The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-11-01
NATIONAL ISSUES VIEWED FROM
LOCAL STANDPOINT.

A LOCAL STANDPOINT.
The national democratic ticket is the
chief consideration this fall. Every far
mer is particularly interested in its sue
cess. Tariff legislation since the repub-
icans came into power, has been invarl-
ably in favor OF monopoly. Laborers and
farmers have been Systematically de-
ceived and have thus assisted in perpetu-
ating the infamous features of the pres
ent tariff.
ssWhile the war was in progress taxes
were necessarily heavy. Internal revenue
taxes were largely increased and so were
custom duties. All the proceeds of the
internal revenue tax,-save the expense
of collection, went to the government
A comparatively small portion of the
amount collected from the people
through the opportunities offered by the
tariff, went to the government. The ma
jor part went into the pockets of manu-
ldCIuTeIS. IuuS lhcy IiooO Lioi4SJ
through the necessities of the govern
ment This could not be avoided while
the government was in sore distress.
When the war was over and the ex-
penses of the government were reduced
it was only natural that its revenue
should be reduced. It would seem the
10 IL, 10 roIuaa tho tav
these things upon which it was heaviest
but of which a small percentage only
went to the government, thus atfordln
the people relief while securing neces-
sary reduction in the government revenue
If this were done, for every million dol
lars the revenue of the government should
be reduced the tax burden of the people
would be ightened to the extent of four
million dollars.
But this was not done. The manufac-
turer continued to profit by the war tariff.
The internal revenue was reduced, and
to-day it is hardly one-third of what 1t
was in war times, thus lessenlng the
revenue of the government and giving
the minimum of relief to the people.
When reductions were made on the tariff
on imported goods those were selected
the tax upon which gave relatively most
to the government and least to the in
dividuals. The policy of the republican
party has been invariably III the direc-
ton of benefting the manufacturers at
the expense of the government and Of the
individual interests Of the people at large.
With unparalleled hypocrisy this favorl-
tism is described as policy which makes
the farmer and the laborer its beneficiary.
The tax which the people OF this county
pay to the general government Is con-
siderably greater than the aggregate
state, county, town, school district and
road district tax which they pay. The ag-
gregate of the above taxes for this county
is about S220,00O. Apportioning the ma
tional tax in proportion to population,
and the share of Manitowoc county is
S224OOO What it pays in excess of the
needs of the government-that is its
share of the surplus-is $4,000. The
county pays to manufacturers a subsidy
of at least 100000 per year,-an out
rage made possible by the present infa-
nous tariff laws.
Here is the point of difference between
the two parties on the present tariff:
The democratic party would relieve the
county of the payment of that surplus
tax of $4,000 and in so doing reduce the
subsidy to the manufacturers which the
county now pays from 100000 to about
S225, 900, thus relieving the people from
paying to the government taxes to the
amount of $4,000 per year and at the
same time relieving them of a Subsidy to
the manufacturer of $4,000, The prin-
chile is that when the revenue of the
poyerr. ment is reduced the subsidy paid
the manufacturers should also be re-
duced.
The republicans on the other hand are
willing the tax on the people of this
county should be reduced $4,000. the
amount which goes into the United
States treasury. but refused to SO lower
the tax as to relieve the people OF this
subsidy of $4,000 now paid the manu-
features by the people of this county. To
save the manufacturer from losing this
amount collected from the people OF this
county (of course it is understood that
every other county in the nation is like
wise affected the reduction is made upon
the taxes on sugar and tobacco which go
almost wholly to the government. Thus
the republican party remains true to its
principles of favoring monopoly.
These are the issues presented to the /
people of this county and upon which
heir verdict is to be rendered on Tues
lay next. These facts seem to have but
title bearing upor the fate of the local
icket. But it must be understood that
avery man nominal ed on the democratic