The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-12-16
THE DINGLEY BILL AND INITIATIVE.
The Tariff and Postal Savings Banks.


Editor Representatives:
Here is one of the most favorable op-
portunities of testing the initiative in re-
spect to our onerous tariff system. The
silence of all the leading newspapers and
reticence of the Republican leaders on
the tariff question, and the avoidance OF
all mention or reference to this Dingley
bill that proposes an addition of 46 per
cent to our present exacting tariff. And
this is all done under the plea of protec-
ton. Now there is one feature of the
Dingley bill that might make it welcome
to the farmers, that is the proposed duty
on all foreign wool that now enters free.
That is good thing for the manufacture
ers. but how is it with the farmer
Where does protection to the agricultur-
al interests come in? Were the duties
Tor tariff collected on articles that are
raised here and expended in bounties to
encourage home industry there might be
same justice in this plea of protection,
but we find that this enormous exaction
of duties becomes part and parcel of the
political grab-bag; and this Dingley bill
will only add about $5O,OOO,OOO to the
treasury and the next kite to fly will be
another batch of bonds. Now the princi-
pal articles to base this Dingley bill on
is tea, coffee, sugar, and beer. Take the
article of sugar, and the states of Iowa
and Nebraska can raise and manufacture
sugar enough from the beet alone to sup
ply the nation amply, and have a large
surplus for expectation. Here is where
protection to the farmers should begin,
and the amount raised on imported sugar
by the tariff should be expended in boun-
ties to encourage this industry. Now you
are the right man in the right place to
expose this new exaction. 1t is surpri ing
the apathy and ignorance of the people
on this tariff subject. This Dingley bill
should be discussed in every country
school house this winter This will ex-
pose the iniquity of the whole tariff sys-
TEN. Then the question will come up
how are we to raise a revenue without a
tariff? We answer-by taxation-not
by increasing the present system of taxa
ton, but by radical change and placing
the burthen of taxation where it legiti-
mately belongs, on the wealth, whether
real or fictitious, and on the vicious pro-
pensities of the idle and dissolute. Tax
the bonds, mortgages, trusts, and all
stock whether real or fictitious. The
stamp of the assessor should be on the
face of all such written obligations or the
courts refuse to recognize them-Eng-
land collects over SIS, 100000 from stamps
alone, and over $50, 1000, 900 from taxes on
distilleries and breweries; then there is
a heavy tax on all incomes, inheritance
duties and transfer of all real or person
al property. l hope you will agitate the
Postal Savings Bank system and get the
state of Minnesota to adopt it as far as
lies in it's power.
The failure of the Sioux City Savings
Bank was sad blow to the confidence of
the people in our present banking system,
and the daily stoppage of banks is to
say the least alarming. Hoping this will
meet your approval 1 remain ever the
friend of justice and equal rights
Samuel Sinnett.
Muscatine, Iowa.