The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-09-03


Taking About.
WESTON, Illinois, August 27.-I do
not wish to intrude or take up too much
space in your valuable journal, but here
goes once more by your permission.
was very much amused last week in
seeing how sure the; Post was in carrying
West Virginia. Always carrying p it,
and yet It goes democratic every time
be-jabers-
'sThe tariff is tax" So says the SUI
preme court of the United States in the
case of Brown vs.. The State of Mary
land, unanimously. The court announc-
ed that Ga duty on imports is tax that
is paid to the consumer"
Major Mckinley in his canvass said !:
We look the tax off Of sugar and now
you don't have to pay it. See how we
relieved you from taxation by taking the
tariff from raw sugar !''
In another breath this same distin-
guished gentleman says: The foreign
er pays it you DON'T Now let us see
who pays the tax: Marshall, Field &
Co., imported 81 400 worth Of pearl but
tons and paid at Chicago $4,000 duty.
This "a, 400 with the cost of transporta-
ton added was the cost to them and
upon which they based their sales. This
q, 400 was paid by consumers. Would
the button makers pay SO, 900 tax>to get
III 400 for their products?
Armour imported 800, 900 pounds OF
tin and paid 5000 duty. Ninty-nine
per cent Of this as provided in the Nc
Kinley law was refunded to him because
the goods which this tin enclosed were
exported. Now il the foreigner paid the
tax on this tin why throw away the gov
ernments money returning it to Mr.. Ar
mour?
Mr.. Mckinley introduced a bill in
congress to appropriate $25 900 to pay
the tax ON plate glass for light houses to
be built by the government. If the for
eigner pays the tax why was this neces-
sary?
The Standard Oil Company paid al
most million dollars duty ON tin i'm
ported in 1890. Ninety-nine per cent. Of
this was refunded to the giant corpora
ton under the provisions OF the McKin-
ley law. Ii the foreigner paid the tax
on this tin why was it necessary for con-
gress to provide for throwing away so
large sum Of the peoples money? 1t
is claimed by the friends OF protection
that they have saved to the people OF
the country $50, 0O0, 900 by taking the
tariff off sugar. IF the foreigner pays the
tax why take it OFF, 1t certainly would
be good business sense to allow the for
eign manufacturers of sugar to pay into
the federal treasury this vast sum OF
money each year-almost half enough to
pay the pensions Of the wounded and
disabled soldiers OF our country.
But unmindful of the interests OF the
people the Fifty-first congress provi-
ded that these foreigners should be ex-
empt from this payment. In this house
after the Chicago fire Geo. Logan intro
duced bill to admit materials to that
stricken city free Of tariff. II the tax
was not paid by the consumer how would
it benefit the Chicago people who were
trying to rebuild their city from the ash
es that we're left by the great confagra-
ton?
The earnest protest from the lumber
barons induced congress to exempt lum-
Der from this provision. All other build
ing materials were made free under the
belief that the consumers were being
benefited by taking off the tax.
The modern theory of protectionists is
that the people of Chicago were not ben
Gifted in this, but that the foreigners
who shipped their iron and lead and 9TH
er materials that were used in construct
ing the magnificent temples of trade and
commerce to make the wonder of the
10Th century we're the benefciaries by
this special provision. Similar requests
were asked in regard TO other cities that
have been unfortunate.
Mr.. Wanamaker, the present Post
master General with others brought suit
against the government to recover be-
tween $1,000, 900 and $40 ,000, 900. If Mr..
Wanamaker has returned any of this to
the foreigner, it has not been SO report
ed. Neither has he paid it back to the
country merchants who sold to consum-
ers. In this case the people had to pay
the tariff twice-once when they bought
the goods and once when the govern
ment reimbursed Mr.. Wanamaker out OF
the treasury from the moneys they had
paid. 1t would seem from this that the
Post Master General did not appreciate
the fact that the foreigner paid the tax.
If he had he would have returned it to
the foreigner when he received it from
the government, he being an honest man
and obeying the ten commandments.
All this shows conclusively and the
instances might be multiplied that the
consumer pays it. There are many other
facts to be presented to show the blight
ing effect OF tariff taxes on labor. The
theme is practically inexhaustlbe. The
illustrations are sufficient Ito point a
moral and adorn tale" OF thrilling in
terest to every man engaged in daily
toll.
The sporadic interest in him shown by
taxation advocates just previous to cleo
tons should become epidemic during
periods when this affected interest might
become real and be crystalized into laws
granting him substantial relief. Con-
sidering the whole field it would appear
that our fiscal system has resulted in en-
riching the rich and impoverishihg the
poor. The classes loaded down and
groaning under their load of tribute to
the favored few are called Shrek
ers" and calamity howltrs" when they
attempt to show the evils of war taxes
after more than a quarter of century
of profound peace.
They are ridiculed and commanded to
hold their peace. Our farmers and la
borers in other>felds have not become a
class of paupers, but their condition COM
pared with that of tariff benefciaries is
such as to give good ground for serious
complaint. Owing to the richest soil on
earth and the most favorable natural
conditions they have been able to re-
main in comparative comfort in spite of
the giievous load of taxation borne ever
since the war.
The time has comet came in 1885,
when relief must be granted. The ave-
lanch of two years ago was the hand
writing on the wall. "Thou art weigh
ed in the balance and found wanting''
was written over the wall of protection
by the stalwart arm of the American
people in flaming letters of fire.
Notwithstanding this warning like Bel
shazzer at the feast, went on the second
session of the Fifty-first congress.
The congress repudiated was not hui
INFLATED, it brought out the golden yes
sells from the peoples temple (the pub
lie treasury and in revelry and debauch-
cry, the sweat wrung treasures from the
toiling millions in shop, Office and farm
were squandered by extravaganza un-
paralleled in the history of our country.
Swift vengeance still awaits and in 1892
the Babylon of high taxation and un-
paralleled waste of public money will be
broken down by patient, long suffer