The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-10
THE UNwIsE AND OPPRESSIVE
TARIFF TAX.

It is becoming more and more appar-
emit that it is 10 part of the Mckinley
plan to touch or reduce the great spoil
atory tr~ust-tariff tax now in force. 1t
must be kept in full vigor to do its work
of oppression and robber. To cut down
their plans remotely. There are many
parts Of the tariff hat might be re-
vised with profit eve to the govern
ment. 1t is that class OF articles so
over-taxed in the schedules as I, make
it equivalent to prohibition. Here are
an opportunity and a plan for increas-
ing the revenues under the enormous
tariff without adding burdens to the
greatly oppressed consumers. IL the
tariff were reconstructed scie~ntifcalIy.
with reference to increasing reyanue. il
would razee the prohibition feature,
and thus encourage the importation Of
certain articles. That is if the great
trusts would allow th.5. The Fhiladel-
phia Record noting these s~poliatory
features OF the present tariff. SAYS:
The returns of trade amply revealed
n eXorbitance of the duties ON many
articles of general necessity and comfor
duties which serve neither for revenue
nor for protection, but remain merely
as legislative screws for the use of mo-
nopolies. From h projections, stand
point not a decent argument can be
made in favor Of duties on foreign ar
ticles when American articles of the
same kind are pouring into neutral
markets in every increasing volume I'M
der conditions of absolute free trade.
By adhering to these duties the pro-
t~ectionists are belying their own prin-
ciples and professions
1t is noticeable in this connection
what distinguished economic profess
sor in Cornell University. New York
state, Professor jerks. says of the
tariff and its offsprings, the vile trusts.
Here is a republican and a protectionist,
but he frankly says in an essay that
the Dingley act is the handmade. if
not the prolific mother. of trade monop-
oily" Lately Mr.. George E. Roberts,
rabid republican, director of the United
States Mint, said that the present exor-
bitant robber tariff, should b. either
revised or repealed.
AS the Messenger has again and again
commended, no such monster in the way
of taxation ever ~dragonaded a country
and robbed the people at large It has
often shown up it's enormous taxation
on certain articles and EXPOSES manv
times the very absurd contention of the
robbers that a high tariff was neces-
sary to put the American manufacture
ers on an equal footing with European
manufacturers. The Record, which al
ways discusses the tariff with ability
and information, gives this:
What do reasonable prote,tionists,
such as are not utterly blinded by self
interest, think of the duties on clothing
WOOL, which averaged last year upward
Oh DO per cent; of 102 per cent. on wooden
yarns; 80 per cent. on blankets: 100 per
cent. on clothes; 102 per cent. on WON.
ems and children's dress goods; ITO per
cent. on H%annels; IS per cent on knit
goods, and los per cent. on shawls? Are
SUCH brutal rates Of duty necessary for
protection? Do they not sufficiently
explain why cotton and shoddy enter
SO largely into the wooden clothing of
the American people, to the detriment
OF their health and comfort?
Under the precious system sugar is
SUBJECT 10 an average duty of 75 per
cent; salt in bulk, SO per cent: silk
handkerchiefs. IS per cent. rice, Ga per
cent: bay rum, 277 per cent; japanese
matt1ngs. "A per cent; marble. l24 Der
cent; k1d gloves, so per cent; lead and
Is manufacturers, Sc per cent; wood
screws, 129 per cent: carpenters files,
10 per cent; table cutlery, 81 per cent:
pen knives. SO per cent; t~inplate, "a
per cent; glass and glassware, 60 per
cent; lace window curtains. so per cent
Jute carpets, 40 per cent: binding Irvine,
63 per cent; earthenware, Sc per cent:
cotton handkerchiefs, IS per cent"
Study these figures. Behold the rob-
Der and monsteri