The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-05-15

Republican Organs Doctoring Fscts 70
suit Their Own Purposes.

suit Their Own Purposes.
We noted recently several instances
~ the confusing effect OF Mckinley
worship on the mathematical faculties.
In the case OF the New York Tribune
the same effect appears, coupled with
an atrophy of that moral sense which
abhors untruth or the scmblancc OF 1t.
llebuking Gen. Clarkson for having
said that Mckinley is the champion OF
nm extreme, ultra Ugh protective tariff,
1t says that ''it is an astonishing blum
der FOX n republican tospealS OF that act
ls90) as one OF extreme protection"
IL then proceeds 10 show, in its own
peculiar way, that all iormer republi-
can tariffs were higher. 1t says that
the Mckinley act produced duties
from 1929 that averaged 2lc6 per
cent, while the act OF 1853, during its
first three years, averaged 30.5s per
cent, and the average under the law in
force from 1850 TO 1871 was AIDA per
cent.
Waving Il c slight inaccuracies in
these percentages. which appear on ex-
animation of the treasury rcports-for
ures given by these arithmetical bung-
lers ard trickstcrs without invcstiga-
tion-thc trick that the Tribune Is
capable Of descending 10 TO score a
point lies in its taking the average OF
the percentages or duty computed on
nll the imports, whether they are duti-
able or on the free list. This is a very
transparent fraud. this computation of
duties on imports that pay no duty, in
order to cast discredit on former repub-
Lean tariffs and make better showing
for what it termed, when first enacted,
"the best and brnvest tariff ever enact
ed" The Difference between this and
the showing made by calculating the
rate on the goods on which taxes were
laid shows that Clarkson was right, and
the Tribune is not only wrong, but Is
easily convicted Of stupid evasion.
The real question Is what was the
average rate or taxes paid on the duti-
able goods imported. Taking the same
tables for the same period we find that
the average for the years ls69-71 was
46.0S per cent, for 1886 44.34 per cent.
and for 1924 cKinley's) 1t was 49l2
per cent. What it would have been had
It lasted longer its rate OF progression
gives some Indication. The average
was Ash per cent. in 1892, 49.5S pei
cent. in 1893, and 5000 in it's last
year. This change came from the grad
ual change of policy as the republican
Marty grew more and more radical
The first tariffs were laid for revenue
as well as protective purpose They
; covered articles not produced here al
well as those that were. Hence in lsCy
II the imports paying no taxes were
only about per cent. OF all. by tn
, time the era Of Mckinleyism had NJ
, rived the party had reached the poiic.
. of putting on the free list everythin
: not produced here, and taxing highl
: everything like that which was. Thu
. made the free imports, chiefly suFa
: tea and coffee, in the Mckinley perio'
Z So per cent. OF all.
:, Here we have the solution OF ths
! steady decrease that cut the custom
!, revenues from S22G,5iO,O37 in 1890. IL
fore McKinley's act went into effect, I
Si2o,55s.s92 in its last year. Putin
7 revenue producers, such as raw sugal
on the free list depleted the revenue
:, while the inordinate taxation OF con-
peting goods decreased their consumT
ton and consequent importation. an
:, thus reduced revenue. 1t is this polio
', that it Is proposed to restore II ms
. jority OF the voters are silly enough
consent. But what shall be thought 9
!" a paper and candidate Of that papel
when such methods are used to bolstc
: M his candidacy and his causes
Paul Globe.