The National tribune., 1891-02-26
TAXES AND PENSIONS.


After quoting our article last week on the
non-relation of internal revenue taxation TO
pensions, the Admission (Ala.) Hot Blast pro-
ceeds TO say:
The Hot Blast has never complained Of the inter
nal revenue tax. Indeed. Il believes that beer,
whisky, tobacco and other things cassed AS luXu-
res ought 10 be made 10 contribute to the neces-
sary revenues OF the Government, rather than
articles of prime necessity and Of everyday use
and consumption.
But under the Mckinley tariff such IL not the
case. Clothing, shoes blankets and the thousand
OF other necessary articles which every family
must have. are taxed from 80 10 $50 per cent let
anyone make little calculation 10 see how long
Il VIII take him under the Mckinley tariff 10 con-
tribute la extra prices much As n pensioner
gets in year.
Estimating the average tariff on tho goods he
would buy al 50 per cent which Is n reasonable
estimate. and that he woud buy $500 worth Ia a
year which is not unreasonable, his extra taxation
on account of the tariff IN year is more than an
Ss-a-month pensioner gets In year.
This calculation will show him how his party
organs have tried 10 hoodwink him 10y such figures
as the above clipping contains He will see that
he Is in year taxed amount sufficient 10 pay
what pensioner receives instead Of having that
would have him believe. And, besides, he i taxed
on articles the Of which he cannot discontinue
and from which he cannot swear of"
The Hot Blast Is tricky and evasiye. II
would convey the idea-in fact it distinctly
asserts it-that the duty on imports was
imposed in order TO pay pensions, and that
consequently, people are taxed under the
Mckinley bill TO provide the funds 10 be
disbursed through the Pension Bureau.
Nothing can be farther from the truth. Every
item on the dutiable list was put there and
increased or decreased with strict reference
to its special effect upon some particular
agricultural, mining, manufacturing, or
business interest The payment of pensions
played no part whatever in the considera-
ton Of the bill. Everybody knows this
perfectly well. When the duty was raised it
was because that particular interest was not
receiving the protection il should, and was
suffering in competition with the pauper
labor Of other parts Of the world. The
object in raising the duty was TO give il
such assistance as would tend 10 build il up,
keep the money for its products at home,
give more employment to our own people,
and sure and better market for our farm
products. Where the duty was lowered ii
was because the particular article did not
need the protection, or because injurious
combinations had been formed, or that the
lowering Of the duty would benefit some
still more important industry or interest.
These were the sole considerations.
The Hot Blasts figures as TO the taxa
ton " each man pays on account of the in
creased duties are grossly exaggerated. One
brief calculation will show this IL esti-
mates that each head of family pays at
least 800 year additional taxation. As the
census shows that there are about 10000 900
wage-earners in the country, this would
make a total Of $4,000, 100000 a year, or
more than fire times The total collections tsr ough
Tie custom houses, sChieh is ridiculous at sight
As matter Of fact, the ordinary citizen
pays but very little Of the customs duties,
and under the oBerations of the Mckinley
bill will pay much less, owing TO the reduc-
ton Of the duties on sugar, which formed
nearly one-fOurth of the entire customs col
leciions The men who smoke Cuban cigars
drink fine French and German wines, clothe
their wives in Partisan costumes, and make
their lives soft with Injuries, are the ones
who pay the bulk Of the taxes" As these
nabObs are the ones who evade their share
Of the burdens Of State and municipal taxa
ton, IL is no great hardship for them TO pay
pretty lively for their luKuries