Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-09-14
DTST1NG UTSHED OPINIONS |
MIR. IOST'S TIN TAX,

T1NGUISHED OPINIONS UN
MIR. lOST'S TIN TAX.
The Hon. Jacob Yost will, in few
DAYS be before the people Of Augusta and
Rockbrid2e urging them to take upon
themselves an additional burden of taxa
ton. He conscientiously believes that it
is for the interest of the canneries and the
farmers and workingmen of Rockbridge
and Augusta to pay about $25. 900 more Of
tax to the U. S. Government, the current
year-and the whole people Of the United
States to pay Sill. 100000 more-in order
to benefit somebody or other by the man.
ufacture of tin plate, at some time or
other, and at some place oryother-all the
bodies, times and places being at present
hidden to Mr.. Yost's view by obscurity and
chance. Some Republicans who have not
informed themselves, may think that they
should support Mr.. Yost in this and his
other high taxation extremes, be-
cause that is the adopted doctrine Of tie
Republican party. If it is, it is very
new doctrine and lacks age as much as it
does common, practical, business sense.
The following extract from debate in
the Senate-during the 47th congress
when the subject of increasing the tax
on tin-plate, that its manufacture in the
United STATES might be encouraged, was
up, gives the opinions of John A. Logan
the former Republican candidate for Vice
President. and of Senator Ingalls, the
present Republican presiding officer of the
Senate:
Mr.. Logan.-I desire to ask the Senator if
there is any person in this country manufac-
turing this article at this time.
Mr.. Sherman are manufacturing it
to limited extent. There is one establish
ment in Pittsburg that began to enter on the
manufacture of tin-plate, but did not 60 into
it.
Mr.. Logan-The manufacturers of tin cans
all over the country, in every city in the
United States, for putting up meat, fruit etc.,
have said to the committee here-I presume
that they have to the committee, and proba-
bly, to nearly every Senator-that they were
better satisfied with thu rate of duty which
was imposed before, and are satisfied with the
rate proposed by the committee, but they are
universally opposed to increasing the duty. I
have had kilograms to this effect from differ
ent parts of the country and especially from
Chicago, where they manufacture more tin
cans than in any other part of this country.
The idea Of increasing the rate Of duty for the
purpose Of encouraging any6o1y to commence a
naa7at dctt3e aoheao he has not commenced it,
think is q 4aeao idea.
Ohio states rather an advanced opinion, ]
think, upon this subject We have heard
hitherto of the necessity of protecting infant
industries; thet it was necessary to impose
additional burdens upon the people to prevent
Industries that were struggling for existence
from being strangled. But he now assures
us that the duties are essential to create in
dustries, to institute and inaugurate manufac-
lures here that do not exist, for the purpose
of obtaining prospective profits that may be
realized upon articles that are not and cannot
be manufactured here, and that are imported
in vast quantities for the welfare of our
people.
Mr. President, if any argument has been
adduced or can be adduced for the extraordi-
nary motion of the Senator from Ohio, ]
should be very glad to hear it. He claims
that this is something that is in the interest OF
American industry, but the industry does not
exist. 1t is apparent that SO far as tin-plate
is concerned it is actually raw material. II
is in no sense, aotateUer competitive aoith any
american Manu- fracture. The only reason why
duty should be imposed upon tin-plate is
for the purpose of revenue. The tariff upon
this article should be fiscal merely. 1t car
rot be fiscal and protective, because there is
nothing to protect. and every dollar that il
imposed upon this article that is in excess Of
what it ought to bear as a revenue proposition
is SO much that is directly taken from tile M
dust,y, from the aoages Of this country, Naa
haze burdens upon them ALREADY aotich they ar
lilly able to bear.
These are precisely the views the Vim
DICTATOR has been urging in opposition tc
Mr.. Yost's wild proposition of increased
taxation on an article which is almost {
necessary Of life, especially to the
poor. The Senate which has been Wrest
ling in sore distress for some weeks will
a substitute to be presented for the Mills
bill. had hearing by its Subcommittee
the other day for the "tin-plate associ.
ations." These are not tin-plate manu-
facturers, but associations or firms fo
importing it. They were unanimous
like Mr.. Yost, in asking that a highe
tariff tax be put on tin-plate but, if no
that, at least retain the present tax. But
those nearest the people the Gamers ant
packers Of Iowa. Illinois. Nebraska ant
other Western States met it with such al
indignant remonstrance that it is nov
reported that no higher tax will be recon
mended by the Senate committee, even i
the present one is retained. The Mills bill
Of the Democrats makes tinplate free, ant
its motto is Hands off the dinner pal
and the tin can"