The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-09-07
Millions for Revenue.

One Thousand millions of dollars per
anum The sum IS so enormous that
when people are told that IL represents
the tariff-ebhanced cost of the domestic
goods consumed every year in this couu-
try, they are stricken with amaEement.
Nevertheless such is the fact. The pro-
ducts of the industries in which tariff
protected capital is employed that are
used or consumed annually in the United
States, are OF the value OF five Thousand
millions OF dollars tive biHions). The
cost to the users or consumers is en-
HANGED at an average rate OF 20 per cent.
above what it would be il the tariff were
laid for revenue merely instead of being
imposed, as it is, to enable the protect
ed capitalist to get a bounty from the
purchasers of his products. Twenty per
cent. of five thousand millions OF dollars
Is one thousand millions Of dollars.
Any school-boy can figure out how
much of this is paid by or for every
man, woman and child in the United
States. A family of five persons pay
about eighty Eve dollars every year in
tariff bounties To tariff protected capital
in the form of an increased cost of food.
clothing, rent, household goods and
utensils and implements of labor, caused
by the present tariff for the protection
OF monopolies.
II must be remembered that not one
cent of these one thousand millions goes
into the Government Treasury. This
enormous tax is not levied by the Gov
ernment bu: by the protected capitalists
who are enabled to do this by a tariff
which makes them masters OF the home
market. which shields them in their for
nation OF trusts and other combinations
to put up and keep up the prices Of their
products, which compels the users or
consumers 10 buy from them alone by
preventing them from buying in any
other country. The revenue derived
from the tariff by the Government is
pai0 by the users or consumers of such
foreign made goods as are permitted by
the tariff laws to be imported, and
amounts to only little over two hun
dred millions OF dollars. or but about
one-fifth of the tariff-enhanced cost OF
domestic products used or consumed in
the United States. No tariff-reformer
objects To a tariff laid to secure the re-
venues necessary to carry on the Gov
ernment economically administered, but
all tariff reformers complain OF a tariff
laid to raise nnuecessaIyrcvenues which
cause large surplus in the Treasury
and imposed in such a manner as to
protect capital in Its formation of trusts
and syndicates to tax the people in high
prices for their necessaries ot life. Mill
ions for revenue but not one cent for tri-
butte to monopoly, is the motto OF the
tariff re:ormers.
What boots it to the laborer or the
artisan that he sets little higher wages
by working from six to ten hours longer
per week than the English laborpr or
artisan if he must paw out for his neces-
saries OF life in tariff-enh8nced prices
more than he gets by his longer hours OF
labor and consequent higher wages
Nothing On the contrary his lack of
needed rest and recreation. the strain
upon his mind and body, the wear of
muscle and brain, necessitated by his
COMPRISING year and two months of
the Englishman's labor into twelve
months or steady, unremiting toll,
shorten his life and make his declining
years season of suffering and misery.
He sacrifices rest. health and life TO the
Aoloch OF the high tariff which de-
mands constant tribute from him for the
benefit Of protected capital. This is the
workingman's share in the infamous
system which robs the American people
each successive year OF a Thousand mills
ions OF d)llars and pours it into the
Golfers OF privileged class. Hewers OF
wood and drawers of water to tariff
protected trusts and combines are the
workingmen of America. Slaves to the
wretched delusioD that tax which they
pay in tariff-enhsnced prices of every
thing they consume is protective OF
their wages, are the toilers OF every
guild who refuse to shake off the tariff
burden that is crushing them into the
earth.-Hdrrisbttr Pat riot