Bent County register., 1888-09-29

the tariff and detires the issue be-
tween Cleveland's pro-British party
and the sound doctrine advocated by
the republican party of protection to
American industries. Workingmen,
read and reflect! The question at
issue is of vital Importance to you
and to your children-ay! to your
children's children!
Woikingman-I read a good deal
nowadays about the tariff, especially
since the Presidents message APP
peared. What is meant by tariff?
Apswer-That plan of raising
money for the expenses of govern
ment, by which it is collected at the
custom houses, from duties upon i'm
ports, and not taken directly from
the people by excise or internal rey-
enue taxes.
W.-What are the advantages of
this plan?
Ans.-It is the cheapest way to
get the necessary revenue, and it
saves.thc people from the annoying
yisitious of tax-gathers. 1t is the
plan which was adopted when the
present government was established
in 1889, and has, except in the emer-
gency Of war, been adhered to ever
since To the exclusion of all others.
W.-Nho pays the duties collect
cd at the custom houses?
Ans.-1f the articles imported are
such as are largely produced here,
the foreign producer pays a great
part OF thcm. If the articles are not
produced here, the duty is added to
the foreign cost, and we have to pay
It ourselves.
w Why do Foreigners pay q
great part of it IN the former case?
Because experience has
shown that when an article is exten-
sivelv produced here, the price falls
below the foreign price with duty
added. Hence, to meet our home
price, rs the dnty is fixed, reduction
must be made from the foreign price.
W.-Then. in such cases, foreign
ers contribute TO the support of our
government?
Ans-Tcs, and justly so. because
they get the benefits of our market
and our laws, for which they would
otherwise pay nothing.
W.-WhY do we impose duties on
articles not produced here if We haye
to pay them ourselves?
Ans.-yVe certainly ought to do
so; but there is 10 idea so unrsasou.
able that it will not have supporters.
And there have always been men in
tins country favoring this plan of re-
lieving foreigners from taxation. Il
is known as tariff for revenue only.
W.-Do these men undertand our
own people have to pay all the duties
under tariff for revenue only?
Ans.-rhe more Intelligent among
Jhem do, but they are partial, to the
English revenue system, and forget
that British laws and taxes are no
better fitted for this country now
than they were a century ago.
W.-Can you explain, briefly, the
meaning of the words protection
and "Free Trade?"
Ans.-Yes. "Protection" means
that adjustment of the tariff on such
things as may be produced here
which requires the payment of duties
high enough to Offset the greater
wages paid to those engaged in pro-
iucing them, and thus protect them
in their occupations against the corn
petition of cheaper wages in foreign
countries.
W.-How much higher are wages
bere?
Ans.-Nearly twice as high as in
Great Britain, three times as high as
in France and Germany, four times
rs high as in Italy aud Russia.
W.-What difference does this
make in the cost of things produced
in this country, with the cost in Eu-
rope9
Aus.-That depends on the amount
Of labor required to produce them.
The labor may be half, three-quar-
ters or even larger part of the cost.
Iron ore and lime stone in the ground