St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-05
FOE MEN Or BUSINESS.

AS'ShuNs VI WuCtuCI LilCt UE
Calls, with belief thought out or taken
at secondhand from party managers,
there is in the situation cause for serious
thought on new line and survey of
the tariff question from new stand
point. We ask the attention of the men
OF business to phase OF the matter
which is closely related to their business
interests.
There has not been a speech made. an
editorial written on the pending tariff
bill that has not touched ON the condi-
ton of the industries of the country as
affected by it. Chambers of commerce
and boards of trade have Desieged CON
gress with appeals TO pass SONS bill
that industry might resume production
Democrats and Republicans alike have
proclaimed the retardation of business
by the delay on this bill. Republican
papers and orators have Insisted in and
out OF season that the depression of
1898 was due solely to the apprehension
OF tariff changes to be made by the
Democrats. Candid Democrats admit
that any change must necessarily act as
brake Oh enterprises dependent on or
aHected by the tariff as matter of or
binary business precaution, while in
slsting that the panic was due to other
causes, among which tariff legislation i'll
force or intended had a leading place.
But this disturbance of business is
lnseparable from tariff change. There
has never been a bill Introduced i'm this
or any other country to increase or de-
crease tariff tax that business has not
been disturbed and disarranged by it.
The tariff of '2S not only did this. but it
brought the country 10 the verge of
civil war, averted only by Clay's prom
Use OF compromise and retreat Read
the debates OH the bills of ~ and '46.
and you will read the arguments of the
debate of today. Whether the change
was up or down III the rates, the effect
was the same. Business waited to see
what change would be made, Just as it
nrudeEtly waiting now. The history
or tariffs here and abroad proves that the
taxation of imports and the business
interests of the country affected are
diSarranged by it.
Let ussturn to taxation in other forms
by other methods. Let us compare
amounts levied and the agitation caused
and note the differences, if any. Let us
make the comparison not as partisans.
Out as business men. anxious to ascer-
TAIN II 1t be true that tariff taxation dis
urGS business as no other form does.
| ana 1hen let Us accept the conclusions
as sensible men. The United States
collects at its customs gates about 1900.
O0O.OOO annually. For two years it has
been less, and in 1898, with a population
estimated at over $4,000, 900, the duties
were S2.97 per capita for each person in
the country. La 1890 there was levied
i'll all the states of The United States for
the purposes Of state, counties, muuic-
qualities, schools and minor divisions.
total OF S470.65I. 927. which made per
capita tax of 81 go. or more than twice
the per capita of tariff taxation.
In 1890 the population of this state
was 100000. and there was levied for
all purposes tax amounting to Sl2,.
707.42S, which, distributed Oh per
capita basis, made s9.77 for each person
In the state, or over three times the
amount OF customs taxes. Pursuing
the matter further, we find that the
assessed valuation of this city and coun-
ty for this year is little rising of $780,
100000, on which a tax levy of 2 per
cent will be made. yielding some 50, 6O0,-
600. Assuming that The population is
100000. this tax would represent Sl733
fol each man, woman and child in this
city. or nearly six times Mnnesota,s
share Of the amount of the customs tax
were it collected as head tax.
There is another condition attending
these methods of levying taxes that
deserves the notice and thought of
business men. The state legislature
meets, and its committees on appropria-
lions consider the estimates and make
their recommendations of. and the
legislature DEGREES the rate of levy. The
county commissioners sit. and the city
councils and school boards meet, and
town meeting day comes round and the
voters get together, and each body de-
cides how much money shall be devoted
to the purposes in its charge. Ii there
is any discussion. 1t is mainly of tax re-
auctions. We never see lobby in any
of these bodies gather to urge an in
crease of taxes. No manufacturer leaves
his shop, or merchant his office, and
no associations Of them go to the capitol
or send their agents there. to insist that
/ taxation must be increased or to protest
Ethat ruin will come to them If taxes be
reduced. We see in the legislatures of
1.-THE state or cities or counties no such
Iescenes as the country has become so
accustomed to in Washington with each
recurring sitting of congress that its
|. senses have become dulled to their sig
fniicance.
Much less is there any agitation
among business circles when these
bodies are incubating the tax levies. Not
an anvil ceases to ring or carpenters
| hammer to beat, or mason's trowel to
spread the mortar; not one wheel of all
the Industries of the state or city ceases
| to turn; 10 manufacturer slows down
| his works to hand-to-mouth production
while taxes are being laid by the state
and local authorities which treble and
seXtuple the amount of our customs
taxes. Business pursues its even way
oblivious and Indifferent to the fact that
the annual budgets are being made UP
for business profits to pay later. Men
buy and sell, make contracts for future
deliveries; the merchant replenishes his
shelves, and the manufacturer makes
his calculations of demand for his
product with never thought that buy
ing or selling or making will be af-
fected in the remotest degree by the
taxes his representatives may levy.
What does this comparison of these
two methods OF taxation signify to you
men of business? What Is the conclu-
sion you should draw from lip Is it not
that any system Of taxation which
makes all business either slow its speed
or stop while changes In 1t are being
discussed; that gluts the markets with
imports and dushes the treasury with