The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-08-03
For Congress Second Congressional
District.
HERMAN STUMP,
of Hartford Co.
The Tariff Issue.

For once, at least, in the history of our
country, Presidential campaign is being
carried on in which personal abuse of the
candidates of the two great parties meets
with little favor. Instead the avowed prin-
ciples upon which each party, if successful,
proposes to conduct the government are
eagerly discussed.
Both parties, in their platforms of 1884,
pointed out the danger threatening our in
situations from great and ever-increasing
surplus in the United States Treasury, and
both pledged themselves so to revise the
tariff that while enough money should be
raised from taxation to maintain the ad-
mnistration of the government no more
than enough should be exacted, and that in
reforming the revenue laws, the interests of
all classes of citizens should be, as far as
possible, equtably guarded. So far, therefore,
as expressions IN the platforms of the Dem
ocratic and Republican parties of 1884 are
concerned there was substantial agreement
on this point.
The Democratic party, to its credit be it
spoken, has honestly endeavored to carry
out its pledges, but has found itself thwarted
bya Republican minority in the House of
Representatives and by Republican Sen
ate hostile to any changes in the tariff rates
imposed during the necessities of costly
war.
In accordance with these pledges the DEM
ocratsin Congress prepared tariff bill which
reduced the tariff tax from AZ per cent TO
about 40 per cent. on the value of articles
imported. This reduction, it is estimated,
while atfOrding a considerable relief 10 the
industrial classes of the land would yet
bring into the treasury a sum sufficient for all
of the expenses of a government economically
administered. This reduction of only Z per
cent. is what the Republicans are pleased 10
denOminate a free trade" measure.
The Mills bill further provides for the in.
PRODUCTION into the country of certain raw
materials free Of duty, the lessening of the
cost Of which would not only cheaper the
manufacture of certain articles absolutely
necessary to the comfort OF every family,
but by stimulating home manufactures af.
ford increased employment to American
workmen. For instance, by the present
tariff laws the government exacts duty of
Il cents per pound on tin plate brought into
this country. This tax was in the first place
ostenslbly laid to encourage the investment
of capital in tin mines and the manufacture
OF these plates. Unfortunately there
proved to be no tin mires in this country
and this p cents per pound on tin is a tax
levied upon every Gamer and every family in
the 'and-a useless tax, since it protects no
American industry and the government does
not need the money.
AS more light is thrown upon the opera
tions of the existing tariff, il is seen that this
heavy and unnecessary tax on tin is main
tanned solely to enrich few monopolists.
lin is better than iron for roofing purposes,
and il allowed TO come in free of duty would
compete with products of the National Iron
Roofing Association. Therefore, that A
few firms who control the manufacture of
iron roofing may make larger profits, every.
body else must pay 81 cents per pound more
for the tin they use, in the shape of tin
cans, tin roofs, tin pans, &c. This is a sam
pie of a protected industry" and there are
many more like it.
The Mills bill throughout was drawn in
accordance with President Cleveland mess
age on tariff reform, which laid down the
broad principle, that few industries which
had been for so many years specially favored
by the government, and which had become
immensely profitable at the expense of the
great bulk of the people, should be willing
to accept slightly decreased profits in order
that the body of consumers of the country
might be benefited The bill was SO framed
that no branch of manufacturing industry
might be uDduly oppressed and that there
should be no interference with the labor of
the country.
The Democratic party in its platform of
1888 reiterated its demand for a revision of
the tariff in the interest of the whole people
and the Republican party, strange to say,
changed its front and insists vehemently
upon the retention of the present tariff,
aVowedly in the interest of protection of
American industries and labor, declaring
that sooner than abate one jot or title of the
heavy war taxes it would, If restored to
power, remove the tax from all kinds of
alcoholic spirits used in arts or manufactures,
and if this should not reduce the income of
the government to the amount needed, il
would then abolish all taxes on whisky and
tobacco.
This, then, in brief, is the position of the
two parties on this question. The Demo-
cratic party seeks by n more moderate rate
of Taxation TO reduce the cost of the neces-
saries of life afford more varied and produc
tive employment TO labor, leaving i'm
ported luxuries and whisky to bear the
chief burden oftaxatlon.
The Republican party, chained as it is to
the car of monopoly, boldly declares that
the highest rate of taxes shall be imposed
upon those things which every family needs,
and that if any reduction at all is to be made
i; shall be made upon whisky tobacco and
oleo.margarine, three articles which are still
included in the internal revenue list.
These are questions in which partisanship
has no place. They are questions which
come directly home to every farmer, every
mechanic and every laboring man in the
country. Each voter should seek to inform
himself upon them and decide at the polls
whether he prefers free whisky and dear
clothing or cheap clothing and taxed whisky.
DIR. Robert Morris died on Thursday at
his home, near Louisville, aged 20 years. He