The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-08-06
THE AVERAGE OF DUTIES DE-
LUSIVE.

LOSlN +.
When it is stated as a fact shown by
the Treasury experts that the average ad
yalorem OF the rates levied by the Nc
hinley law is 81 per cent, startling
view OF its oppressive burdens is un-
doubtedly revealed, and one which
would have alarmed our antebellum an
cestors, who believed that eternal vigi-
lance is the price OF liberty" into heroic
resistance. But the fact is these figures.
astounding as they are, do not adequate
Iy tell the tale, as will appear by a fur
thei Inspection of the table OF figures
prepared by Treasury Expert Evans.
and presented by Senator White. to
which reference has already been made.
There 1t is shown that upon 81 articles.
many OF them necessarily consumed bv
the masses OF the people, the duties
range from 100 to PA per cent. Among
these are common window glass, upon
which the duty ranges, according to size,
rom Io7 to IoS per cent: pen knives or
pocket knives Of the cheaper qualities,
upon which the duty is III per cent;
wooden goods of the different descrip-
tons, upon which the duty ranges from
Io2 per cent on the better qualities and
no per cent on the cheaper qualities OF
ttannels up to III per cent on the cheap
er qualities of wooden or worsted shawls;
the cheaper quality of blankets, upon
which the duty is I25 per cent; wool
hats, upon which the duty is III per
cent on the better qualities and 2o3 per
cent on the cheapest quality; felts, upon
which the duty is Io4 per cent on the
better qualities and ga per cent on the
cheapest quality; pulp paper and books,
upon which the duty is 200 per cent.
The same table shows that upon 81
other articles, also of general use, the
duty ranges from Is to 100 per cent. In
this class are found wooden manufac-
lures, such as shawls, fannels, blankets,
dress goods, cloths and ready made
clothing of better quality than those
above enumerated in the class above 100
per cent; carpets OF different descrip-
tions, felts Of the higher qualities peck
ct knives of better quality than those
enumerated in the class bearing above
100 per cent duty, glass and glassware
OF better quality than that enumerated
in the higher duty class, starch, currants.
sugar, castor oil, spirit varnish and many
other things that poor people have to
use.
There is still another large class OF
more than 200 articles upon which the
duties are shown to range from so to
IS per cent. This class embraces all
kinds of cotton manufactures and fab
RIGS, refined sugar upon which the duty
is "A per cent, umbrellas, parasols etc,
cutlery, chinaware, porcelain, and other
earthenware, bread soda, and many 9TH
er useful articles.
Thus it is seen that within these three
classes of articles, upon which the ad va
loren equivalent OF the duties levied
ranges from so to above 200 per cent,
are included the bulk OF the articles con-
sumed by our people, and especially the
poorer classes, and in fact the greater
portion Of the articles embraced in the
entire tariff schedules. Lower and nom
inal duties placed upon a number of in
considerable articles OF which in the ma
ture OF things there are few importa-
tons, serve to bring down the average
Of duties, which, as already stated, is
delusive
HEAVY BURDEN ON THE PEG
PIE.
1t is impossible, of course. in news
paper article, to go into sufficient detail
to show the exact extent to which the
burdens OF the American people. all Of
whom are compelled to consume the
taxed articles, are increased by the large
measure of increased taxation carried by
this vicious bill with its excessive appli-
cation Of the protection princiDle 1t
has been demonstrated by Senators who
have participated in the debate, that the
increased cost OF carpeting room OF
ordinary dimensions will be SI4 or up
ward, and it has been estimated that the
cost of living under the new schedule OF
taxation will be increased on an average
OF 80 to 40 per cent. While the average
difference between the rates OF duty
levied by the Wilson law and the Ding
icy law are, as already stated, as 80 to
81 per cent yet the duties in the latter
being levied upon different and more
onerous principle, its increase OF the
burden OF taxation is really greater than
is revealed by this disparity in figures.
Perhaps the most concise and compre-
hensive summary OF the oppressive char
acter of the Dingley law is found in the
statement that while it will probably
take from $35o,oooooo to $500, 100000
from the pockets Of the people who con-
sumo the articles it taxes, 1t will only
put about $I75,ooo,ooo OF that amount
into the public Treasury. The difference
will go into the strong boxes OF the nu-
merous trusts that have grown up un-
der the Republican tariff policy. This is
the meaning and practical effect OF such
revision Of the tariff laws as will tend
to check imports of such articles as are
produced by our people" as written by
Mr.. Mckinley in the Republican plat
form
WHERE THE TRUSTS COME IN.
In the early days of the republic when
the Wing party first inaugurated the
protective policy, they answered the
Democratic protests against policy
that would take so many millions out
of the pockets OF the people that did not
90 into the public Treasury, with the
statement that the natural competition,
which would soon grow up between the
competing domestic manufacturers
would in time operate to diminish the
margin between the sum exacted from
the consumers and that which went INTO
the Treasury. This indeed would have
proved measurably true had honest
,crs,oe+;t;on heen maintained among the