The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-05-20
SAFE REFORM OF TARIFF.
Democratic Party Would Revise Those
Schedules Which Now Shelter
Monopolies.

The republican newspapers and con-
gressmen have been busy all the win
ter trying TO make the voters believe
that IL the democrats are successful
they will at once inaugurate free trade
by repeating the Dingley bill. In the
first place even II the democrats elect
their candidate for president and a ma
Jorlty OF the house OF representatives,
the senate would still be republican, even
II the democrats carried the legislatures
OF all the doubtful states that elect SEN
ators who will take their seats on March
1, 1906. The republican majority Of the
senate will probably oppose any tarif
reform, but will surely vote down any
radical proposition. SO that bugbear Is
disposed OF.
In the next place, the democrats, when
In power, however much they would like
to remit taxation. must raise enough
revenue to carry on the government,
and more than half the receipts must
come from duties and imports. When
the supreme court decided that an in
come tax, as levied by the democrats in
1894, was unconstitutional, that decision
shut out all possibility of reducing the
tariff below what would raise enough
revenue for the government, honestly
administered. There are only two other
methods OF taxation, the internal rev.
enue and direct taxes, according TO the
population Of each state. The latter
tax would be unfair, because unequal,
and could not therefore, be considered.
To increase the internal revenue taxes
Is unpopular. and to impose new taxes,
such as those collected during the Span
sh war, would meet as much opposition
from the republican senate as tar!n re-
form would for their friends, the banks
and other corporations. would pay their
share, and that would be heresy TO the
republican leaders Ii remains, there
fore. to arrange the tariff taxes SO that
/ they will buroen the taxpayers as little
as possible and yet produce enough rev
snue
/ There are several schedules that would
! doubtless receive heroic treatment II the
democrats had full power. The high
/ protection the trusts now enjoy, and
that gives those corporations a monop-
oily of the American market would be
repealed or greatly modified. These ar
ticles which are sold by the corporations
cheaper abroad than here would be the
first to be cut down. so that the fear OF
competition would force the trusts 10
reduce their prices The steel trust is
the most conspicuous OF the trusts thai
is sheltered by the tariff. and the duty
on nails. barbed wire. steel rails, and
perhaps. some other products would b'
greatly reduced, and even in extreme
cases placed upon the free list. Culuva
tors. plows. axes. able knives, horse
shoe nails, sewing machines, harness
snaps. meat choppers. borax, gunpowder
raisin seeders. rakes. sad irons. saws
shovels. sugar, and numerous other prod
ucts are sold for export from 10 to 1O
per cent. cheaper than the price pal'
by our own people Such inequalities
will be the duty OF the democrats. whel
intrusted with power. TO reform.
1t has been suggested by one OF tn
most clear-headed democrats in III
country ludl 10 litNEnL TIC Ai@NNA ooA-N
to business that might result from gen
eral tariff reform. separate bills b
. passed reducing the duty on product
! that an exorbitant profit is charged fol
That programme would not disturb an
business but that Of the particular trus
affected, nor require other taxes TO b
imposed TO provide for a deficiency j
the revenue. for there is no revenu
from such articles now. there being com
paratively none imported. II must be re
: membered that the republican leader
have by allowing the trusts 10 dictat
the tariff schedules. built up an enol
nous monopoly in many products an
il will require care. time and cautio
for full reform and to release the pee
pie from the tariff tax and high price
that are now so burdensome.
No sensible man supposes that III
democrats would wish to disarrange n
business of the country; they have q
much interest in prosperity as repul
licans have. and those corporations thu
are doing legitimate business need fec
nothing. but excresences must be II
: moved. excuses retrenched and abus,
remedied That will he the programm
Of democratic tariff reform