Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-24
Eis PiilS APPEAL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY "a. 1888
TARIFF TRICkERY.

The APPEAL has received from the firm OF
VIM. Opephym & Sons, New York, com
municstion respecting the increase OF tariff
now under consideration in Congress under
the name Of "Tsriff Reform" This house is
largely engaged in the importing business,
and therefore understands the practical
working of the scheme Of reform now re-
eeiviDg the attention OF congressional wis.,
dom. Like all who have examined the
propositions made to Congress, the writer is
struck with the tricky nature Of the wording
of the bill of the Ways and Means Commit
tee, and points out the fraudulent juggling
of words by which provisions that. increase
duties are made to look as if they de-
creased them. Jesuitry itself might draw
from the Ways and Means Committee bill
lessons in the art Of misrepre-
sentation, of delusion, Of words con-
structed with the intent and aim Of
deception. Hosiery, velvet, nets, braids,
shirts and drawers made of cotton are ad
vanced from thirty-fve to forty five per cent
Goods Of wool and hair are advanced from
forty TO ninety per cent. Many Of these
goods are articles of clothing worn by per-
sons in every condition in life. These the
New York Importer declares are amply pro-
tected by the thirty-6ve per cent. duty.
There is no necessity on the part OF the
home manufacturer to ask for more, but If
he get an extra ten per cent he can realize
higher rate of profit. The necessary srti-
Ctea nj cl0fbino involved Of norrao ~,
themselves not worth The committee troubl-
ing about; they are principally used by "the
lower classes" which feel heavily, this hard
winter time, the pressure that even now exists
without the torturing screw of the tariff being
turned down ten per cent. more. Twenty
five per cent. would be sufficient; thirty five
secures good profit, and forty-6ve will be
an addition to the profit that Will help finely
to run up the capitalists income at the ex-
pense OF the poor, who must have necessary
articles or SILVER in the blast, even if din
ner is cut short to save the money to buy
them. Dress goods Of wool or worsted are
taxed exorbitsntly; seventy-hve per cent. on
the average, 10 per cent. on the lower
grades. By putting a duty-6rst of twelve
cents on the square yard, then forty per cent
besides ON the value, average qualities pay
ninety per cent, low price goods lis per
cent, higher quality of goods paying less
than the common fabrics worn by the slower
classes" and paid by them to to "the upper
class," millionaire. The reformed tariff pro-
posed will make clothing that is already
dear, still dearer; there will be a benefit
somewhere from the enhanced price,
but the benefit will not 90 to
the working man and toiling wo-
man, and hard-working farmer, all OF
whom have 10 wear the high-taxed common
goods" L. il not time that the people who
are to be tricked and csjoled by the legerde-
main of a deceitful and shamefully unjust
and oppressive tariff, should assert their
right and refuse to be made tribute payers to
men with no better claim than themselyes7
Is it not time the people numbered into the
ear of Congress that the reformed tariff they
demand is one that materially diminishes,
but in no instance increases the odious pro-
tective tariff?