The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-06-13

hear many complaints of them
from the producers, and from the
merchants who have the articles
to distribute; but those complaints
we habitually ascribe to eagernesS
for the increased sales which would
result OH a lowering of the price,
and not to any division of the tax
between final consumer and pro-
Queer or middleman. Yet it is
possible to impose taxes of this
kind so that they will be charge
upon producer instead of con-
sumner. This would occur if the
tax were levied on one article
of a class, leaving competing
articles, which might be produced
in quantity sufficient to satisfy
the entire demand. free. For
example, an excise rate on
brandy, if their were at the same
time none OH whiskey, would
probably have to be finally paid
by those who distilled the brandy
they could not transfer it to
their customers. But our internal
revenue system does not show any
case of that kind. The entire de-
mand for tobacco and alcoholic
drinks. from which substantially
all of this revenue comes, must be
supplied from taxed articles; and,
therefore, the tax upon them is
finally paid in their additional
cost to the consumer. Producer
and dealer suffer from that tax
in being able TO make fewer sales
and do less business, because the
higher price they must charge
necessarily cuts down the demand.
CONSUMER PAYS THE TAX.
The other important source of
our national revenue, customs
duties, would naturally seem to
be governed by similar principles,
and to be charge in the same way
when the cost of them is finally
borne, on the consumer of the
dutiable goods. But this is not
admitted by the advocates of pro
lection: and, as the question is
one that particularly concerns the
farmer, who is to large extent
an exporter of his produce and
therefore to that extent not a
beneficiary of Protection, it is, in
his behalf, entitled to careful
examination. How is the farmers
interest affected by our tariff sys
TEN! To save discussion | will
admit at once the price which
agricultural produce brings i'll
foreign markets would not be
Sensibly increased in money by
the removal of our restrictions on
trade: but that is not the most i'm.
portant thing to consider. \ dol
lar in a place where everything
costs double is worth no more than
80 cents to its poSSessor; and it is
plain that if Protection raises all
prices above the level they wonld
otherwise maintain it effects a
practical lowering of the price by
decreasing the amount that the
producer can do with the same
money. SO that this question,
along with that of the cost of tools
and supplies, depends on this
other; Are prices of necessarie'
higher because of the protective
tariff?
PRICES OF NECESSARIES
HIGHER.
How this question can be any
question at all [ find it difficult
to see. To few of us can it bt
unknown that people never make
large purchases of clothing before
sailing for Europe. while they are
pretty sure to bring a great many
new clothes back with them. The
difference in price does not extend
to all necessaries; such provisions
as are raised upon farms are now
where, | dare say, to be had al
lower prices than those our farm
ers must be content with. But
cutlery as well as silk goods, are
lover in England, while almost
anything of wool is, quality con
sidered, hardly above half price
| have the best reason and the
strongest desire to uphold the
credit of American manufacture
ing, and | know that many of oul
| products-steam engines anC
agricultural machinery particu
larly-are better than can be made
anywhere on the globe; but whel
| look at woOlenS | am a little
/ 4 Il 70.