West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-10-23

rom abroad until they could secure hold on the
nome market and thus become selfsustaininz
and It was again and again predicted by the earlier
advocates Of the system that a few years Of puDlic
support would enable them to do this But the
present Dill IS based upon precisely the opposite
view Az Is framed upon the assumption that
our industries grow older and weaker and more
dependent upon the bounty OF the Government
ana the forced contributions Of the people who
purchase and consume their products: and &C
cordingiy we find that as a general rule. the inn
portant increases IN the rates Of duty are made
win view OF still further protecting the pro-
DUCTS OF our Oldest industries, such as nanufac-
lures Of iron aud steel, wooien goods. uanufac-
lures OF fax, hemp. ETC.
II IT be true that these old industries need more
protection now then they needed a hundred years
ago. IL must be because they have been existing
un oei an unnatural and unheaithful system ard
nave lost that spirit Of sef Glance aud independ
enee which is essential to the permanent growth
and prosperity Of every business e,,terpri.e.
lhirty Years ago. after a considerable perioi Of
20" taxes upon imported goods, wheu il was pro
pOsso 70 increase rates ia ofde to secure revenue
Il was not suggested by the most extresi. advo-
cafes Oh the protective system that our Industries
required anything like such high rates Of ,iuf, a.
imposed by this bill. It devolyes upon those ad.
voea'es now to expIsin. If they can why II y that
amer low tariff policy has been abandoned for
mo1e than quarter of century and high tariff
pohey substituted in its place, the manufacturing
"a" neehanical Industries Of the country arc les
aDie 70 maintain themselves than thew were y,,,eu
'ne change was made; aud when this is done IL
will still remain for them Z, show u,o, MA,
principle Of justice or sound pubic policy con-
sninsI an be periodically subjected 20 additional
'aA~uon--not for the benefit OF the Government.
"hieh does not want the reveuue-but for the ex.
elusive benefit of private business enterprises
which are not able to sustain themselves.
Ihs ori2inaiclsim that protection was TO be tenn
porafy expedient, and that aftera reaso nabe time
the masses Of the people would be compensated
ior their previous ou,ly by obtaining goods made
u nome more cheaply than they could be OBJ
.aiheo abroad has been entirely abandoned, and
II is now avowed that taxation of the MANY for
the benefit of the few is to be the settiea policy of
the Government and that this unjust system IL
10 be made more onerous aud restrictive from
time 10 time as new objects for its application
may be discovered shd as the demands of old in
ous'rles may increase. Hereafter taxes are to be
imposed for the primary purpose Of protecting
certain private Interests against compettion with
incidental revenue" for the Government and
our people arc to be deprived of the privilege OF
purchasing, without paying tribute to somebody
any article which any Que or more persons in the
united States. however incapable or wasteiul,
might possibly succeed in producing with the aid
oi sunheient tax on their neighoors to establish
and maintain them in the business
For instance, there are few persons In this
country who believe that they could manufacture
TN or terne plate IL those who use that necessary
autele were compelled by law TO pay higher tax
upon IL and accordingly the bill now seported
proposes more than to double the duties This
VIII injuriously affect the interests of thousands
OF laborers now engaged ia the manufacture of
TIN cans and other vessels used in canning fruit
vegetables, meats aud fish, in nearly every part
OF the country, and it will constitute direct
charge upon the producers aud consumers Of
these various kinds of food but the theory upou
which this bill Is based takes no account of the
welfare Of this great of American citizens so
long as two or three firms or corporations insi, I
that the tax will be beneficial to them
Again, there are few persons in the United
states who claim that II they had what they call
proper encouragement they could produce raw
SIX here, and accordingly this bill proposes to
compel all the people T. pay out of the public
treasury bounty Of 81 pound. or S. 24o per ton,
on all the raw silk reeied from cocoons. and ,
eentson every pound, or sIsS SO per ton, of fresh
eocoous, including the worms, produced in n =
United states. Raw silk aud cocoons are nov, ON
the free list. aud last year imported s $40 e<s
pounds OF silk and IoI 647 pounds OF cocoons. III e
object Of the proposed bounty is to discou, are
these inporiations, which cost the people nothing
unless they saw proper 10 use silk goods. and 10
encourage the production of those articles here at
an expense Of 81 pound for the silk aud cents
pound for the cocoons, ia addition to the actual
value OF TIE articles themselves; and this expense
is to be charged to all the people whether they
use silk goods or not onA be paid out of the pub
lie Treasury.
At the same time the bill proposes to make
enormous increases IN the rates on wooiieu goods
which ell our people are compelled to purchase
and use. and very large increases in the rates o,
some kinds Of cotton ard linen goods which are
absolutely necessary for the health and comfort
OF all classes. The increase Of taxes on wool and
wooien and worsteds goods, Including CARPETS
amounts 10 about IS. 500 GOO per annum estimated
upon the importations os the last fiscal year but
in fact Il will be many times that amount i,., rca
son OF the enhanced prizes which consumers win
be compelled TO pay for The domestic products
While the bill proposes % make this large add;.
ton 10 the tax woolien clothing aud carpets 4,
also proposes 70 abolish the internal revenue
taxes to tse omonDt Of s8s5o. OF IS on rnauufse.
tured chewing aud srioking tobacco aud snna
tariicies which certainly cannot be ciassed among
the nccessarics Of life.
While would be willing to repeal the inter.
reductions upon other articles which the r,eopic
are Obliged to uss, was proposed In The hin
which passed the last Honse, we caunot agree 20
measure which provides for the abolition Of anv
part OF such taxes and 1T the same time increase
The rates OF duty Of cotton, wooilen and1ipen
clothing, and on earfhesware, glassware IA bile
cutlery, and masy forms Of iron aud stee; svhie
canrot DC disPcnsed with Besides. about tbe
oniy subatartai rcaso5 that can be ttrved for the
fcpssl 81 the inx on tobJcco Is the fact that The
governmental supervision and control necessary
70 enforce SIS collection Is a constant soufce Of
vrsation and annoyance to those engaged ia man
afacturiug that articic A mere reduction Of the
tax from cents 20 cents per pound does not die
pcnst with this supervision mud control TO ,,,,
extent whatever. nor does Il diminish 10 any -
tent the expense Of collection The same s,s,.+
vision the same books and forms the same bonds
oaths ard penalties. and the same number of on
ciais will be required to collect cents per tours
hat are required 10 collect cents per pound
we cannot undertake here 70 pointont In detail
the numerous increases in the rates OF duty on
imported goods which this bin proposes 70 make
but few will suffice 70 show the general cfarae
ter Of The measure and the , pose Of its authors