St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-20
TARIFFS AND TRADE,

publicans will find themselves hoist by
their own petard.
TARIFFS AND TRADE.
We regard itas rather hopeful sign
than otherwise that there is growing
restiveness among business men. which
just now is showing itself in demand
that the tariff be taken out of politics
aud remanded to a n0n-partisan commits
sion, with power to make all changes
which the wisdom or the experience Of
the commission may deem essential. If
our memory is hot at fault. bill is bur-
led in some house committee giving
+ form to this idea. and we have boards of
trade and chambers of commerce here
and there adopting resolutions approx
ing of it.
We say that we regard this as hope
full sign; not that we have the slightest
confidence in the utility of the plan; not
that it would diminish or do aught but
aggravate and intensity the evils: but
because it indicates trend of thought
among the great body of business men
III the right direction. There is no rea-
son 10 suppose that changes proposed
bv commission would whit less at
feet business, nor be any less resisted.
II the tax were to be reduced, OF urged
IT it were to be raised, than il the same
thing is to be done by congress. while
it would Involve the probability, preg-
nant with possibilities of corruption and
disturbance, of changes being made
without that glare of publicity which
now accompanies them.
The important feature of this move
ment is the recognition it reveals of
the intimate relations of business
interests with the federal system
of -taxation. 1t indicates that an
opinion is forming rapidly that this is a
constant menace: that whether the tax
is raised or lowered, the business di-
rectly affected. ana by reason of that
sympathetic relation which commerce
creates between all industries. all
branches of business. are disturbed. 1t
indicates a strong desire in some man
ner to dissolve this relation and leave
trade to pursue its way free from obi
cation to be ever taking taxation and
its changes into consideration as
factor in all transactions.
There are puzzle picture cards in
which one sees at first glance nothing
but maze of trees and branches, but
in which, on closer inspection, one
makes out the outlines of animals which
the artist has cunningIy woven in
among the branches. The single takers
n = tn t,,uf IN, , IN
ception of the merits Of their plan, and
say that men are beginning to ''see the
cat" The attitude of these men of
trade shows that they are examining
the tariff question closely, and are
already tracing out part of the form of
the vicious cat concealed in It's LADY,
rinths. They have felt the claws and are
looking for the cat.
When they see the whole animal they
will discover that the evil is not in the
manner i'll which the taxes are laid. the
body by whom they are devised, or the
fact that they are the football of parties
and politicians, but that it IS in the con-
nection of business affairs with the
tariff,a connection which is inpradicabIe
and inherent in the system itself.
Whenever ard wherever any business
interest is made more OF less profitable,
or where more OF less profits are PROM
ised by the increase or reduction of
tax, there is at once established con-
nection which always and una 1oldably
brings TO business a disturbance with
every change in the tax. The fault is
in tire system of taxation, and can only
he removed with the abolition of the
system.
This becomes clear the moment we
consider the relations OF our business
world to any other system of taxation.
Take the case Of our legislatures and
municipal councils. These bodies all
nually levy taxes largely exceeding
those derived from the tariff. Takeour
own state. In 1890 the total taxation
for all purposes OF state, county and the
minor divisions was s., 735, S64, to which
the school tax. 1891, 56l, must be
added. making total OF sl2, 7O7. 1923, or
a per capita of 1915. The tariff, that
year abnormally large because of the
importations anticipating the Mckinley
act, averages S2OO.OOo.Oo0 a year, or
about So per capita. This Is about the
same as the per capita of our school tax
alone. That is. if the tariff tax were
distributed among the states on the
basis of population and levied directly
OIL the property, as state and local taxes
are laid, the burden would he no greater
and would certainly be less than our
school taxes.
But i'll what state is the general busi.
ness disturbed when the legislarura
meets to make the levy? In What citv
are the business interests aroused tn q
frenzy of fear when the council convid-
ers the annual budget? Where dn vo
see delegations of business men besi.,,
ing either body 10 prevent il r-dunt,a,,
of taxes? Where ara large sums nt
money raised in states OR cities 10 moi,
tain Hobbies working to secure -, -.
crease of taxation? These bodies
ami levy the taxes, increasing or din,;.,
i,hing them, and adjourn: and No n,',,.
cutlery attends them, 10 factory 80
in lis productions; no business intera',s
are affected; no party makes the mas
its favurite and chief issue. .r,v"..
and trade are completely divorce,
And why? Because the tayo.;a
laid directly; because the nr,,, o" -
trade ar manufacture are no, r. y.
mr. diminished by Changes. -.
b ,siuess is assured tina, there is no can.