St. Landry democrat., 1886-07-24
Taxes and Revenue.

of taxes would lei ii redue-
ton of revenues.
The taxes on whisky and tobacco do
all go the Government. When a distil-
Ter or IL tobacco manufacturer pays his
taxes he adds it to the price of his pro-
duct, and SO the pays it
through the manufacturer OF whiskey
or tobacco to the United States Treasu-
rer. A reduction of our internal taxes
of 81 means, therefore, a reduction OF
81 in the income Of the Government.
The taxes on imports have a double
effect. A man buys, let us say, a ton
of steel rails in England, for which he
pays $3.50. He brings them to New
York, and pays the Government SIT
duty that ST goes INTO the treasury.
But another man buys his steel rails
of an English manufacturer who has
located in Pittsburg-Say Mr.. Carnegie.
Mr. Carnegie charges S24 for his steel
rails, but he does not pay II dollar OF
this thirty-four; Ike keeps it all.
What | wish to make plain by this
illustration is, that the tariff tax enables
the domestic producer to collect the
tax on steel rails, on pig-iron, on cotton
ties, and to put it i'll his wv pocket.
The tariff tax is not a tax for revenue ;
it is a tax for protection, so-called ; that
is, it transfers to the manufacturer the
highest power of government, which
power enables the manufacturer to tax
his customers for his own benefit. The
tax is added to the prize OF domestic
manufactures, of goods made in this
country, all goes to the manufacturer.
The only revenue to the Government is
derived when one goes to Europe for
his goods.
1t is estimated, and the estimate is
embraced in the Democratic National
platform for 1876, that where the
Government gets 81 from the tariff tax,
the manufacturer gets s.. Keep these
figures in mind.
The people are suffering from excess
sive taxation. The Government de-
rives from the tariff &1S1 0 10000 the
protected manufacturer derives $780,
0 1000.
If You reduce the tariff S10,000,000,
you reduce the taxation S50,000 900 in
addition.
If You reduce the tax on whisky and
tobacco $4,000, 900, yoa only reduce
taxation to that extent The farmers
must choose between a policy which
reduces the tax on luxuries-whisky
and tobacco $50 ZOO, and relieves the
people to that extent only-or that
policy of a tariff for revenue only.
which reduces the tax on imports &c.
0O0,0 900 and reduces the price of all
they have to buy $4,000 900 more.
The protectionists insist that the
tariff must not be disturbed. Mr..
Randall has recently introduced a bill
to reduce the taxes on whisky and to-
bacco S39,400, 900 but the same bill in
creases the tax by the tariff $500 900.
This is a bill aimed directly, in my
judgment, at the interest of the farmers.
The farmers need reduced taxation ;
the prices OF wheat, of corn, OF tobac-
co, of cotton, have all fallen, and tax
alton should fall. As a matter Of fact,
the taxes on the farmer are to be in
creased. The tax now on cotton ties
is $50 on every 300. Mr.. Randall pro-
poses to increase it to s69.50. This
would prevent importation, and make
it possible for the Pittsburg mills to
charge what they please.
Tin plate, which enters so largely
into the production Of household uten-
sils, is now taxed at / cent a pound; by
MIR. Randall's bill it will be increased
to 24 cents. The present tax yields
S5,0O0,06O to tile Government. The in
crease would prevent importation, and
transfer the Government revenue to
the pockets of the manufacturers, and
increase it to $40, 100000.
These illustrations are used in order
that the reader may understand the
distinction between revenue and taxa
tien. What the farmer needs is relief.
He wants his burdens lightened. The
tariff is the heaviest burden. 1t in
creases the price of everything he buys
and reduces the price of all he has to
sell. 1t adds immensely to the cost of
every mile of railroad, to the cost of
every bridge, and consequently to rail-
road charges for passenger and freight.
In my Judgment, the present depressed
condition of agriculture is due princi-