Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-02-09
Answered,


Enquirer" of Homecoming, wrote
the JOURNAL about two weeks ago as
follows
| see that you argue that the tariff can be
too high to produce revenue as well as too
low.
Now, then, please print in your next paper
just what you think the tariff ought to be.
am, as you know, a miner, and have
several friends who are awaiting with me
your answer.
Our friends are drilling for the milk
in the cocoanut, and the JOURNAL will
endeavor, briefly and conclusively as
it can, to aid them In getting it.
1t is to be confessed in the outset,
however, that it is more than prob
able that no schedule of tariff lates
can be perfect consequently none to
which nobody can except in some
respect.
But if a ,tormula wherein few flaws
cut no figure as against the many ex-
cellencies be allowed, the JOURNALS
conclusion, in general terms is-that
all foreign commodities whose like is
grown or produced in this country
should pay uniform rate Of duty accord-
ing to gatue.
Only those commodities should be
admitted free that are nat grown or
produced in this country.
What the rate of duty should be
would have to be determined by the
most probable value of the imports and
the amount of money needed by the
government, but as it has always ex-
ceeded % per cent, it is quite certain
that ought to be the minimum until ex.
perience proved that higher tax was
necessary, or lower one feasible.
"lnquirer' must now remember that
the tariff thus imposed on many
commodities is wholly unnecessary. as
on wheat and corn, but as a rule the
charge must be impartial and infexible
in order to save it where it is necessary.
Hence, there must be no bars let
down to raw materials, nor any put
up against Injuries.
The door to tariff hair splitting be-
tween what are raw materials and
what are not-what are Injuries and
what not, must be locked, barred and
bolted against both poor and rich
strict constructionists. Let the hand
of government fall with equal exaction
upon the calue of every import, and it
will come as near equal and exact
administration as is possible under
any system of taxation.
In conclusion, the JOURNAL does not
claim credit for the slightest originality
IN making this statement. The points
made are borrowed and condensed
from the speeches several years ago of
Hon. John J. ingalls,. of Kansas Hon.
Henry l.. Dawes, of Massachusetts,
and the lamented President, Hon.
James A. Garfield. of OHIO.
The last named especially, the ablest
and best statesman in the party of his
day, is on record as strongly favoring
"a sliding-scale tariff rate toward
absolute free trade
Since billion dollar Congresses have
become fashionable, however. Gen.
Garfeld's suggestions favoring con-
slant lowering Of the rate toward
uniformity and extinction at last, are
out of the question.
A tariff for revenue only. with all the
protection such revenue will afford,
equally levied, seems to be the one ex-
posed to the least reasonable complaint.
A tariff for protection per Sc is al
ways, invariably and inevitably honey
combed with opportunities for the
abuse and misuse of the governments
sovereign power of taxation by the few
against the many.