Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-07-29

We last week gave the principles upon
which the tariff of 1916 was based, the rates
of duty, and an outline of the commodities
upon which each rate was imposed. The
simplicity of its construction, the modera-
tion of its duties, and the equality with which
it proposed to deal with all classes and
sections, must commend it to the Judgment
of thinking men.
In his report, Mr.. Walker said: ''The
constitutional power of Congress "to lay and
collect taxes, duties, imports and excises,"
does not authorize the laying of a prohibi-
tory duty in which revenue is sacrificed to
the object of protecting the manufacture of
the commodity taxed. Taxation, whether
direct, or indirect, should be, as nearly as
practicable, in. proportion to property. If
the whole revenue were raised by tax upon
property, the poor would pay very small
portion of such tax, whereas by the consun1p-
tion of imports, or of domestic commodities,
enhanced In price under the tariff, the poor
are made to pay much larger share of the
taxes than if they were collected by an
assessment in proportion to property. To
counteract, as far as possible, this effect of
the tariff and make it approximate to a
system of taxes in proportion to property,
the duties upon luxuries should be fixed at
not be discriminating in favor of the poor,
but would mitigate that discrimination.
A protective tariff is question regarding
the enhancement of the profits of capital,
and not the augmentation of the wages of
labor. It is question of percentage, and is
to decide whether money vested in our manu-
factures shall, by legislation, yield profit of
10, 20 or 80 per cent. or whether it shall re-
main satisfied with dividend equal to that
accruing from the same capital invested in
agriculture, commerce, or navigation.
1t seems strange that while the profit of
agriculture varies from to per cent that of
manufactures are more than double. The
reason is that while the high duties secure
nearly monopoly of the home market to the
manufacturer, the farmer and planter are, to
! great extent, deprived of the foreign mar
ket by these duties. The farmer and planter
are, to great extent, forbidden to buy in
the foreign market, and confined to the do
mestic articles, enhanced in price by the
duties. The tariff is thus a double benefit to
the manufacturer and double loss to the
farmer and planter.
The true question is whether the farmer
and planter shall, to great extent, supply
our people with cheap manufactures pur-
chased abroad with their agricultural pro-
ducts, or whether this exchange shall be for
hidden by high duties on such manufactures,
and their supply thrown as monopoly, at
large prices by high tariffs, into the hands of
our own manufacturers"
The tariff passed the House by large
majority, but was carried in the Senate by
the roasting vote of the Vice President, Geo.
M. Dallas, of Pennsylvania. In giving the
vote he said: "The struggle to exert, without
abatement, the constitutional power of taxa
| tion in such manner as to protect, by high
duties on imports, many of the productions
of our own soil and labor from the competi-
tion of other countries, has endured for more
than 80 years. During that period system
of high taxation has prevailed, with fuctua-
tions of success and failure. 1t ought to be
remembered that this exercise of the taxing
power was originally intended to be tempor-
ary. The design was to forster feeble infant
manufactures, especially such as were essen
tial to the defense of the country in time
of war. In this design the people have per-
severed until these saplings have taken root;
have become vigorous, expanded and power
full, and are prepared to enter with conf
denoe the field of fair, free, and universal
competition"
The tariff remained in operation IA years,
and though a reduction of duties was made,
no change in the system took place. During
those IA years the country prospered as it
never had before, and the foundation for
manufacturing on the largest scale was laid
on solid basis.
"FOr economy and comfort, we use