The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-02-17
No Real Relief to be Expected.
, the n. y. San. Feb. IA:

From tie n. y. San, Feb. IA:
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882,
every man, woman, and child in the United
States, white, black, or mixed, was taxed
upon an average over seven dollars, under
the operation of the present Ubiquitous tariff
and the internal revenue abomination. The
State, county, and city taxes for the same
year fell below this average; but taking the
two elements together, the taxation in round
numbers may be called fourteen dollars a
head, or seventy dollars for an ordinary fam
ily of five persons. This sum represents
about one-ffth of the average yearly wages
of labor in most of our factories.
This heavy burden falls especially upon the
workers for wages. With large families and
small compensation, they have to pay this
enormous taxation, distributed over almost
every article consumed by themselves, by
their wives, or by their children.
For nearly eighteen years the people have
been oppressed by taxes that could only be
justified by the demands of a great civil war.
Now the Treasury is overfowing with an
immense surplus, which has served as "A con-
prodigaity. Under the stimulus of this sur
plus, the public expenditures have increased
enormously; vicious legislation has been en-
couraged river and harbor steals have
passed; and multitudes of offices have been
created as sinecures for impecuniOus and
eXacting politicians.
This load of taxation has not only impov-
erished the toilers, but it has caused great
public evil by demoralizing the whole civil
service, and by converting hundred thou
sand Ofiiceholders into a standing army of
political partisans.
For years past cry for relief has come
out of the cabins and cottages of millions of
workingmen. 1t has attracted no notice from
the party which had the power to grant a rem
edy. The monopolists have controlled legis-
laton on this subject, and they are deaf to
every proposal of concession by which their
profits might be diminished.
Now, on the eve of an expiring Congress,
this question is again debated, and with no
prospect of better success than heretofore
At the last session Mr.. Kelly, protesting to
speak in behalf of the Committee of Ways
and Means, voluntarily promised to bring in
a bill which would reduce the internal reve-
nue. seventy-fve millions of dollars. That
announcement was followed by caucus
where Mr.. Kelly was disciplined and then
his pledge was redeemed by little bill ofre
duction for sixteen millions on cosmetics,
matches, bank checks, and patent medicines!
And that bill was defeated.
In its defeat, however, it furnished the
basis for the tariff agitation in the Senate and
for the measure lately reported by Mr.. Nor
rill from the Finance Committee. The House
has also been discussing at the same time
another bill from the Ways and Means.
Neither of these schemes agree with that
proposed by the Tariff Commission, and none
of the three gives substantial relief to the suf-
ferers who most need 1t.
Hence the situation may be summed up
briefly and conclusively The bills before
Congress reduce some of the present duties,
but an erery important instance they increase
taration If either of them should pass final
ly, or if a conference bill should be framed
by Mr.. Morrill, and Mr.. Kelley and be adopt
ed, the existing burdens ,eould continue IN
nearly all the force Of their oppression. If
these attempts should fail, the monopolist will
rejoice as they fall back on a war tariff, which
some of them say does not give sufficient pro-
lection in time of peace.
The doors of real relief are closed fer this
Congress, no matter which of the suggested
alternatives should come to pass. The Re-
publican statesmen have shut their ears against
reason and their eyes againstlight The peo-
pie will know how to find redress at the next
elections.