Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-01-03
THE DUTY ON SALT.

Il
a bill in Congress TO abolish the duty
on salt. Tho farmers now have tc
pay cents bounty on every 10(
pounds, and 12 cents per hundred In
packages, and the b, unity goes to the
salt monopoly instead of the govern
ment. s J'sph Repui lican.
Such ignorance and 80 many free
schools in Michigan is positively appal.
ling. There is "a duty of ~ cents a
busiicl on'wheat; 10 cents a bushel on
corn, rye, barley, and oats; Is cents a
bushel on potatoes; s2 per ton on hay
20 per centuiD nd valorem on live
animals, and according to the legic OF
the above the salt manufactures who
consumes those articles pays the
amount of the duty impose, as a boun-
ty to the farmer. There it a duty
ranging from l2 to s cents u pound on
wool. and n duty on woolen goods
ranging fom 80 to 40 per centum ad
valorem, and if the Republican argu-
ment holds good, those who consume
those goods. to the extent. of the duty
are paying bounty to the wool grow
ers Of Michigan.
II the editor of the Republican had
taken the trouble to post himself he
would have quickly learned that the
tariff on salt has actually cheupened
that commodity to. the farmer who
consumes il. Under free trade the
farmer paid from sl.65 TO $3.50 for
the five bushels of salt that he now
obtains for S5 cents. the present rnnr-
ket price in the Saginaw Valley.
The true idea is that the Govern
msnt should encourage the industry
and skill of it's people, and the de-
velopment of the natural resources OF
it's territory, and that, to this end, the
Gust ms duties on foreign imports
should be SO levie as to prevent the
fr. Q importation of such articles ~ es n
be made, or produced at home, and
to furnish the needed Government
revenue. Duties thus levi, d encourage
aud protect home manufacturers, and
home labor and skill, the workmcn
gets varied employ. home markets are
created for the products OF the farm,
and the common goods advanced.
Such duties do not establish monopoly,
hat break down foreign monopoly by
the enco. raI cement of home competi
ton. The fa,t H. beyond successful
contradiction that no duty was ever
,evi-d Oh n single 'ticl.. the home
manufacture of which grew to large
proportions under that duty, without
the price to the consumer growing
cheaper, the duty thus being boon
instend OF tax. This is precisely the
result in regard To the salt commodity.
Under free trade no salt of conse-
quance, in fact hut few Thousands
barrels year was made. and thu
price, xs stated ranged from -. 65 to
81 80 per barrel. At the present time
upwards of three million barrels are
made annually in Michigan, and the
price has steadily declined from 81 sc
per barrel IN 1866 TO S5 cents in 1883.
Ii is stated by those who are conpe
tent to judge that three fourths OF al
ounce of salt il sufficient for pound
of butter. Call il six pounds of sat
to 100 pounds of butter, suppose the
tariff of ~ cents on 100 pounds of i'm
ported salt il n tax, and when th'
groaning farmer sells his flrllin OF 10'
pounds of butter, and pockets his So
or npre, he has paid tax ot three
fourths of cent. But he has sold hi
salt which has cost him. say six cents
for over 81 20, and still he groan'
about the tax. Besides, there IL {
tariff of 4 cents pound on butter
and IL the tariff is, according to the
Republican, n tax, every Found q
butter consumed pays bounty of
c.nts to the farmer. The revenue
which the sat tar fl Yields to th'
Government, q even il the whole duty il
added to the price, would average
about five cents per head of tin
population of the United States. 4
frightful tax indeed. The tariff oi
salt is ut tire present time below |
revenue basis, and there is neithe
sense or justice in striking it a deadl.
blow for the purpose OF building up
foreign industry. The Courier is b.
; no means in favor of n high protec
tive tariff, but il favors tariff TO
. revenue, with such discrimination a
will afford incidental protection I
and foster American industry. An
the Courier is also in favor of obtain
, ing the necessary revenues for carry
, ing on the Government honestly an
= economically from the tariff. Sag
nav Courier, Democratic.