The Republican., 1894-08-23

tbCNNl Ottl Ill 10 a. lSliNI w Ots<AV
tion." For instance, one of the
advocates of the new tariff bill
declares that the percentage of
duty in the Mckinley bill is 9S.5S,
while that of the Democratic bill is
but 1868. Intelligent men, those
who stop to think, will not accept
these statements as indicating
lower rate of living without first
investigating. If they expect that
they are to have a burden removed
from their shoulders they are
doomed to disappointment.
The New York Press takes up
this question at length, and shows
that duty percentages, as represent
ing the cost of commodities to con-
sumers, are always misleading, for
the reason that the percentage of
duty rises as the price falls. The
Press cites as an instance that
duty of $25 ton upon steel rails
was 25 per cent duty when rails
cost 800 ton; but it became 100
per cent duty when rails fell to S25.
Although, says the Press, the actual
duties in the Mckinley tariff have
remained unchanged, the percent
age duty has risen in many cases
because prices haye fallen since the
act was passed. What consumers
care for IS the price they must pay,
not the arithmetical relation of the
duty to the price. That practically
all prices are lower than they were
four years ago is an unquestionable
fact but the free traders endeavor
to disguise it with a percentage
juggle which confuses unlearned
men.
Many duties have, indeed, been
decreased by the trainers of the new
tariff. But, then, as an offset, to
this, duties have been placed upon
articles which have long been free.
The tax upon articles which have
long been free. The tax upon
sugar will search out and impose
upon every householder in the pop
ulation a burden which for four
years he has not borne. The in
come tax will be an unnecessary
and irritating burden. The in
creased tax upon alcohol will filch
money from every consumer of
chemicals and of other products of
industry. What the government
will surrender in duties at the ports
it will obtain through other forms
of taxation. The reduction of du-
ties upon imported materials is
largely free gift of money to for
eigners who desire to sell in this
market. The foreigner will paw
less for the privilege, and Just the
amount he IS relieved from the
government will collect from the
American people.
Our contemporary admits that it
is probably true that some prices
will be lower, but then also, it says,
some prices will be higher and con-
tinues: "Whlle the new tariff
promises to remove a burden from
the shoulders of the tax PAYERS.
what it will really do will be to
rifle his pockets. Less duty for the
foreigner to pay means less wages
for every man engaged in an indus
try subjected to foreign competition.
Just how much a workingman can
save by paying little less for suit
Of clothes and a great deal more for
sugar and medicines may not be
ascortained without much figuring.
But no arithmetical deyterity is
required to show that if, indeed, as
was asserted in the house, duties
haye been reduced oyer so per cent. |
wages will decline to the same ex-
tent. That is to say, the wages of
the men who still have work. The
workman who is compelled to
remain idle will not find any COM
fort at all in studying Democratic
percentages; and every bale of Euro
pean goods brought in here because
the way has been made easy by |
tariff reductions will represent an I
without work, or without
,pU brood L,,t that sup,,l;oJ h.