Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-09-20
Rum and Raw Ma+er;a,..

roll the liquor traff1c over to the demo-,
cratic party. The republicans have
adopted the proposition, and embodied
it in their platform. Permit me to sug-
gest that to be consistent he should 90
further, and repeal all taxes on those
engaged in the business. The United
States ought not to be in partnership
with the liquor dealer. Let the poor
man be taxed on his blankets, his sugar
and his salt, but spare the distiller and
the saloon keeper the tax on their whis-
key and their rum.
The proposition is astonishing to
plain man, and probably our people will
think twice before they vote for it.
What next?
Mr.. Foster also proposed that the
tariff taxes should be increased 50 as
practically to prohibit importation and
create new industries here, till we manu-
facture everything we want. Let US
consider this for moment. The Eng
fish make the best tin plates. We I'M
port about $4,000, 900 worth. On
these tax at the rate of over thirty
three per cent. is imposed, which Weld
to the government nearly 100000 a
year. The government does not need that
money, and few men who want to 90
into the tin plate business, employed
Mr.. jarrett to advocate the increase of
the duty so as to make it prohibltory.
Mr.. Randall introduced bill for the
purpose Jour grandfathers would have
said, ''Ephraim is confederated with
Syria" and might have completed the
quotation and styled these combined
republicans and high tariff democrats,
smoking ire-brands.' But let that
pass.) One effect of this change would
be to induce dozen capitalists to go
into the manufacture of tin plates.
Another effect would be to double the
price of tin roofs, and largely increase
the price of tin pans, cups, dippers, and
the innumerable articles of tin to be
found in every house.
Another effect would be to increase
the cost OF the tin cans in which food is
and practically TO prohibit the
export of canned goods. la other
words, every man in America would
have to pay tribute to the few who
should engage in this new business; and
the existing and important industry of
would be crippled. Or, to put
1t differently, one man would be benefit
ed and thousand injured. Not only
so, the existing and profitable exchange
of our grain and pork for Welsh tin
plates would be summarily abolished.
Now, look on the other side of the pic
ture. Put tin plates Oh the free list,
as the Mills bill proposes, and you
cheaper every tin roof and every tin
pan. Every householder would profit
by the reduction. Not only this The
import of tin plates would be doubled.
We should pay for them in tin goods.
Dur manufacturers Of these articles are
skilled and ingenious. Their product
S equal to any. Give them their ma
erials free and they can compete sue
in the foreign market Nor
would the benefit stop here. The ex-
bort of canned goods would be doubled,
or the duty on the cans is just enough
o put our Gamers even now at great
disadvantage, as compared with their
European rivals. The exchange Of
American products for tin plates, will
i've our ships something to do, and the
'est bounty that they can ask.
These predictions are the result, not
# ''callow college teachings, but of
experience. The repeal of the duty on
lides doubled the export of leather and
Gather goods. The repeal of the tin
|
late tax would be equally beneficial.
But the objection is made, that under
he existing laws, there is drawback
n exported articles made of imported
naterials. True, but drawback can
ever be as beneficial to the manufac-
urer as repeal of the tax To illus
rate: Suppose manufacturer of tin
rare to use tin plates every year which
ost him in New York, 800, coo. He
ays the government tax of $50. 900.
1t the end of the year he has made and
xported the goods made of this tin.
he government pays him back his tax,
IithOut interest, and less ten per cent .
hat is to say, he loses So, 800, and a
ear interest, or 81 ,9SO, merely making
! all, 50, 200, or FIVE and quarter per
rnt. an his investment. The margin of 7
rofit iS small He has in any case IN {