The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-12-15
What is this Thing we Call "a
TarfT?s'


Council should enact that every
species of merchandise that crossed
the bridge from the western part OF
the county should pay certain toll
for every bushel Of corn a certain
toll, and for every bushel Of potatoes
a certain toll, and for every pound Of
beef certain toll, and for every arti-
Gle of machinery q certain toll.
The toll thus collected would be
in every essential respect, "tariif."
Now, it happens that Mr.. Geo. M.
Reay has foundry and manufac-
lures stoves on the East side of the
river; and Mr.. Allender has mill
and manufactures -four in Morgan
town; and Messrs. Faircbild, Law
head d Co. manufacture carriages on
the east side of the river.
But suppose there arc foundries, mills
and carriage manufactures also on
the west side of the river which have
been accustomed to send their goods
into Morgantown to sell. The action
of the Town Council in levying toll
on merchandise that crosses the
bridge reduces the profits Of these
men on the west side, but they are
able to make small profit, neverthe-
less, and they continue to trade in
Morgantown.
After while, however Geo. M.
Reay goes to the Town Council, and
by seductive argument induces
them to put up the toll on stoves to a
figure that covers all the profit that
the manufacturer on the west side
has on his stove, compelling him to
sell without margin if he comes to
Morgantown. Mr.. Allender seduces
the Town Council into the. same
policy in regard to flour; and Messrs.
Fairchild d Co. get the same rates of
toll put on carriages.
The result of this action by the
Town Council simply gives Geo. NJ.
Reay the exclusive trade in Morgan
town. for all stoves; and gives Mr..
Allender the exclusive business of
furnishing flour to the people of Nor
gantown; and Messrs. Fairchild &
Co. the exclusive trade in Carriages,
and shuts out all competition in these
lines of trade.
This we would call "protective"
toll, or tariff.
That is to say, it protects few
from competition in their
business.
But il is said that competition is
a good thing-''it is the life of
trade, &C.
Competition is generally regarded
as the natural regulator of trade and
MISUNDERSTANDING the supply to
the demand, regulating prices, and
defeating monopoly and oppression.
How then, can tariff, which shuts
out competition, be justified as an
artificial substitution for the natural
laws of trade?
Does it benefit the consumer? Does
it make cheaper stoves or -four or
carriages for the people of Morgan
town? Or are these men on the west
side taxed out Of town for the bene-
fit of the three firms doing business
in town?
Does the toll or tariff benefit any
body?
Let us see:
Geo. M. Reay has the sole trade in
stoves for time, but the stove deal
ers on the west side naturally con-
clude that they must move their es-
Establishments into Morgantown in
order to share in the trade, and they
do so.
Have we not competition now, as
the result of the tariff
"Not by jug full"
When two or three competitors
have moved into Morgantown they
go to Geo. W. Reay and say, 'let us
go to the Town Council and have
them put up the toll, we can't live at
these prices"-and the Town Council
advances the rates of toll, or "protec-
tion," twenty-five per cent. Then the
manufactures of stoves in Morgan
town hold another caucus and they
agree among themselves to put up
the price of stoves twenty per
cent.
Some more manufacturers from the
west side now move in to get the
benefit Of the high prices that prevail
in Morgantown. 1t is not long till
the market in Morgantown is "glut-
ted" and the manufacturers again be-