Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-03-18

That troublesome question about the
revenue remains. The Democrats do
not get rid of it by shutting their eyes,
nor by asserting that q large increase OF
evenu would follow q reduction of du-
ties. This, if true, means that imports
would increase; il duties of so per cent.
on wooden goods yield $35, WO, 600, the
imports must more than double in or
der to get an increased revenue from
duties of less than 40 per cent. The
goods now imported, costing $42, 600, 900,
are reckoned to represent 10000, 900
pounds of wool in the raw state. Inor-
der to get q larger revenue from duties
Of less than 40 per cent. the imports
must be great enough to supplant $685.
100000 worth of goods and $40, coz, 600
pounds of raw wool, which should be
produced in this country. Nor is that
all. The duties on raw wool Weld
ri, 10000. To avoid q decrease Of reve-
nue. the imports of goods must be in.
creased enough to yield $4l ,40O, 600,
which with duties averaging less than
40 per cent. would require the importa-
ton of goods costing in foreign ports at
least $ll0,0OO,0O0. These goods would
represent a consumption of 44O, 600, 600
pounds of raw wool, or 10000, 900
pounds than the present imports
represent. Neither growers nor manu-
facture rs will consent to such increased
competition. Because the Democrats
dare not propose it, they are In trouble
about the revenue.
Wooden clothing costs less than half
what it cost in this country years ago,
but the consumption per capita has not
increased in any such proportion. In
1867 imports Of goods were valued at
SIS, TAG, $50, or $1.2l per capita; in 1891
imports were but $43, 235, 4l0, or only 6S
cents per capita. Meanwhile, the CON-
sumption of wool in manufacture here
has risen from 1914, 5000 pounds in
1867. or SO pounds per capita, to 432,-
100000 pounds in 1891, 60 pounds Q
capita. Reckoning both imported and
domestic goods, the consumption per
capita has increased scarcely any, if ut
all. though the price Of woolen goods
has declined at least one-nalf.
The increased imports must be at the
expense of a reduced production by
home industry. But there ia no evil
dence that the price Of goods to con
sumers would be lowered. The Ameri-
can goods arc now kept low by COM
petition between home manufacturers;
the imported goods are reduced in
price IN Ofucr TO Retl al all. with
lower duties and destruction Of the
home manufactures the foreign makers
could charge what they please, and
they would also have to pay more for
wool than they do now, because the de.
mand to furnish goods for the Ameri-
can market would be greater. 1t ia,
therefore, very questionable indeed
whether consumers would get their
goods cheaper by a single cent.
Thus the problem OF evenu remains.
Mr.. Springer must somehow contrive to
raise $6,500,o00in place Of the venue
on wool, which he proposes to cut off,
| and vi, 100000 in place of half the dut-
les on Woolens, which he proposes TO
reduce. Where will he get the needed
S24, O0, 900? The duties as they stand
raise that sum without taxing American
consumers q penny, while giving en-
ployment to thousands Of American
workers, whom Mr.. Springer would
drive out of wool-growing and wool
manufacture. In what way is he to put
an additional tax onthese laborers, even
while no d~eprives them of work and
wages ?-NeW York Tribune.
So