St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-01-31
The Sugar Tax.
Farm and Home.

duin Miller to the condition of the SUI
gar planter and his demand for high
tariff or bounty, has elected some
protests from farmers who do not be-
lieve in the practice of protection, and
this makes it necessary for Home and
Farm to explain the situation upon the
sngar question.
This paper is not political it is pure
ly agricultural and devoted to advancing
the condition Of the agricultural elas-
ses. The tariff question is becoming
more and more political question, and
though we do not wish to take part in
this controversy, we wish in this article
to show that if the tariff is revised, the
sugar tax which like the tax on whis-
KEY is almost altogether a revenue tax,
ought to be treated with much cOnsi-
deratiOn.
A tax for revenue is a tax the pro-
proceeds of which go into the United
States treasury; a protective tariff IS
one which, to a large extent prevents
importation of the articles taxed and
enables the American producer to keep
up his price above the price OF importa-
tion, and the producer instead OF the
government gets the proceeds OF this
tax.
We will try to illustrate this point.
The tax on iron rails is protective tax
the tax on sugar is revenue tax.
The domestic production of iron rails
in 1880 was $2O978, ,637, the importation
was 81 1885, $50. The cost of foreign
rails, freight added, was $3.50. In
other words. if there were no tariff on
iron rails. the price in 1880 would have
been 1880, but the actual price was
S44,93. The difference shows the bounty
paid was $11,33. Thatis the manufac-
| turer received for every ton he made a
bounty of $11,33. The government re-
ceived for every ton imported S15,68; /;
| but as we made $20,978, 637 and imDOr-
ted only 81 ,635, $3.50, the government re-
ceived only 81 from duties where the
manufactures received $6,4l IN boun-
| ties. This is the operation OF prOtec-
tive tariff.
The tax on sugar is revenue as dis
tinguished from protective tariff, as
the figures will show.
The foreign sugar imported into this
country in 1880 was $69, ,059, 300: the
average duty, all of which went into
!, the treasury, was A. We imported
! also molasses amounting to $8,678, ,008, so.
| The revenue derived from sugar and
molasses was $42,2O3,9 $3.50. The do
mestic product of sugar $1S, 191 10000 ;
of molasses $3,528, ,77O.51. The bounty
that is, the difference between the mark
ct price which prevailed and the price
which would have preyalled-Was on
domestic product $5,619, ,5O4,S6. That
is, the government received In revenue
1854, while the planter received IN
bounty ST.. :, e
nrotective tariff with incidental reve-
nne 6s41 to 1, while the tax on sugar is a
revenue tax with incidental protection,
reversing the proportion in the former
case, being as to 7.54.
There is a clamor for reduction OF
} taxation. and the question is, Where
shall IL begin? Home and Farm, speak
in0 for the agricultural interests, says
II 0nght not to begin with sugar. Sugar
Is abont the only tariff from which any
class of agriculturists receive any
benefit, and before it is altered othel
scheduies should be revised and lowered
It is idle to talk of a high rate ol
duty on sugar. 1t is at the hlRnes'
revenue standard now II the lnelaen' m
tai protection it affords ls not suinclent ~ 4,
then those who fail to make both ends
meet must prepare to plant something
else. -. :,
supar should not be touched until othel
and more oppressive taxes are lowered
We We 90 "a further than this. and say tina
: the Government ought to see that th'
Mississippi river is kept within it
banks. and not allowed to sweep away
every year or two. the homes and wealth
/, Of those along its banks. Whether tn,
levees will do it or not, or it 80, which
/. svstam is best, the most experienced
enoineers should determine; but tha
the government ought to do what i
J necessary in order to protect" tn
nlsnter against the river is plain enough
t In the revision of system of taxation
which ought TO be made, there are othe
! articles which should be touched befor
sugar is reached.
. Our lands are very valuable, and ar
.a.,;Illrr .ozoinn irlfn nriVafa hands