Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-04-26

fail to shock their good VIII ana seriously
affront our own people.
Free traders perversely claim that all du-
ties paid on imported manufactures are al
ways paid by the consumers. They forget
how greatly the enormous competition of
nine thousand millions of American products
in our own and other markets must have re
duced the prices of manufactures through
out the world; and the claim is also refuted
by our own experience which shows that
every article that has received any stable
tariff protection has been permanently and
largely reduced in price to consumers. This
can he proven by citing examples of whole
sale prices very Unfortunately, as follows:
Two-ply ingram carpets in 1871, 81 per
yard; 80 cents in 1891. Wilton carpets in
1876. So per yard; So 10 in 1891. Turks
Island salt in 1871. As cents per bushel; 26
cents in 1891. Solar salt in 1871, So per
barrel of $50 pounds; "a cents in 1891. Cut
nails in 1860, 6 cents per pound; in 1892, II
cents. Calico, Cocheco prints, in 1850, ~
cents per yard; 1891, cents per yard
Sheetings, 4 x4, Lawrence; in 1871, 81 cents
per yard in 1891, - cents Sugar, fair re
filming, 81 cents in 1871, and * cents in
| 1891.
| The Great Wrongs Pervading the Bill
will have attention when the details are
reached for consideration. That the radi-
cal changes proposed if made, will reduce
many people, hitherto prosperous to pow
erty, can hardly be disputed by sane people.
| The Astounding invitations offered by the
bill to the imports of foreign merchandise
must paralyze many important American
investments. They will, however, give &C
tive employment to laborers abroad, and to
an equal extent diminish that Of American
1ahn nnr 1ha. of In n1nyp d
is likely to be multiplied, and those who can
be employed will learn that the first step in
free trade is a step down in wages. They
will also learn who are to be held RESPONSE
BILE for the disastrous results by the final
vote recorded upon the bill in the Senate
The appearance here in the United States
Congress at time of profound peace of a
wide straddling income tax bill, unheralded
by the platform of either of the great par
ties of the country and only commended by
the unsavory example of the old world
oligarchies in distress, must be reckoned as
a blunder of unusual magnitude even for a
democratic administration. Certainly we
have not the excuse of the overtaxed Eu-
ropean nations, sorely hurdened by enorm-
Gus imperial armies and royal navies, nor
the lame justification that our system of
raising revenue with all the past experience
in its favor was inadequate and must be
) superseded to obtain more revenue by the
rigors to which the subjects of Germany.
) England, Austria and Italy have been, not
} uncomplainingly, compelled to submit. The
charge of an excess of revenue, lately tier
ated against protection is already abandoned
by the party whose dominance it is expected
will cease March A. 1925, but which is now
on a wild income hunt for revenue to fl
the vacuum to be created by democratic
| tariff
If more revenue, instead of less, had beer
desired, and not the creation of a deficit
solely to make room for an unequal income
e tax more would have been easily obtainabl
from a light duty on some Of the articles il
: the long list now free, or by an increase o
+ tax on malt liquors, and that without tn
;, addition of dime to the cost of collection
= 1t is to be hoped that the income tax schem
o has not been inspired by a willingness o.
d the part of its projectors akin to that o
a Artemus Ward, who announced his willing
ness that all of his wife's relations shoul
enlist or be drafted in our late war, and We
y it looks like very thrifty local scheme t
. willingly grant to others. rather than to il
tropical projectors, the honors accruing t
" all contributions to an income tax.
;, trust those who think, by shutting thei
:, ewes that they can swallow the income prov
N osition at n single gulp without danger t
= their digestion, or to that Of their constitl
- ents, will listen while | very briefly preser
a what appears to me some of the objections
" the measure which, as I fear, will bea
"a heavily
10 Upon Many Humble and Plain People.
ANY income tax, like the one here prC
ls posed. which fixes the tax at one rate in i,
1t application to all persons, is manifestly III
: Just That derived from rent of houses, n