The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-07-06
S76,610,000

Senator Voorhees, claims that the pro-
posed reductions in the tariff will save
SIC, 670, 900 in taxation to the laboring
people. This would be correct upon the
supposition that our imports of foreign
goods would be no more and no less dur
ing the years to come than they Were
during the year of protection, upon
which his calculations were made. But
he omits an essential feature in trade.
The mere fact of our having a protective
tariff has been to prohibit the foreign
importations, and the mere fact of low
ering the tariff will very largely i'll
crease such importations to an extent
that will also increase the burden of
taxation. " The senator claims that every
dollar collected under the Mckinley tar
if is tax. Every dollar collected under
the free trade tariff will be equally tax,
and more of it, because the imports will
be greater and the ultimate burden of
taxation" greater.
Take an invoice Of $1,000 for manu-
features of cotton imported from Eng
land and now paying 90 per cent ad va
loren duty, the Mckinley tariff thereon
is $500. Take the free trade tariff of 30
per cent ad valorem, which will permit
So, 900 of foreign cotton to be imported
where only 1000 are now imported,
and the tax will amount to $700, an in
crease of $500 in the burden of taxa
ton" laid upon the poor people by the
Wilson tariff bill. The same rule may
be applied to all other commodities, and
the greater the difference between the
present and the proposed tariffs the
larger will be the imports of the foreign
goods. This view Of the case has not
been presented by Senator Voorhees, or
any member Of his free trade army.
They endeavor to make the people be-
lieve that our imports will not be larger
when the tariff is lowered, and that the
British trader is not waiting impatient
ly to flood our markets with his cheap
goods.
But there is still another view of the
case that Senator Voorhees, has entirely
overlooked--the question of wages, avery
important phase to the laborer Where
we now import but 81, 900 worth of cot
ton goods and will, with lower tariff,
import to the extent of 80, 600, there
will DO just 81, 900 worth less manufac-
tured in our own mills, and $500 less
of this to be distributed in wages. This
means that 400 men earning 50 per day
will be deprived of their opportunity to
earn. These 400 men are to receive a
remission of 81. 1919 i'll u year from the
tariff taxes that they have been paying,
yet in q single day they are to lose "
in wages. This will be great relief,
no doubt. But there may be some work
ers and wage earners who would prefer
to retain the 81 per day and pay the
$1.12H per annum. Such a natural de-
sire on their part is characterized by
Senator Voorhees, as ''sordid, brutal self
ishness," and "lust for riches "
Senator Voorhees, claims to desire the
relief of the people from unjust taxation
and proposes to relieve them to the ex-
tent of $76, 67O, 600, or 81. 1917 per head.
At the same time he argues in support
of bill that will provide surplus OF
revenue to the extent of $50, $3.50, 245 and
says there is no terror to me In sur
plus like this. - Perhaps not. Men who
juggle with millions can regard mil
lions with complacency. But 1t seems
hard upon the poor laborer who Is to be