Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-09-16
THE TARIFF TAX.
aow IT'S UBIQUITOUS OPERATIONS BENZ.
FIT A FEW AT THE EXPENSE OF
THE MANY.

Tux MANY.
According to tho census of 1890, the
United States has in round numbers 6S,-
900, 900 of population and 500, 900, 000,.
900 worth of property, yet less than
twenty five thousand individuals own
oue-half of this vast wealth. 1t has
our tariff systems within tho last thirty
years.
During this period, labor, the primary
origin of wealth, has produced this vast
accumulation, three.fourths of which
las been monopolizcd and concentrated
in the hands of one twenty fifth
hundredth part of our population.
II the question is asked how this has
been done, tho answer will be found in
our tariff taxation laws, of which tho
Mckinley act, passed by the Fifty-nrst
Congress, is pertinent example, since
it illustrates tho most perfectly organ.
lied system for the scientific plundcring
of the masses of the people that has been
devised since the establishment OF our
Government.
A tariff tax, briefly explained, is one
thst requires tho citizen to pay for tho
privilege of buying certain things he
may need outside of the Ucited States.
1t compels him to buy things at Ii ome at
higher prices, the difference or profit
going into the pockets of the homo
manufacturer.
Under Its operation, when the mer-
chant orders his goods from abroad, no
pays the tax or duty upon them as thoy
enter the United States through tho
Custom House, but tho consumer pays it
back to him us part of the price of the
goods. They may pass through dozen
hands from the importer to the com.
mission merchant, the jobber and the re.
taller, but they will carry sll tho while
the burden of this tax, and in the end
the consumer will foot the bill. Thus
the tariff becomes tax, whatever un.
scrupulous politicians may say to tho
contrary.
A duty levied upon articles not pro-
duced in this country, such rs tea, cof-
fee, spices and tho like, is simply a
dead letter, but that which is levied
upon articles manufactured here, and
which we can buy more cheaply abroad,
enables the home manufacturer to
charge for his products with the tariff
tax added. That is what is meant by
protection against foreign competition,
but the process compcls the farmer and
mechanics to go down in their pockets
and pay bonus for the privilege of
buying what they need.
In illustrating this point Congressman
Bushnell, of Wisconsin, recently pre-
sentcd familiar example. He said:
"Supposc Philadelphia man manu-
features all the hats nude in this coun-
try and makes hat at cost of labor
and material that enables him to sell it
for dollar and make fair profit. A
Frenchman in Paris makes precisely tho
same kind of n hat at the same cost and
sells it at the same price. II 1 buy u
hat from the Philadelphia nun he gets
the profit. If L order Il hat from the
Frenchman he gets the profit aud pay
the freight to bring it home. Tho
Philadelphia man has the advantage
over the Frenchman by reason of the
freight. But, understand me, the French.
man buys our shiploads of pork, of
which we have more than we can use or
sell ut home, and he trades us his hats
for our surplus pork at n better price
than we can get for it at home Natural
ly we buy good many hats from that
Frenchman.
"This, however, does not suit the Phil
adelphia man. Ho wants bigger profits
and the monopoly of all tho hats that
are sold in this country, as we'll as to
make us pay for the privilege of buying
that Frenchman's hat. How docs he
obtain it2 He says to Uncle Sam.
THAT Frenchman is trading here and
selling hats in my home market where
pay taxes and he does not; therefore he
is taking money out of the country, ana
want protection. Suppose you make
law that for every hat that Frenchman
sells into this country he shall pay you
one dollar; that will put money into
your Treasury and protect my home
market
Forthwith Il law is made TINT the
Frenchman's hats shall pay tariff duty
OF 81, when they are brought into tho
United States. Now what is the stua-
tion2 If / buy one of those hats must
pay 50 for it; 81 to the Fronchman in
Paris and ST to Uncle Sam at the Gus.
tom House. How about the Philadel.
phia man selling his hats now2 Will lie
continue tc sell his hats at 81 each? No.
much. He will charge 50 each, 81 OF
which is the increased profit We are
forced to pay him by reason of this
abominablc tariff tax. Thus, the tariff
is practically prohibitory."
Aside from this grant of special priv
ilege, or monopoly to the home man.
ufacturers, however, and its effect in
restraining foreign competition, the
Mckinley law imposes burden upon
our people, and takes from the consumer
the profits that make the homo manu-
facturers rich. This is the load which
the working people of this country are
now carrying and which it is the aim of
the Democratic Party to lift from their
shoulders. it is for the voters of tho
United States to declare at the polls next
N IL.