Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-08-09
Does The Present Tariff Fro
tect American LaboY2

The following is an extract from
speech delivered IN the United
States Senate by the Hon. David
Turpie, of Indiana, July 2nd. 1888.
ait has been written there is per-
cnnial sacredness about work. The
Lord OF all the harvests has said.
The laborer is worthy of his hire ;
1t is not so said of others, as ONE
may receive hire not deserving It.
The system Of tariff laws now in
force imposes a most unjust and
needless assessment upon The wages
of labor. We know in part, in part
we do not know the amount f
this exaction. The know d amount
of this tax laid and collected per day
as shown by the receipt of customs
duties for the year 1887, was, in
round numbers, 100000 il is now
no less. For seventeen millions OF
workers in all branches Of industry
in the United States the rate per
capita amounts to 80 per cent of a.
verage daily earnings. With the
other expenses of living, for these
the wages of tho day pay, and do
hardly pay, the taxes for the day.
The tide OF tax and time keep equal
pace, save that on the seventh.
When such contribI4ion is levi
ed, as it Is, upon the kitchen and the
cupboard, upon bed and board, upon
hunger, thirst, n d nakedness--
when every living soul within our
borders becomes taxpayer, enor~
nous recelpts accrue and the surplus
gathers like the SNOWFALL in thaw.
In the ordinary household Of five
persons where there is one wage
Garner and FIVE tax payers they are
not encumbered with unused depos-
its. The collector OF this tax keeps
no delinquent list; there is no delay
and there can be no default.
Ii man eat, dink, or wear, he
must pay; death scarcely brings re-
lief. The TAX gather clips wages, be
they ever so small; no pittance es.
capes- The amount of this collec-
lion is a direct daily charge upon
wages fund-that portion of the
wealth OF the country which is in
transit day by day from those who
employ to those who are employed.
The money due to labor are thus
seized in passing. Any reduction
OF the amount thus exacted, and es-
pcclally any readjustment thereof as
to the list Of taxed articles, would
shift the burden from this wages
fund in transit to wealth in sitn, to
wealth accumulated-mainly to the
wealth accumulated by the benefci.
aries Of the present law. There is
the rub; there is the hitch and hurt;
this is where and how the shoe of
reform pinches the foot of monopo-
ly. Now, 1t is not intended to be
said hereby that there may be any
thing wrong IN the general policy of
requiring all those who live IN the
United States to contribute some.
what to the support of the Govern
ment.
But it is asked, nevertheless, why
should penny be taken from any
one beyond what is needed, should
it be levied so largely and exclusive
ly upon those classes of our fellow
citizens least able to spare and
pay 1t?
At such time as the Government
takes from the laborer by taxation
upon his food and.-.raiment, upon the
ordinary comforts and conven,eoies
of life, more than is necessasy for
the public use, then we say, The
laborer is worthy Of his hire'-we
have found those more worthy there
OF. Who are these2 The law made
rich, the more worthless and grasp.
ing of all Mammon's sons, ,misers of
that unblessed laere unjustly wrung
from the sweat of other mems faces.
1t would be impossible for these
favored classes, although they have
ucceeded in controlling the policy
and organization of a certain politl-
cal party, although they have pro-
cured the Government Of the United
States to act as salesman in their
marts and stores, to stand behind
their counters, and fix prices upon
their wares--it would be Impossible
for them 10 make an open avowal of
their purposes. They could not say
TO laior Go to; let us take for the
nonce a portion of your wages
WI Without return, without recompense. :
They have a saving amount Of
caution, Of complalsnce, or COVER
Dice But they cry. PAY us this
tribute, as for some time past you
have been. 1t will enable US to
make our profits large, still larger,
wherewith wo will certainly in
some way reouite you
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1hA napf,nn Af H.