

MIR. CALKINS ON THE TARIFF.
An Authoritative Statement of His Position
A Moderate Reduction Advocated.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON Feb. 26,-Messrs. Calkins
and Browne have taken a leading part in
the tariff discussion, and on several oc-
casions they have come out strongly and de-
cidedly in opposition to the extreme pro-
lection" theory which is maintained and
defended by many of the members from
Pennsylvania, Ohio and other manufactur-
ing States. Mr.. Calkins clearly defines his
position on this great question in order that
there may be no misunderstanding in regard
to it, and as he represents the sentiments of
very considerable element in the Repub-
lican party in Congress which has taken the
broad middle ground of moderate protection,
his views as given to the Journal correspond
ent are presented:
"The theory of protection" said Mr..
Calkins, sis founded solely in the pro-
lection of labor. Capital and labor
are protected when the gap is
closed by a protective tariff between the
price of labor in other countries and in this
country. I would give a small margin in
favor of American men and money to cover
fluctuations in price, but I would make that
margin narrow, the principle being that the
price of labor only should be protected.
81 further believe that in a republic like
ours, where work is noble, the working
man should be enabled from the wages he
receives to save enough to purchase himself
home and educate and clothe his children,
and that when nobility of labor and free
education are united the permanency of the
republic is assured, You cannot destroy one
without destroying the other. That much in
the way of philosophising.
There is a class OF men who believe in
protecting manufacturers and articles
for the sake of protection. I do not
agree with that theory. Its advocates
may be called the high protectionists.
There is another class who believe in an
open market; that you should buy where
you can buy the cheapest and sell where you
can obtain the best prices, unrestricted by
barriers of any kind whatsoever. This doc
trine if carried out, would apply to labor as
we'll as manufactures. If you are to buy a
mans labor as cheap as possible and do
away with all protection every man must be
ready to compete with the labor of every
other country, including the pauper labor
of Europe and the worse than pauper labor
of the Orient.
This would simply destroy the theory OF
our government by reducing the wage class
to a condition of servility. 1t would estab-
lish caste, build up monopolies, and practi-
cally place the government in the hands OF
the rich 1t is complained that the same
result would be brought about by high
tariff This is true, in measure, but not to
so great an extent as under absolute free
trade. scs
II am not in favor of reduction of the
tariff that win produce a violent shock in
the commercial eenters of the country, but
let the reduction of taxation take place on
such articles as are necessary in the every.
day consumption OF the people at large. The
government must realize certain amount OF
revenue. 1t will cost from $3.50, 900 to
$175, 100000 year to run the government.
The interest account sinking fund and the
general reduction of the debt will require a
surplus. so that the government should real
ize $3.50 900, 900 from taxes. There can be no
sudden reduction in taxes during the next
decade, because to undertake such thing
would reduce the revenue below point at
which the necessities of the government re-
quire it to stay. N7a r
Il do not regard slow pro-
cess of reduction to be debat-
able ground at present. The great
fight now is as to what articles shall bear the
burden of taxation. The high protective
tariff men and great portion of the Demo-
cratic party believe in wiping out the tax on
whisky and tobacco. The high protective
men advocate this plan because they believe
that its adoption will then more surely pro-
tect them, and the freetraders profess an
aversion to the whole system of internal
revenue taxation. They say that it is vexa-
tious, entails large expense and keeps up an
army of tax-gatherers, paid spies and Off
cials. The two extremes meet on different
standpoints, as they do on the labor question.
The temper OF the House, am well satisfied,
is to pass bill which will effect moderate
and equable reduction in duties in the gen
eral line have indicated. The House
revenue bill, with the Senate amend
ments. is far from being my ideal of a