The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-07-13
SHORT TARIFF SERMONS.
Kinds Of Duty.

Kinds OF Duty.
There are three ways of levying duties:
Tristan ad valorem rate, or GER
tain per cent. OF the declared value, as,
for instance, the duty on swords is
thirty-five per cent. of their value at
the time imported on boots and shoes
twenty per cent of their value.
Second-A specific rate, or 50 much
per pound yard, ton, gallon, bushel,
etc, regardless of value; for instance,
the duty on eggs is five cents per dozen,
on steel rails six-tenths of one cent per
pound, or Sl3.44 per long ton of 2,24O
pounds.
Third-An ad valorem and specific
rate combined, as, for instance, the duty
on Brussels carpets is A cents per square
yard and 40 per cent. of their value; on
cologne water 81 per gallon and 50 per
cent. ad valorem.
In computing the rate per cent. spe-
citic duty must be reduced to an equiva-
lent ad valorem rate. For instance, the
duty on hay is 81 per ton. If hay were
imported at value of $40 per ton, the
equivalent ad valorem rate would be 40
per cent. OF course, to find the actual
ad valorem rate per cent. we must divide
actual duties collected by actual i'm
portations, which will give the real and
true rate per cent. on dutiable imports.
Formerly the ad valorem rate pre-
vailed, but this resulted in undervalua-
ton to such degree that the duties
have been made more and more specific.
This is a great feature of the Mckinley
law. In nearly every case possible a
specific duty is levied.
Most free traders object to this
method, claiming that fall or rise in
price makes the duty inconsistent, But
if the people will elect a protectionist
congress every two years, changes will
be made in the future as in the past to
meet all changes In value. Even Mr..
Manning, President Clevelands secre-
tary of the Treasury, in an annual re-
port, advocated and insisted on specific
duties. So will every honest man de-
string to prevent fraud in importations.
Labor Cost of Production.
The cost of production of manufac-
tured articles is the cost of the labor or
services of man. The cost of the origi-
nal elements in their natural state, be-
fore they are advanced in value by
labor, is insignificant.
The raw material of $4,000 locomo-
tive is worth but a few dollars.
The raw material of 100000 worth OF
watch springsis worth but Il few cents.
The raw material that enters into
some finished products, as sand, for in
stance, is worth absolutely nothing till
labor is expended in getting it.
Mr.. Edward Atkinson, in carefully
prepared statement published in April
1887, demonstrates that of the totaI
cost of producing medium shirtings
worth 81 cents yard, the proportion
paid for labor at various stages ton the
plantation, in transportation, in fac
tories, etc. was 90. IL per cent, the re-
naming portion, 7.SS per cent. being
absorbed in interest, insurance, profits,
etc. This estimate is confirmed in a
striking manner in the following state
ment by Hon. A. 5. Hewitt, made at a
hearing before the committee on ways
and means of the house of representa-
tiveS February II, 1884 the subject un'
der discussion being the percentage OF
labor cost in the manufacture of iron
Mr. Hewitt said:
The percentage of labor involved in the pro
duction of any article depends upon where yol
begin to estimate the percentage. If you begin
with steel-rail mill, which uses pig iron, tn,
labor win be from % to 30 per cent. The actua
wages paid by a wire mill will amount to abou
- per cent, of the cost If you include labor il
the blast furnace that would make it CD pei
cent, but il you go on back to the ore bed anC
pu; in everything which was paid out from thu
orc bed, the percentage of labor would hay
been about 80 per cent l say the amount whcl
Ipay out for labor when include every PARTED,
OF raw material beginning at the ground-and
ara miner of both ore and COAL have never
with all my anxiety to get it down, got 1t below
30 per cent, on the value of the finished product
Mr.. MrLLsWhat is the finished product:
Mr.. HEwIrr-Any finished product. l make
bar iron.
Mr. MILr.s-Is pig iron finished product?
Mr. HEwIrr-The labor in pig iron will be Q,
per cent, OF the cost. 1t actually takes 90 pc
cent of the cost of the article for labor when yo
include everything from the beginning TO the end
That which is shown to be true by thu
intelligent testimony of these two EN-.
inent tariff Performers" in regard t.
the manufactures of cotton and iron i:
equally true in regard to every Other
manufactured product The adequacy
of rate of duty for defensive purposes
cannot properly be determined by ascer
tanning the sum paid for labor in any
one of the many operations necessary
to transform natural elements into
fully manufactured products. The
larger earnings and greater cost Of
labor at every stage and in all con
tributory occupations should be taker
into consideration, and the rates should
always be equal to the resulting in
creased cost of production in this coun
try over that abroad As all of oul
people engaged in every occupation con
tribute to and share in the benefits o
profitable production, so all are alik,
vitality interested in the maintenance o
. q policy which secures and enlarges tn,
area of national industrial success.
American Economist
A MAINE workingman (mason-tender
wrote to the commissioner of labor sta
tistics of that state some time ago a
follows: For year back have beer
~ L., ,s,,. 90 .,,,,, lao l.