The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1888-09-14
Che 9enI0trat.
THE rARMER's:rNrEHEsrs,

The Labor Sigsai, newspaper devoted
10 the interests of organized labor, and pub.
lished at the home OF Harrison has this 10 |
say about how farmers arc affected by the
tariff
"Suppose he builds house lie must |
pay tariff Of 40 per cent on the bricks for
foundation and chimneys So per 1900
feet on every board and stick OF timber |
that goes into It IS cents per 1000 on the |
shingles to cover II; ~ cents per pound |
on the nails 6S cents per box of fifty feet
on common window glass 20 per cent on
his putty as per cent on his locks, screens
and hinges IS cents per gallon on his lin-
seed oil and 3 cents per pound on his white
lead on lime 10 per cent,and on sash cord
35 per cent. Ifthere is any material that
enters into the composition of that house
which has escaped taxation It was certainly
an nnintentional omission, unless Il may be
the sand used in making the mortar, and
doubtless the Senate will remedy this In It's
proposed substitute for the Mills bill.
"Having his house built, the next thing
is to furnish IT, This he does by laying
down carpet-hemp at s cents per square
yard, Ihree-ply at IS per centor Administer
at 50 per cent T; his stoves come burjened
with a tax of ~ cents, and the pots and
skillets cents per pound his tables, stands,
chairs, bedsteads, bureaus, lounges, etc,
come in at a uniform tax of IS per centHe
gets his dishes, including china and porce-
lain ware, at 50 per cent his glassware at
40 per cent his spoons, knives and forks,
clock, shears, scissors, britannia ware,
brooms, shotgun, steel, gun wads, all go in
at uniform tax of IS per cent /; his earthen
and stone ware cost him IS per cent sauce
pans cents per pound, and shot az cents
per pound. For his shovel and tongs, meal
selves, lamp, lamp chimheys and shades,
mouse traps and lanterns, he pays IS per
cent His blankets,ticking and table cloths
are assessed at 40 per cent but he must
pay so per cent on his razor and queens
ware. Baskets, blacking and brushes he
can get at a uniform tax of 30 per cent !;
blueing at 40 per cent common soap at 20
PEE cent, and toilet soap at Is cents per
pound looking glasses from cents TO IS
cents per square foot.
"If there Is anything omitted in the furn-
i.ure of house in the above list Il Is the
fault of the writer and not of the law.
Suppose the farmer has built his house
and furnished It, and undertakes to supply
his farm with the Implements tools and ap-
pliances necessary to operate Il economi
cIlly. He can buy at uniform tax of IS
per cent all his spades, s,shovels,sq squares, steel
yards, planes, scythes, augers, axes, avis,
brace, rules, bells, corn-knives, hammers,
hatchets, hay-knives, hoes, pitchforks, ,plows
and drawing knives. His iron wedges and
carriage bolts pay a tariff of az cents per
pound, his horseshoes cents per pound, his
rope 81 cents, and his wrought and horse
shoe nails cents per pound. On his cross
cut saws he pays 10 cents per foot, and his
hand and buck saws and grain bags 30 per
cent the bits for his brace pay tariff of
50 per cent his salt II cents per 100
pounds his names, trace, dog and halter
chains,and saddles and harness IS per cent
And so on, ad iuinitum, from the smallest
item to the largest machinery-tax, ,tax5ax
Nothing that a farmer raises,or possibly can
raise, escapes.
"Having built his house and furnished II
and supplied his farm with tools and appIi-
anccs, he undertakes TO clothe himself and
family. At this point we are so lost amid
The intricacies of this studied effort TO tax
at from one-fourth to one-haIf its value
everything indispensable to house or farm,
that we find ourselves unable to rise to its
sublime heights or descend to its never
ending depths. Suffice it to say that there |
is nothing worn from the top of the head |
to the sole of the foot of man, woman or
child that has not been forced TO contribute |
to the payment of pensions and the nation
al debt, and add its per cent to the enrich |
ment of the railroad, trust and syndicate /
magnates of the country. Not only does |
this devil-fish inclose in its grasp everything /
that man, woman or child can wear for
comfort Or convenience, but ii also includes
in its folds all material out of which the
simplest or more costly and complicated
article of use or ornament can be made"