Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-08-23

I was wondering, writes t. s.. Brown. OF
Bellefontaine, o., how l could bring to-
gether the figures SO as to show the con
nection between the tariff, the wages of
labor and the education of the laboring
classes OF wage workers in order to com
plete and round up the argument for pro-
lection, when | CHANGED to hear the fol
lowing conversation between a carpenter
and a shoemaker, which seemed to illus
trate my point SO well | did not look fur
Their but took it down
Good morning, neighbor Smith, why
50 contemplative? What has thrown you
into such an abstraction SO early In the
morning.
Smith -Ahl Good morning, Jones.
Glad to see you. | have been trying to
do a little example in percentage and
profits. and the figures bothered me. You
read The Cincinnati Enquirer, don't you?
Jones-Certainly l do. An excellent
paper; always right on all great ques-
tions. Yes, yes; a good paper.
Smith - Then perhaps you read Mr..
paper, July 2S?
Jones-Yes, indeed; a very able article.
Mr.. Taylor is q very able writer and
lihSo q Foty iah VA ~
question. His definition of a tariff is so
explicit, SO entirely correct.
Smith-Yes, | understand o tariff is o
kind Of indirect taxation; the levying
and collection of taxes by an indirect
method" But without the tariff how
would he collect the money necessary for
the expenses of the government
Jones-Why, by direct taxation of
course. Direct taxation, you know, is so
much more direct. Everybody knows
then just what they have to pay. And
all history shows that direct taxes are so
much more easily collected than n other.
1t brings the government into direct con-
tact with the people. And the people like
| so well to see the government officials
coming round to collect the tax.
Smith-That may all be SO, but I don't
see but that it is easier to pay it along
through the year OF what you consume,
and according to what you consume, than
to pay it all at once on what you produce
and out of what you produce. However,
that is not what bothers me. The figures
In Mr.. Taylor's illustration I cannot get
straight. quite-his 57.5 cents and 10 per
| cent. and 8 per cent. and "a cents and S.4
cents. May be you can explain it so can
understand it.
JUIeS~NNoyy ycSy CSElhlllJ. LIS III uItS
are perfectly plain. What he means to
saw Is that q yard Of cloth for which,
under the operation Of the tariff, you
have to pay 81. 20.7 II there were no tariff
you would have to pay but T.9 cents for.
Smith-How's thatl A yard Of cloth
would cost me ITO cents without q tariff
while with a tariff I have to pay $1.20.7
for itf
Jones-That is Mr.. Taylor's calculation,
and without doubt his figures are cor
rect.
Smith-Then the tariff adds about &c
per cent. to the cost of @ yard Of clothp
Jones-That is 1t exactly, as at present
constituted.
Smith-Sucb an Ubiquitous institution,
adding GO pev cent. to the cost of q yard Of
cloth and likewise to the cost Of all other
articles of consumption which enter into
the necessary living expenses of the labor
ing man, is that not sol.
Jones-It is only too true.
Smith-Then why is it kept upf Why
does anybody argue in favor of it3
Jones-1t is kept up for the benefit Of
the rich, "for the purpose of giving q
limited class an advantage for which the
masses pay" The argument is kept nE
ito deceive, delude and mislead unthink.
ing people. Simply that and nothing
more"
Smith--Do the ~worbingmen generally
understand this thing2
Jones-No, they do not. Pity to relate
they do not.
Smith-Then this ''Tarif Lesson" o
Mr.. Taylor ought to be spread over tn
whole country, placed In the hands o
every laborer, mechanic and farmer, ant
1t will enlighten and explode the argu
ment produced III favor Of the unjust an,
Ubiquitous high tariff"
Jones-Just so. That is just WING
ought to be done.
Smith-The laboring man, too, Is muc
d better off In q country where they hav
free trade than where they have a tariff
~Jones-Very much better off. lie ca
buy SO much cheaper. Provisions al
cheaper, clothing is cheaper, groceries az
cheaper, rents are cheaper, everything
d cheaper.
smith-England is a free trade countr,
. / believe.
Jones-Approximately SO, yes. At lea
she believes in free trade for other cou,
tries.
Smith--Then the condition of the labo
ing man in England must be much bett
than it is here.
Jones--Far better. Yes, indeedl Ii
ing is so much cheaper. All articles
consumption are much cheaper than tn,
are here,
Smith-Have you any means Of telli1
what the difference in living expense
how much better OFF the English wor
men are than we are2
Jones-ohl yes. had almost forge
or ten. l have some statistics that / ju
Oh | .no4 -a.4o,5n., A1,a& ,vsll +a11 ~, all olo1,f
and just what the difference is.
- Smith-Are they reliable or are th
gotten up for campaign purposes?
Jones-Ohl they are strictly reliab
They are from the labor bureau at Wa
ington and from the reports Of the co
missioner of labor of Massachusetts,.
Smith-Ahl that is good. Now let
see how they compare.
Jones-Yes; well, let's find q case I
der circumstances similar to our own
near as we can, so that the comparis
will be a just ont. Yes, here we have
A carpenter, with o family of sixth
self and wife and four children. This
you exactly. You are q carpenter G
have your wife and four children best.
yourself to keep.
Smith-Yes, that's it; row let's see b
they manage. What kind of a house d
he live inS
Jones-A cottage with four rooms,
which he pays $62.40 rent.
Smith-Well, my house has five rool
but I have to pay $3.50 a year for
There is one gain for him anyhow.
Jones-Certainly; you will find q 6
10 all the way through. just see: TheE
fish carpenter pays for groceries S.
IS. for meat, including fish, $50; for m
SIG: for fuel. X17: for clothing, inclui