The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-10
WHO PAYS THE TAXI

Governor Mckinley Of Ohio. in his
great tariff debate with Governor Camp
bell in October, 1891, quoted Grover Cleve-
lands chronic cry, ''The tariff is a tax"
and then inquired who under protection
pays the tax. Under the Democratic
tariff for revenue only the American con-
sumner would pay the tax on sugar, tea
and coffee which are now on the free list,
but when the Canadian farmer brings his
wheat to Buffalo he gets the same price as
the Erie county farmer less Is cents, tho
American tariff In that event who pays
the taxi The foreign grower pays tho
tax. In illustration how the multiplica-
ton Of interior competition forced down
prices, Governor Mckinley said:
Tho duty on salt Is % 4-lO cents q barrel, or 12
cents a hundred pounds. It can be purchased
for 30 cents q barrel where 1t il manufactured,
or so cents q barrel in a barrel which costs 20
cents wllich makes the cost OF the salt, II the
governor be right, 72 40 cents. The duty on
wire nails was ~ cents q pound. We reduced
It to 21s cents. They can be bought at the place
they are made for 22-l0 cents pound. Who
pays the taxi Cut malta can DO bought for
1 56-I00 cents Q pound. Steel rails can be bought
for $50 ton, &c above the average price in Liver.
pool. The tariff is $l3. Al ton. The duty Is Is
POI, cent on boots and shoes; the duty was 80
per cee-; and yet they can be bought for less
than thzF could before the duty was put on.
The duty t.S !tnseed oil 10 81 cents gallon, and
on the farmei< laxseed - cents a bushel. The
oil sells at 90 eek gallon. In London IL sails
at So cents . gaiSes.. and IL the tax is added,
linseed oil should seis ere for Is cents gallon.
But il does not Who pa:s taxf tLaughter.l
A tax for revenue onIy$e always a tax,
like the tax on sugar. but aixotcctive tariff
is never q tax except when ths:.puyer will
have an imported article or we Ase tenn
porarily dependent on a foreign sNaply.
In the matter of steel rails, under pro
lection the price has been forced down
from the foreign price of about SLIGO ton
in 1870 to $50 ton. The output Of iron
ore in the United States increased from
7,120. S62 ions in 1880 to II, SIS, 0H long
tons in 1890. or 1889 per cent. The valus
increas ed A.0S per cent. This Is less than
one-half the increase in quantity; therefore
protection, by causing great development,
has reduced the cost to the people. The
average price in 1850 was $S25. In 1890 it
was $3.50. The number of persons en-
ployed increased 20. 70 per cent. and their
wages increased 5l.03 per cent.
In his recent speech at Beatrice, Neb.,
Governor Mckinley quoted as follows
from the message Of the Colonial Parlia-
ment Of Bermuda to the governor.
The amount OF Bermuda products shipped to
the United States from January to June inclu-
siye, In 1890, amounted in value TO $55975S OF
this amount, under the old tariff rates, tho
duties amounted 30 not less than S552A In
1901 the quantity OF produce shipped to the
United States from January TO June amounted
IN s5sllla On this amount, under the new Nc.
Xfnley tariff, duties were paid amounting to not
less than Sls4s7o. Thus, while the value Of
products shipped to the United States In the
wear 1881 was SIS, AGO less in value than In $780,
the amount paid as duties was $7s,6i2 in excess
of duties paid in the former year, making
direct loss to the growers in each case Of large
perceutags OF the amount, as the market value
Of our products In the United States VIII not
allow OF any advance in price commensurate
with so heavy tariff
Governor Mckinley then inquired:
"Who pays the tsx?" The producers Of
Bermuda believe they pay the increased
tariff under the new law, and they have
.npointed commission to come to the
limited States to secure reduction of the
tariff on their products. The Bermuda
]. nroducers assert that they cannot add the
I .1eriR 8 the price to the Amsriean con-