The Ottawa free trader., 1888-07-21


Mr. NJ L. Newell, States Attorney for
Woodford Co., and q candidate for State
Senator on the Democratic Ticket in the
twentieth senatorial district, was in this city
on Monday, and addressed large audience
at the Democratic ssdquarters in the even.
ing. A martial band had been secured and
soon drew q large crowd, all Of whom were
unable to gain admission to the hall. Tho
democratic quartette, Messrs. Bernard,
Bauchle, Beck and Brown, the four BIS.
rendered the "The Old Kentucky Home,'
and stirring campaign song in very good
voice. This is the youngest organized quar-.
tette in the city, and promises TO be as good
ss the best before its members are many
years older.
Mr.. NJ. N. Armstrong introduced Mr..
Newell, who after reviewing the political
history Of the country, came at once to the
tariff issue, with which he showed consider
able familiarity. "1he tariff" sud Mr..
Newell, "was made necessary by the enor.
nous expenses of the late civil war, and the
great war debt of two billion dollars which
that war left behind. The interest alone on
this great debt amounted to $l50,00O,O0O
per year, and taxes were levied in every
conceivable form. The incomes of all who
received one thousand dollars per year, tne
receipts of railroads, insurance cC,mpanies
and manufacturers were taxed three per
cent, tax was placed on, every dollars
worth of food, clothing or shelter that came
into the country, the whisky and tobacco
industries were taxed upon each gallon or
pound of product, and every legal document
was made to bear a stamp. The income tax
alone, from 100000 people, amounted to
S72 100000 AS soon as the war was over
the tax on incomes WAS taken off, the tax
on legal documents, banks, railroads, factor
les and insurance companies was abolished.
but the tariff on the necessities of life, the
materials that enter into the needs Of the
people and on raw materials of manufacture
ers we're LETT to bear the full burden of the
war tax, amounting to forty per cent, Not
only was the tax allowed to remain, but it
has increased year by year, until at the
present date it is forty seven per cent aver
age tax on all the necessities of life.
"We cannot get along without tax to
support the government, and the easiest way
10 do this is by means of tax on imports.
But for many years the tax on imports has
exceeded the actual necessities of the gov
ernment. and there has been surplus of
revenue each year. This, under extravagaut
republican rule was squandered for this
thing aud that-spent without regard to the
fitness of the expenditure, and for purposes
which could not concern a well regulated
government. Under a wise and economical
democratic government, this surplus has not
been wasted, but lies in the public treasury
An enormous sum withdrawn from circu"
Ia, a,ion-useless.
"To reduce this revenue to an amount
sufficient for the needs of an economically
administered government, is the object and
purpose of the democratic party. 1t is the
object of the Mills bill and the Presidents
able message. am given to understand that
the reduction contemplated by the Mills
bill is about seven per cent, so that instead
of an average tax of forty-seven per cent,
the tax would then average forty per cent.
For this, we are accused by the republicans
of being free traders, ground which we
take to be entirely untenable and adverse
to our interests. We only ask reduction Of
revenue to correspond with expenditures,
and in doing this we pledge ourselves to
guard the interests Of the American manu-
featuring industries which mayi need most
the protection afforded by the tariff.
Gas an example of how the tariff hampers
the buyer, take house that costs to build,
$1,000, The labor costs, as given to me by
a contractor is 500, the cost of the lumber is
$500, the plsstering. hardware, stone and
paint cost $500. On this $500 worth Of
lumber there is tariff of sixteen per cent,
making the tribute to the lumber king, Sl2o.
On the hardware the tariff amounts to $40;
on the shingles and paint the tax is $780,
making grand total paid in tax of S24a on
81 800, the value Of the material. With free
raw materials, this house can DO built Tor
81, 756, as the material would cost but
81, ,O56. Then if you wish to carpet it you
will need 500 worth Of ingram carpet, on
which you pay tax Of 81 per cent or soi.