Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-08
THE TARIFF.
a very comprehensive and exhaus-
tive analysis Of that intricate subject.
contributed by Wheeling citizen, fully


1. THE TARIFF.
In presidential election year there
IS much argument and little reflection.
Every one asserts his opinions; no one
pauSeS TO revise or correct them. In a
year when no election occurs, interest
IN political questions languiSheS. TIC
the heat of conflict succeeds the conse-
quent laSSitudc. But upon the eve OF
the bye-elections Of the present year,
there should be sufficient interest and
not too much excitement TO invite a
calm presentation of my doubts and diff
hculties rather than my views upon the
tariff.
More clearly than at any former time
during the present generation, the par
ties are dividing upon the tariff. Every
voter, in order that he may vote intelli-
gently, must make up his mind upon
which side of this issue he will range
himself. But how will he reach a con-
cluSlon? | am myself q plain man.
with none of the intuition of genius, by
the aid of which | might leap, without
assistance from fact or logic, TO an in
ialliblc Judgment. What | acquire
comes laboriorSly, through much
thought and study. But I am Il busy
man, unable to devote years TO the
study Of the tariff and political ecOno-
my, and am told by those who should
know that years of study are necessary
The discussions of the question by
| those who know, and by those who pro-
feSS 90 know, lead me only into distress
ing doubts and uncertainties. One gen
tleman goes 10 Europe, visits the coun-
tries where free trade RACES in all its
enOrmity, and returns TO dcduce from
what he has seen the most conclusive
arguments in favor of protection. An
other gentlemen, with differently adj
iuSted glasses, visits the same coun-
tries, sees nothing of what the first saw,
but great many other things from
which he draws equally conclusive ar
gumentS in favor of free trade. can
not 90 TO Europe, but must stay a. home
and work.
In the August and September num-
berS OF the Popular Science Monthly for
the current year appeared an article
from Edward Atkinson called Com
mon Sense and the Tariff Question.
All, thought |. when | read this Seduc-
tive title, here NJ last will be something
which a man of ordinary capacity and
moderate information can understand.
But Mr. Atkinson is disappoIntingly
learned. and bases his arguments upon
assertions which may be accurate, but
whose accuracy | cannot test.
If seek 20 reason upon the subject
from the basis of established principles.
am called a dOctrindirc, and am claSSed
with college professors and essay
writer's, persons whom politicians and
newspaper editors hold in profound con-
tempt. But with neither the leisure
nor the opportunity to investigate the
mass of facts which bear upon every
modification of the existing tariff, |
must run the risk of being called by op-
probriouS names aud must arrive at my
conclusions with the assistance of q
moderate knowledge Of general history
and by the application TO the subject OF
fundamental principles Of law and JUS
tice. - here goes.
II THE QUESTION.
What / wish % determine is whether
every vote should be cast in favor of a
tariff imposed for the purpose of pro-
lection. or in favor of a tariff imposed
for the sole purpose Of raising the neceS-
,arv revenue There are certain par
sons who favor what they call tariff
for revenue with incidental protection.
These are they of no principle, like the
moderate men of moderate measures
whom Canning ridiculed in his day.
They do not like the principle OF pro-
lection. which is Ineligible. They are
afraid of free trade, which Is also In
tcligible. They adopt a formula which
is unintelligible. Ii the tariff is adj
wsted for the purpose of protection,
there will be protection. but it will not
be incidental The revenue from 10, II
there should be any. will be incidental.
/ III the tariff is adjusted for the purpose
of raising a revenue, there will be no
protection from IL. When revenue IS
/ the object, the tax must be 50 adjusted
as 90 produce the revenue. In order
that 10 shall produce the revenue, the
articles 90 be taxed must come into the
country. Otherwise they cannot be
taxed. If the tax be fixed so that they
cannot compete with like articles pro
duccd 40 home, they will not come, and
there will be no revenue. II il be fixed
So that they can compete with the home
product, they will come. and there will
/ be- revenue. but there will be no prOtec-
/ tiOn. The more revenue, the less pro-
/ lection; the more protection, the less
revenue.
But cannot the tax be made low
l. fts1.. 70
aud So produce a revenue. and yet high
enough 10 afford protection to the home
product? Can we not at the same time
have protective tariff from which also
we will derive a revenue? We can. for
we do. However high be- the tariff. the
fluctuations of the markets will at times
bring 20 naught the most carefully de-
Vised schemes. There will bee times
when it will pay to bring into the coun-
try the most heavily taxed article, and
when 10 comes we derive revenue from
/ it. But this is protection with inciden-
tai. or rather accidental. revenue. Then,
TOO. there are some articles of which we
consume more than we can produce.
/ These we must have, whatever the price
and the protective tariff on them brings
/ I'm a revenue Certainly. the tariff ON
such articles is added to the price, how
ever il may be- with others. Except for
such accidents of trade, a protective
tariff cannot produce a revenue. For
example: Suppose 10 costs eighteen dol
I lars here to make a ton OF iron. sup
poSe.it costs fifteen dollars in England
/ 10 do the same. suppose the freight to
be one dollar and the tariff two dollars.
| I'm such ease. the EngliShman will bring
| his iron here, for he will be satisfied
with the same profit which our
producer receives. But where
| is the protection? The English iron
and our own will 90 upon the market
side bv side and with equal chances.
There will be revenue, but no protec-
ton. Now raise the tariff to three dol
/ lars. and the EngliShman will keep his
I iron. for he cannot compete with the
home product. But where is the
revenue? There will be protection,
hut mo- revenue. If the purpose Is TO
raise a revenue. the tariff should be hNed
so as TO invite the largest importation
of the articles 10 be taxed. This would
mix with the protective principle as OIL
with water.
III. WAGES.
Is the question of wages involved
One of my friends who has the au-
vantage of European travel tells me that
wages over there are very low, An
other, with like advantages, tells me
that wages there are high; II regard DC