The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-11-28

throw every article back upon the
[ original conditions OF its production.
so far as possible. If it is suitable for
manufacture aud development in this
country, geographical distance is
sufficient protection for it. If it takes
the dollhouse cultivation of a prohib-
tive tariff to make its production
profitable here, then it is unsuited to
our country, and it should not be ar
officially stimulated because the
wrong is too great to those who con
sumo it and who. but for such pro-
lection. could buy it cheap in the
open markets of the world.
Next to tn free list the most char
acteristic feature OF the bill is the
substitution Of ad uoIorem for specific
! duties. We await with curiosity
the criticism of Republican organs
upon this phase. The obvious
justice of this form of taxa
ton; the obvious opportunity for
co ncealed extortion afforded by the
specific system will make the task of
the Republican editors and orators a
hard n in dealing with this issue.
They may juggle and CLOSE as they
will. the sense of justice of the Ameri-
can people will assuredly back up the
Democratic party in determining that
taxes shall be imposed with direct re-
gard to the value taxed, an d that OPP
pressive and discriminative burdens
shall not be imposed in such a man
ner as to escape detection. Once
again, we desire to direct particular
attention to Chairman Wilson's ex-
PLANTATION on this point. He says:-
Specific rates of duty are Objectionable for
these reasons:-They frequently conceal a rate
of taxation too enormous to be submitted to if
exposed in ad vaiorsm TERMS. as the duty of
eight cents a hundred pounds on salt in bulk.
which amounts to over so per cent. on q COM
mon necessary of life. They always bear heav-
lily on the common article used by the masses,
and lightly on the expensive article consumed
by the ricn. as a tax Of $50 on all houses would
be little or nothing on the great mansion and
very high on the humble home. And contrary
to common belief, specific duties laad to greater
frauds in administration, for counting and
weighing at the Custom House are done by the
cheapest and most easily corrupted labor. while
al valorem rates are assessed by tbs best paid
and most responsible appraisers.
One more feature of the bill calls
for especial favorable comment-the
regard paid all through it to the
needs of the masses of the people.
the millions OF comparatively humble
means. Tt will be found that through
ont, the articles daily in use among
these are moderately taxed, while the
luxurious grades bought by the rich
are made bear the burden. A single
Illustration will suffice. The cheaper
grades of blankets and carpets will
now be admitted at moderate rates to
the country from abroad. and the
poorest classes of our citizens will be
enabled to buy these necessities at
reasonable prices and of fair quality.
This is true democracy. This is
the principle of the greatest
good to the greatest number on
which the whole structure of our
Commonwealth is based. The bill
will bring prosperity to our manu-
facturers, by relieving them of unjust
burdens, and comfort to our homes by
cheapening the articles of daily
need.
Now, the urgent point is to get the
measure through Congress quickly,
SO that business may find its level,
regain certainty and confidence, and
begin to bowl merrily forward again.