Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-14

By the census of 1880 we find that in
that year the country produced in finish
ed woolen fabrics of all kinds the follow
ing:
Wool hats-value OF finished pro-
Woolen goods-value of finished
product. Observation-Disclosures. 160,606, ,721
worsted goods-value of finished
product. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 33,549 942
Grand total of finished product $2O2, ,673, ,232
The total sum paid in wages to produce
these goods was $33, Alp 1874 or about 161a
per cent. of the total cash.
Now in spite of the fact that only 161la
per cent. of the product goes to labor, a
tariff averaging about rs per cent. has
been collected on imported woolens for
the benefit of american labor.
The Mills bill proposes to give the
woolen manufacturers free raw materials
and reduce the tariff on the manufactured
article to 40 per cent.
Mr.. J. S. Moore, in an article some
time ago, pointed out some instructive
things about these wooden taxes. We
imported in 1887 1,136, l49 square yards
OF mixed woolen dress goods, which cost
abroad $6,522, 1858, or as near as possible
81 cents square yard. On these goods
duty of 81, ,511 $50 was collected, or as
near as possible 1715 cents yard, or
S2 96 per cent.
Again, 26,929, ,224 square yards of sim
liar stuff were imported in the same
year, costing $4,094, ,403, on which tax
OF 81. .779, ,5O2 was collected, or at the rate
of 67.S9 per cent.
In short, of this class of woolen mixed
dress goods there was imported alto
gether ST., ,l99, l4l in value, on which
tax of $12,39S,9 ,974 was collected, or an
average of 72.O9 per cent.
In other words, the total duty on
woolen manufactures in 1887 was $780,
729,717, and over $4,000 900 was in
goods that cost abroad from Is cents to
81 cents square yard. Who paid this
tax? Was it the prosperous rich people
or was it the hard-working classes, the
farmers and artisans? Now, if this was
the only amount Of tax paid by the
American people it would be almost
moderate. But it must be remembered
that at least double that amount of tax,
or say $25,000,O00 more, goes into the
pockets of the home woolen manufac-
turers. That is the American people pay
over $36, 100000 taxes on woolen mixed
goods that is valued at an average of
about 20 cents square yard, of which
over $12 100000 goes into the Treasury
and over $24 900, 900 into the pockets of
monopolists.
Now, Mr.. Mills, the Committee on
Ways and Means, and the Democratic
party have arranged, concocted and
passed bill through the House that re-
duces the tax on this kind of wooden
goods to 40 per cent. ad valorem. That
is, they leave still protection Of 40 per
cent. on such importations. In other
words, instead of $12,S9S,OO0 that now
goes into the Treasury, only about
Sc, $3.50, 900 will be collected, and instead
of about $24 900, 900 that now goes into
the pockets of monopoly, only some
$14 ,000,000 will find its way there, and
the American people will be relieved of
some $15, ,000,0 900 of taxes on tie cheap
est kind and most necessary clothing
used. And yet the 100000 Republican
sheep in Vermont say "Baa" to the
100000 Of the same sort of silly sheep
in Oregon, which also Cry "Baa"
to the monopolistic party which
feeces the coats off their backs. And
the people of the Union who think in
their politics echo back to the silly
sheep-"Baa!" I"