The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1890-06-27
THEY SAY TT is a TAX.

0oo0S-
rs the tariff tax?"
That is the question that the people
have been asking long time. The Pro
Economists have stoutly maintained that
she tariff is not tax.
But some of the leaders have recently
made admissions which explode the
foolish theory that the tariff is not
tax The first of these is the great
maker of tariffs himself, Mr.. Mckinley.
In his open ng speech, in calling up his
Tariff bill, he knocked very large hole
in the Republican creed that the tariff
IS not tax.
he was talking about the duty on tin
plate, and he made the astonishing
though perfectly truthful statement
that for twenty-four years the price of
tin-plaie was fixed by the foreign pro-
Queer with the duty added. and every
dollar of that duty has been paid by the
consumer
OF course. The duty is part of the
cost just as much as the freight is; and
The importer who buys the tin simply
adds on the duty as a part of the cost
The tin is sold with this added cost to
the manufacturer of cans He makes it
into cans which in turn are sold to the
packer OF fruits, vegetables or meats
The packer paid the duty to the can
manufacturer, but must now get it back;
and SO the cans are finally sold to the
consumer with the duty added all along
the line till it reaches him. And as he
is the last buyer, he is the man who
pays the duty.
This is perfectly plain case. Nc
Kinley sees it himself and is honest
enough to acknowledge it.
And now another high priest of pro-
lection has been brought to ''toe the
mark" 1t is Senotor Aldrich. of Rhode
Island, who was the tariff-maker to the
Senate two years ago, and who was the
chief author of the Senate bill of 1883.
So we have, then, the chief authorities
of the countryside tariff-mal1er of the
House and the tariff-maker of the Sem
ate-both uniting to destroy the founda-
ton in which protection has built its
creed
The admission of Senator Aldrich
came about in this way: Senator Vest,
of Missouri, recently called attention
in the Senate to remark which he re-
membcred that Mr.. Aldrich had made
in the debate two years ago. The de-
bate at that time was on the subject of
the tin-plate duty, just as in the case of
Mr.. Mckinley, just now noted. Mr..
Vest claimed that MIR. Aldrich had said
In the tariff debate two years ago that
''the tariff tax increased the cost to the
consumer that much or nearly that
much.''
This was denied by Mr.. Aldrich, and
the Senator from Missouri then put the
question in another form. 81 will ask
him. said Mr.. Vest, ''if he did not state
then that the effect of tariff tax was
to increase the price of goods to the
consumer
To which the Rhode Island Senator
answered ''unquestionably; and the
colloquy then ran on in the following
interesting manner:
Mr. Aldrich-I stated that this was
true under the circumstances of the
case which we had then under discus
sion, that is, in the case the duty upon
tin-plate, but not generally.
Mr.. Vest-But the Senator made the
general statement. 1 will find the
Record. If do not find it, will stand
convicted of having made false state
ment here, Intentionally or uninten-
tionally.
Mr.. Dawes-Does the Senator mean tc
say that the Senator from Rhode Island
said that generally it did?
Mr.. Vest-Whether the word ''gener
| ally was used or not, say the effect
of the Senator's statement was that a:
| between the two administrative theories
the one advocated by Senators on the
other side, that the tariff tax does no
increase the cost of the imported o.
! manufactured article to the consumer
and the other theory that it does, the
Senator from Rhode Island admitted
! that it did, and admitted it against thu
| protest of his colleagues. l recol1ec
the scene distinctly when they gathered
around him and said: Don't say that
Aldrich; don't say that; itgives away the
case" He said: 81 do say it." 1 have
great respect for the Senator, because be
stood here
Mr.. Aldrich-The statement which
made, as 1 remember, which gave 81
much satisfaction to the Senator from
Missouri
Mr.. Vest-Yes, it did I repeated i
the next day.
Mr.. Aldrich-The statement was, tina
the average effect of a protective dut!
was to increase the price of the articles
imported, and 1 say so now, if it affords
my friend from Missouri any gratifica
ton.
Mr.. Vest-Exactly. That is all I ask
That is the whole of it.
Mr.. Aldrich-Otherwise there would
be no force and effect to a protective
! tariff.
Mr.. Vest-Exactly: and that is jus
what the Senator said.
| l thank thee, jew, for teaching me tina
word.
Who shall decide when doctors dis
agree?
When, however, the tariff doctors d.
not disagree, but unite in saying tina
the tariff increases the cost of goods Il
the consumer. Why should not the con
sumner himself see that it gives ava.
the case?''
And after the two great tariff maker
of the high protect on party have thu
given the case away by admitting tina
the tariff increases the cost of goods
will not the lesser lights of that part,
leave off the attempt to bamboozle tn
people with the cry that the tariff is no
tax?
There is an old saying that whei
rogues fall out honest men come of thei
own. May we not invert this and say
When tariff makers are agreed the con
ssMcKinIey Prices For Linen.
The new Tariff bill raises the duty o.
! rToct of tho Imam Goods from