The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-22
THE TARIFF.


A Democratic Newspapers View OF
Labor and Protection.
Wheeling Register. March 10, 1858.
We will probably never have quiet and
contentment on the tariff question until
the revision reaches and relieves those
articles OF domestic use and necessity,
which enter into every mans annual bill Of
expense, to q greater degree than now.
This Is really the point Of dissatisfaction
and dispute. It Is not that our industries
are projected, but that our everyday neces-
saries OF life are saddled with a tariff that
makes living expensive and burdensome
10 the masses OF the people.
Until the revision reaches and relieves
this class OF articles, the laborer for wages
Is made TO bear the chief burden OF the
protection accorded his employer. The
difference between the wages OF the Amer.
lean and European laborer Is put at 20 per
cent in favor OF the American. II, then,
the tariff rate on domestic articles were
fixed at an average rate OF 20 per cent It
would put the American laborer on an
equal footing with the European laborer.
That is to say, when his grocery and other
domestic bills were paid the American
would have at least as much tospare as the
European.
But the average rate fixed by the last
tariff bill is about 40 per cent, and II this
affects domestic articles equally with other
items, as it doubtless does, the American
laborers' domestic bills will be 40 per cent.
higher than the European, and although
he gets 20 per cent. higher wages, he is
really 20 per cent. worse off at the end OF
the year.
A comparative view Of the difference
between the English tariff and our own, as
regards domestic articles, will show how
much more favorable to the laborer 1t is
than the American tariff.
England's tariff applies to only tobacco,
spirits, tea, wine, coffee, chicor, cocoa and
chocolate, dried fruit, and few other arti.
cles OF minor consequence. From all du.
table articles the revenue derived in 1880
amounted to 500. sos, $40, subject to draw
backs OF less than half million dollars.
In England sugar is free, here there is
tax OF 90 per cent on every pound OF it
used. England places furniture on the free
list; here it comes in for tax OF So per
cent. England has no tax on car.
pets; here 1t Is subject to a tax OF from 40
TO "a per cent. The Englishman's free list
includes wooden hosiery, cotton hosiery,
blankets, alpaca goods and wooden hats
here these necessaries are taxed 70, As, 60,
63 and IS per cent respectively.
Now, II the American laborer will count
up at the end OF the year how much it has
cost him on these articles bought for his
household on account Of the tariff, which
the English laborer does not pay, he will
find it more than offsets the differences OF
wages in his favor. Let him consider, for
instance, that for every dollar he would
pay for articles, II there were no tariff, he
pays in addition to the number OF cents
named solely as Il tariff, viz:
Pots, kettles, hollow.ware, s. cents;
copper and bronze utensils, 45 cents;
earthenware and crockery, 90 cents; glass;
ware, 40 cents; table cutlery, IS cents
sugar, 80 cents; vinegar, 80 cents; oranges,
20 cents rice, 100 cents; penknives; So
cents; pins, 80 cents; needles, 25 cents;
mirrors, s. cents; furniture, IS cents;
linens, So cents; cotton cloth, 10 cents;
fiannels, blankets, hats, rs cents spool
thread 70 cents; hose, stockings, shirts,
40 cents; mems clothing, 90 cents; women's
dress goods, 90 cents. carpets 40 cents.
We might enumerate hundreds OF other
articles OF domestic use as examples, but
these are sutiicientto show the effect. And
we say it is because Of this bearing OF the
tariff as now arranged on the domestic
purse that we have continued
outcry and conflict between two classes
Of our population. 1t is entirely pos.
sible and feasible that such revision
OF the existing tariff could be made as to
give ample protection 10 our manufactures
and all our industries, while at the same
time we could obtain sufficient revenue for
the needs Of the Government and enable
the wage workers to live on a sum not in
excess Of the European. Until such re-
vision is made there will be an irrepressi.
BILE conflict on the tariff question.