The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-26
OVER THE TEA CUP.

The senate has raised tempest in
the teapots OF the tea merchants all
over the world, bat especially among
those OF its own country, with the prop
oSition from its finance committee to
lay a tax of 10 cents a pound ON all
imports of tea. Incidentally 1t has sue
ceeded in transferring a goodly sum of
gold from this country to Japan, and
this merely on the report that such a
tax may be laid. By the re
action there is going on a similar
transfer from the pockets of the tea
drinkers Of this country, moved by the
Of money to the tills of the retailers of
tea and the safes of the wholesalers. 1t
is a very pretty Illustration of the op
erations of a tax ON the things men
produce and Others consume and is
worth being considered by those who
have advanced far enough to stsee the
cat' and are questioning the justice of
such a system of raising revenue.
Immediately upon the unveiHng of
the tfansmogrifed Dingley bill by the
senate finance committee, with the in
formation of probable tax of 10 cents
pound on tea, merchants importing
teas cabled their agents and CORE
spondents in Japan and other produc-
ing countries to secure at once all tea
that they could lay hands on. But the
Japs, we'll named the Yankees of the
Orient, proposed to have their share of
the plumber Of the American tea drink
ers, and met the sudden increase in de-
mand with an increase in price, Until
a real advance of z Of the proposed 10
cents has been scored. 1t is quite bad
enough to have our money taken from
us and put into the pockets of our own
tea merchants by operation Of law; but
this transference of .our good money to
the pockets Of the olive-hued Japanese
is exasperating. In fact, it lis a easus
bell, and Secretary Sherman should
make it the occasion of sharp note to
the Japanese minister of foreign af-
fairs, while Secretary Long should
forthwith dispatch one Of our cruisers
to Toxic to add emphasis to Mr.. sher-z
mans note. Japan might reply that.
as it is the maxim of the present ad-
ministration of the United States that
the foreigner pays the tax" her sub
jects We're merely making preparation
to pay 1t as soon as laid; but, of course.
Mr.. Sherman would inform the unen-
Hghtened Jap that the people OF the
United States enjoy, by virtue OF their
other exemptions from natural laws,
that Of not being foreigners to any for
eign nation. while each and every enc
of their subjects are foreigners to them.
Consequently we pay taxes to no for
eigner, while all foreigners must pay
taxes to us.
But, amid the general unhappiness
caused by this rise In tea price, one
particular lot of individuals are STEPPED
in a more concentrated gloom. Antici-
;pating no change In the conditions that
usually affect the price Of teas, bliss
fully unaware OF the trouble that the
finance committee was brewing for
them, numbers OF wholesale grocers had
sold tea for future delivery at the prdce
past experience warranted them In be.
1ieying would prevail when delivery
day came around. To them there came
a deeper disnay than to the mere tea
drinkers when the report came out Of
the secret chambers Of the committee
and sent prices skyward. Delegations
of these unfortunates are going down
to Washington to depict their sad con-
ditien and plead for mercy, while an
other class, who are gloatdng over the
advancing value Of their stocks, are