Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-29
AN EXPLANATION
OF THE TARIFF SYSTEM WHICH MAKES
THINGS PLAIN.
A Dialogue Which Clears Up Several Points IN a
Popular Way-Adysuee IN WoOlen Goods
JOINT Debate To-Day.

The REGISTER has received a number
of vueries from correspondents, asking
about features Of our tariff laws and the
application and meaning Of such terms
as specific. cod uolorGn," etc. These
questions are so cleyerly answered in
the following dialogue, between 20" a
foreign born operator, and "A, native
American, that it is reprinted for the
benefit Of correspondents and the gen
eral public:
Q.-What does al rdlorem mean in
the tariff?
AID rulorcm means the price or
value of the article taxed al the foreign
port from whence it is exported.
Q.-The price is taxed, is it?
A-The tax is put upon the price,
iu this way: Suppose your suit Of fan
mel Undertaking cost - in Liverpool.
Congress taxes the flannel 4i cents 4
pound, and I'm addition 10 this tax IL adds
80 per cent. al rGl0rcm. Hence, if your
naunelS weigh two pounds, the tariff
tax would be $ cents on the weight Of
your flannels, and 81 on their value at
Liverpool making tax OF Sl.sS ON your
= flannel suit.
Q-What is a specific duty?
A.-The Al cents pound is a specific
duty. IL is a tax upon a article with
out regard TO its cost, laid upon the yard
or pound. Sometimes both kinds OF
taxes are laid upon one article, as in the
case of your ilannels, on which the
specific tax is ~ cents on each pound,
and 50 per cent. dd rdlorem-or 80 cents
on each dollar Of 10 cost
Q.-ThiS is what the oyersecrS were
talking about this noon?
A.-NeS. The new tariff hurts our
factory. ! should think. As the super
intendent said this noon, coarse woods
that DO not compete with American
wool are taxed 30 per cent. at rdlOrch
II the wool does not cost over l3 cents a
pound; but if il cost over ID cents a
pound. then the tax is 80 per cent Od
rdl0rCu. On some classes the duty j.
doubled 10 the wool is washed and II
secured" three times the duty OF un-
washed. The tax on the finest
second class II cents; on the third,
or corSets. l3 ceutS-the highest duty
being ON the wool that does not compete
with our home wool. Wooden yarns,
worth not over 80 cents pound, are
taxed 27is cents a pound, and in addi-
ton 80 per cent. al rdlCrcm. Here
again YOU see is the double taX-Speciiic
and dd rdlorcm; and this duty is in
creased If the value of the wool is above
30 cents pound.
Q.-What's the use in putting on all
these taxes
A.-There is no benefit to us, nor to
the country. We must help pay the
taxes.
Q.-Then why do they make such
laws?
A.-Why. l suppose the men in power
40 Washington want TO get large
amounts of money into the Treasury.
Then they can make new offices for
their friends, pay high salaries, employ
hundreds of clerks whose services are
not needed, and appropriate ever so
much money for jobs of one kind or an
other. They love 10 handle and appro-
pirate money, i'm some cases TO reward
their friends.
Q-But doesn't the government want
20 for It's expenses?
A. Not an of it, The Government
expenses. IL fairly and honestly man
aged. would not amount TO as much as
an these tariff taxes will bring by a
hundred million Of dollars year. But
unnecessary expenses are made. and APP
propriations are rushed through Con-
gress without regard TO economy.
@. And the people have TO pay all
this3
A. They do, certainly. You and
will have 10 pay some of the taxes on
our clothes, and the clothes of our wives
and children. and i'm other ways. 1t
will cost our mill probably more than
5000, 600 in its tax payments in one year.
and this tends To keep down our wages,
which were reduced this very year.
q. Then If we suffer some. our stock
holders will suffer too. won't they?
A. Undoubtedly. They may raise the
price Of their goods. but do not be-
licve they will get back as much as they
will Dee forced To pay in taxes.
q. We can't do anything about this?
We must bear ii, | suppose?
A. We can vote against the policy
that uuiuStly taxes Us. II the people
will only vote against this, they will
get relief. for the peoples voice at the
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