The Goodland republic., 1906-12-28
MISS TARBELL ON THE TARIFF.

MISS TARBELL ON THE TARIFF.
From Kansas City Star.
Miss Ida TarbeH, who has used her
literary talents for a definite purpose,
and has so far fulfilled that purpose,
has taken up the subject OF the pro-
tective tariff in the American Maga-
zine And why nOt2 Miss Tarbeu
has secured the attention OF the cOun-
try as an expOser OF graft and cor
ruption and the unfair deal Her as
saults on Standard OIL laid the fOun-
datiOn OF the present movement
against that trust and its outrageous
practices. She has taken a lively in
terest in public affairs, more especial
" in the operation Of the trusts and
the railroads. She has extended her
acquaintance with the men and me
thods employed in the great business
concerns Of the country. She has an
observing and an understanding mind
And she has been enabled to make her
knowledge useful by means Of the ma
gaines. Her facts are vital and her
conclusions are convincing.
So, why should not Miss Tarbell
take up the subject OF the protective
tariff. which, in the larger part Of its
bearing, is the most gigantic Of all
gratis? II is not only a graft because
OF the injustice 1t does to the Ameri-
can consumers on the one hand and
the special privileges it grants to par
ticular interests on the other, but it
is unlawful under a strict cOnstruc-
ton Of the constitution. The protec-
tive tariff is imposed Ostensibly for
the purpose Of giving American indus
tries an advantage over foreign com
petitOrs-. In other words, it prevents
impOrtatiOns, OF admits them in con
sideratiOn Of duties paid not for the
purpose Of revenue. but for the pur-
pose Of advancing the retail prices OF
these fmpOrtatiOns so that American
producers and manufacturers will be
better able to meet the competition
In turn, the people must pay higher
prices for these importations than
they would have to pay without the
tariff, and in addition they must also
pay higher prices for native products,
since domestic prices always advance
when competition is eliminated or
taxed Now these eXcesses in prices
are an indirect tax on the people, and
this tax is levied for the purpose Of
fostering the industries. Therefore
this tax is unconstitutional in fact, If
not in specific terms, for the govern
ment under the constitution is permit
ted to collect taxes for revenue only.
1t does not actually collect the tariff
taxes, but it forces the people to pay
them direct to the producers and
manufacturers. And in those cases
where neither the producer nor the
manufacturer needs the protection
thus given, but merely uses it to exact
abnormal profits, the system is mon
strOus in its operations, constituting a
scale Of robbery beside which that Of
Standard Oil is incOnsequential.
There is no reason why the protec-
tive tariff should not be called a graft
since it is a gTaft-merely because It
is authorized by the government, and
the sooner It is taken out OF the realm
OF economics. where 1t does not be
long at all, and placed in the class Of
fragrant public abuses, where it does
belong, the better for the country. And
perhaps Miss Tarbell, whose efforts
viii not be discredited by any politi-
cal association or aims, is just the
person to place the protective tariff
before the country as the country
should see it