The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-15
FAyoRING AMERICAN INTERESTS.

The elaborate report made by an agent
of the New York Associated Press upon
the workings Of the MCKINLEY tariff act
in Great Britain, is an instructive docu-
ment. 1t shows that that act has had the
result expected and desired, to- wit: of
Keeping out Of our markets very large
percentage of foreign articles such as are
manufactured here. Other sources OF in
formation give the Same result Thus,
comparing the imports Of August of this
year with those of the same month in 1890,
there was falling off of $1,000, 900. Some
branches of British industries, though
showing a decrease of trade with the
United States, have held their own in gen
eral by finding a market elsewhere So,
whilst our commerce with Great Britain
has been curtailed considerably, the
loss to that country has been made up in
the increase of volume of its trade in other
directions. Some of the textile trades, es-.
pecially linen and laces, have been very
much injured, thousands Of persons in Ire
land having been thrown ont of employ
ment without anybody anywhere being
benefited particle; for though hemp and
of more than S4,0O0000 in importations in
the fiscal year, there has been no considera-
bic increase in domestic productions, nor of
the materials they are made OF.
All the facts connected with our foreign
commerce show that the Mckinney law
imposes tax on home consumption, and
that its almost exclusive effect ia protec-
ton and neutrality-suspicious. OF all
trade rivalry with the protected interests.
The fact we have mentioned ABOVE the
falling off Of $i0OOO,000 year in our i'm
ports, is quoted from newspaper. the St.
Louis Globe-DemDcrdt, which refers 10 it
gloatingly as operating in favor of Amer
lean interests" The interests meant are
of course, those of the favored manafac
turers. To the people at large 1t means q
decrease OF revenue, but not reduction of
taxes to the people. The revenues lost TO
tho government are a gilt to the manu-
! facturers. and burden to the consumers
ut the same time. BY the MCkGNLEY tariff
the duty on the coarse grades of raw sugar
is abolished and the government income
cut down about $50, 900, coo, but the duties
on great many necessaries of life are
augmented so as to make them cost
90 or 60 per cent, more than their
value, and this not only overcomes the
abated tax on sugar, but leaves an excess
of many millions Of dollars against the
people. 1t was shown in debate whilst it
was pending that that the act transfers
moro articles from the free list to the
dutiable list as it was previously, than
I 4, ri. i,1, 49, 81
average duty on iron manufactures, hard
ware, tools, tin plate. wooden goods, glass-
ware, earthenware, cotton and linen goods
etc, would be increased nearly 10 per cent.
In other words, the act gave the people
free brown sugar, and then charged them
about Si5,000,0 600 year for IL, handing the
money over to the northeastern mauufac-
turers. The Democracy hold that the gov
eminent ought not to take the money from
the people except for strict and economi
cal government purposes; but the Repub-
licans contend that it may compel the people
to pay taxes for the support OF the govern
ment extravagantly conducted, aud also for
the enrichment of the protected manufac-
turers. The Republican policy is to swell
the liabilities Of the treasury bv all manner
of enormous xpenditures-large pensions.
subsidies, coast defenses, great navy, pa
latial public buildings etc, lest the surplus
should suggest the reduction of the tariff to
pure revenue basis, and consequently
leave the favored industries to survive or
perish on their merits. The Democracy
hold that taxation, whether in the form of
direct assessment or protected tariff, never
made country rich and never will. If the
duties under the MCKINLEY act are going
to swell the wealth of the land, why not
make them higher stilll
The question how much the policy of
protection yields to its benefciaries in dol
lars and cents is an interesting one, and
one that the favored classes invariably
vince under. Nevertheless it is legiti-
mate and reasonable question, strictly per-
| tinent to the tariff controversy, and the
people have right to fair answer. The
whole product of our protected industries
in 1890 is estimated at 50, 5000, 000 De-
Quoting the cost Of materials and wages.
and the remainder is $500, 600 as gross
profits, from which subtract 10 per cent.
as the fair earnings of the capital invested,
and there is left the enormous balance of