Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-24
The Tariff IL a Tax.

Inc Tartu IL TAX.
Springfield Register.
The republicans during the last cam
psign proclaimed from every stump and
through their newspapers that the tariff
was lot tax that the consumers had TO
pay, but that the foreign manufacturers
paid the duty for the privilege of selling
their goods in this market. Even Mr.
Harrison in his letter of acceptance as
serted in effect that it was giving away
the very principle of protection to admit
that the tariff is tax. The tribute
takers also insisted that the effect of the
tariff, willie not increasing the cost of the
foreign article, was by increasing home
competition 10 reduce tine cost of pro-
tected productions
These were the character of the claims
and the basis of the arguments of the re
publican Statesman" during the recent
campaign; but now that they have to full
f1ll their promises to the tribute takers
out of whom the "fat was fried" to fur
nish the Quays and Dudleys the where
withsl to control the blocks Of five" in
Indiana, and the Brooklyn kickers in New
York, the republican senators are forced
10 sing different tune. In their efforts
to bring forth tariff bill that they can
at least secure passage through the senate,
II has been time and again developed
that the tribute-takers believe themselves
that the tariff is tax that the consumers
pay. The following extract from the
senate bill is one of the admissions fatal
to the prediction claims above referred
to:
Sec. 1910. All lum ber, timber hemp,
MANILA, wire rope, and iron and steel
rods, bars, spikes, nails, plates. angles,
bars, anf bolts, and copper and compo-
sitlon metal which may be necessary for
the construction and equipment of yes
sells built in the United States for foreign
account and ownership, or for the pur
pose of being employed in the foreign
trade, including the trade between the
Atlantic and Pacific ports of the United
States. after the passage OF this act, may
be imported in bond, under such regula-
tons as the secretary of the treasury may
prescribe; and upon proof that such ma
terials have heen used for such purpose,
no duties shall be paid thereon. But
vessels receiving the benefit of this Sec
ton shall not be allowed to engage in the
coastwise trade of the United States more
than two months in any one year, except
OF the duties on which rebate is herein
allowed; Provided, That vessels built in
the United States for foreign account and
ownership shall not be allowed to engage
IN the coastwise trade of the United
States
II the tariff is not tax, as the republic
can leaders claimed when they were try
ing to "bamboozle" the voters, how can
the allowance OF this rebate benefit the
American shIpbuider2 How are the pur-
chasers of ships TO be benef tied by these |
rebates if the effect of the tariff is to re-
duce the cost of the highly taxed articles |
Again: The proposed bounty of cent |
pound TO the manufacturers of dOmes> |
tic sugar, and the reasons assumed for it, |
form complete admissions by the tribute |
takers that their prediction theory, that |
the tariff is not d tax, is untrue. Senator |
Allison, in the debate on the sugar bouu-
", stated the proposed reduction of one
half on the duty would save S22. OO1 900 |
to the consumers of sugar In the country, |
even after the proposed bounty was
paid. II IS well 10 record the confession |
that the tariff is "a tax. and that the con,
sumers pay it.
In regard to the proposed bounty of 1 |
cent pound to the manufacturers of do. |
nestle sugar, no one will be foolish |
enough to deny that 1t would be a tax.
Every industry, every wage worker
would be taxed TO pay bounty Of 81
per 100 pounds to the sugar manufact-
urer.
And who would prof, by this2 Would
the cane growers, the sorghum and beet
raisers? The New York World, in regard
to this sugar bounty. well says The
bounty would simply be a bonus to
trusts. The present sugar trust fixes the
price OF raw material. The same or
new trust would monopolize the business
OF refining the products of the cane stalks
or beets and fix arbitrarily the price
which should be paid to the farmers. The
trust would add the bounty to Its own
protts-thus robbing the people with
two hands instead of one.
The tariff is tax paid by the con sum.
ers.
The monopoly-protecting senate is q
schoolmaster in the campaign of sduca-
ton.