Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-29
SUNDAY, DECEMBER :
TARIFF REVISION.

Roanoke, in regard to the coal and iron
interests Of Southwest Virginia, and
the duty OF congress to deal fairl,
with ali sections and interests in the
revision of the schedule OF the duties on
imports.
The subject is q very important one
--tc Southwest Virginia as its coal and
iron interests, as is well known, are
exceedingly large, and the ways and
means committee of the lower house
of congress has been engaged in the
last few days in hearing arguments in
regard to the coal and iron ore
schedules.
The TIMEs is not a protectienist per
Sc. 1t believes that the tariff contains
many inequalities, and that it should
be revised so as to remove such in
equities as far as is possible.
1t believes that the duty on imports
as levied By tbs national government,
has been in Tie interest Of the North as
against the South. 1t believes that it
has taken thousands Of dollars out OF
the pockets Of the agricultural class
AID added it to TIE plethoric purses OF
the manufacturers Of the Middle and
! New EnslI<s,es. 1t believes that
a .;has enriched one section and helped
- are MEASURE to keep poor an
other. II believes also that the brain
y Of man neither possesses power nor can
n possibly devise a schedule Of rates that
IS kill give exact justice aud equal aid to
iutorssts.
be system Of raising the revenue by
Eaty on foreign imports, however.
has been in practice in the United
States since the existence OF the coun-
try. The tax is paid by the consumer
without being Immediately felt as u
the case OF direct taxation, and the
country is not ready for a change and
is MOI likely to be, in the generation OF
any one now living.
The tariff should be revised aud
rates should be differently adjusted, but
al reyisions and adjustments should
be made carefully and slowly, so as not
to iniure in any way the vast amount
of capital invested in mining and man
ufacturing.
New England and Pennsylvania
wsats free iron ore and free coal, and
through her leading men has just
asked congress fer this. New Eng
land wants high protsctlon for all her
various manufactured articles, and yet
desires to be allowed to purchase what
she needs where it can be bought the
cheapest.
New England has been built up by
the tariff, aud the people of other sec
tons have been compelled to buy there.
To give New England what she asks
10 remove the duty from iron orc and
coal, would be manifestly unfair.
The South, made to suffer so long
and bear the greater burden of the
support of She country, simply asks
Justice now. It's coal and mineral
wealth hidden from View and ur'
touched for years, Is in the first
stages OF its development. Millions O.
money have been invested in it in re
cSpt years, and tits giving employment
to thousands of people. To remove
the duty from these products at one
fell blow, and at the same time KEEP
up the duties on New England's
product, would be au injustice that nc
fAir. minded men would desire TO per.
petrate. Coal and iron ore should moi
be placed on the free list any more
than salt or tin-plate, or hats or WOODEN
goods, CT the thousand and one other
things upon which duties are levied
Treated unfairly in the past, the South
should be treated so no longer.
THE election on the 9th of January
next to decide whether we will vote
100000 additional in aid of the con-
.struction of the Roanoke and Southern
railroad, is merely matter of form SO
far as voting the subscription is con-
cerned. The question is vital one to
this city, and the measure is as certain
of success as the rising or the setting
Of the sun.