The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-21
ATKINSON ON SILVER.

Now in regard 20 the revenue system
which sxcites amnesty. partisan feeling.
alternate hope ard fear. What does 4 al
mean and what is IL ell about When
the war taxes Of this country were a. the
h;gheS. point Immediately AFTER the END
cf the civil war. they came very nearly
20 sixteen dollars scs, per hssd- Every
thing was taxed but everybody was ready
20 pay taxes. The progress Of the coun-
try weut On steadily. The two armies
oisSo1vi1g into their units went 10 work.
Year by year the taxes were reduced.
They were not iuicioasiy reduced. TX
they had been. we should have been free
from many OF our troubles II the rec
onuae rdations OF the Republican Tarsfr
commission OF 1sss had been followed we
should have been free today OF any seri-
Gus controversy. When this cause or con-
ten.ion is weighed II becomes almost Alb
surd. I win repeat some figures which l
have given elsewhere.
Bearing IN mind that We have IN the past
borne cheerfully and easily a national tax
OF nearly SIS per head. which fell almost
wholly upon the northern section OF the
country. does it not appear rather absurd
that we should be disputing now about
tax OF S. per head? The annual expendi-
lures OF the people OF this country for IL
cucrs and tobacco only. come 10 more than
SIS per head. The cost of our national gov
eminent is only S. / am as vet unable TO
include the last fiscal year. but 1t does not
alter the rule. IL sustains It. The entire
cost Of the government of the United
States for civil and judicial expenses.
army. navy. rivers and haroors, pubic
buildings and every other item or cost.
except interest and pensions. has averaged
for sixteen years, 1873 TO 1885 inclusive, on
ly s. 70 per head. varying from minimum
OF SEA 10 a maximum OF 500. Ten cents
~ shae mas "a a
will never recur again single mechanic
earning 80 a day contributes one days
work to the support OF the United States
government by which he 10 protected. II
he has a wife and two children. counting
as one adult. he contributes three days
work.
The interest and pensions IN 1880 came to
ss.e4 per head. In 1895 the pensions and In
terest came to SAT- per head the average
for the whole period was 81 IS. II the PEN
slons are Justly. rightly and fairly granted,
who grudges one. two or three days work
to the payment OF pensions and interest?
Who would not mourn when the burden 10
lifted by death?
Five dollars q head II the cost OF sue
tanning the government OF the United
States IN all its departments. and II IL
tending to diminish per capita and not
to increase. During this whole period the
revenue from liquors and tobacco only
has been s.. so a head. and has sufficed 10
cover the cost OF government. Sugar FOR
eleven years yielded 80 cents a head. Tea
and coffee at a small rate. such as cid not
affect consumption formerly. would weld
60 cents a head. One dollar and a half
could be had from sugar. tea and coffee.
which added to s2.50 from whisky and to-
bacco would make revenue OF "a head.
Within ten years the whole expense or
the government. unless the jingoes get up
a war. will be down to that point.
Now during this period from 1873 to 1926
inclusive, the revenue from duties on I'M
ports other than liquors and tobacco,
came to two dollars and a half s2.5O a
head and that Is the subject OF the whole
contention about the tariff. All indirect
taxes are paid by consumers in proportion
10 their consumption and all the taxes
imposed by the United States are indi-
rect taxes, but the taxes which are i'm
rosed for the support OF states. towns.
counties and cities are more than seven
dollars $50 head. and they are almost
wholly direct taxes on property. Isn't
that about fair deal? We should be the
lightest taxed nation in the world provided
that the tax were so levied that all the
taxes that the people pay the government
should receive.
A very large part OF the duties on i'm
ports which as I have shown come to only
two dollars and s. half (s2.5o) a head. can
be so adjusted that all the taxes that the
people pay on the imported goods will go
into the treasury and none OF them will be
diverted. IL that adjustment were taken
up by sensible men tariff could be so
made as to satisfy every reasonable claim
on the part OF any protected industry
which has been built up under protection
and is afraid OF change for fear OF being
let down too quickly. Are the people OF
the United States incapable of bringing
about a union of those who have been
Democrats and Republicans, who would
take this business question out OF poll
tics, adjust Ii and give rest from the
foolish discussion OF the protection or free
trade doctrinaires on either side? How
Is that Union party to come into exist
ence? When that problem is solved the
silver craze will be stamped out and the
taft question will be taken out OF poll
tics. while the banking question will a. the
same time be adjusted on the principles of
common sense and common safety.
The masses Of the people OF this coun-
try, ninety 600 per cent. OF all who are
occupied for gain, want good dollar and
not bad dollar, and must have IT, The
capitalists, large land owners and the
like. can run the risk OF debasement
OF the unit Of value. A large part, espe-
cially OF bankers, can make an excess OF
profit out OF such changes. When It comes
10 the question OF taxes, the rate Of wages
and the Ike, does II not seem rather alb
surd that any considerable number OF Pc.
sons should contend that the rate OF
wages OF all the people of this country
and the prosperity or DIVERSITY Of the
whole community should depend upon ne
adjustment OF tariff measure from whi-a
the government has derived an annual
revenue averaging two dollars and a half
$50 year. emitting liquors and tobacco
less than three dollars go a year per head
OF the whole community? The number OF
persons who ars occupied IN any art OF
which product Of Ike kind could under
any circumstances be imported from a
foreign country does not exceed ten C0
in each hundred doo). Ninety (9ol in each
hundred GeD live and work where they
are because Il IS fheir choice TO live thers
and the work must be done in that COM
rnuntty. There can be no tariff on imports
either 20 aid or affect their earnings. The
effect OF tariff legislation has, In the tudg-
nsent OF the writer, been grossly exagger-
atei both by those who claim beneft
ana by those who allege an injury. How
10 collect a revenue at TWO dollars and
n half CO SD a head from foreign imports