The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-07-18

' ment 1t is axiomatic to say tina.
P there should be equality in the burdens
/ Of taxation. Tn tariff, under our law,
E is a tax laid upon imports from foreign
countries into the United States for con
= sumption here. The tax is paid by the
importer in the first instance, and is then
; added as an item making up the total
COST o. uhe dIucle dHecteu IN tne enc
the purchaser who buys the article for
consumption pays the tax. In Other
words. the tariff IS merely indirect tax
alton; l have said that the controlling
principle of just taxation should be to
raise a needed revenue for publ pur-
poses, and so levied as to cast the bur-
! den with the greatest possible equality
upon all. If incidentally the tax pro-
tects domestic production against outside
competition, as of course 1t always does
TO the extent of the tax, it is all the
better But we have long since departed
mate and just taxation. The policy now
long in vogue has been to impose tarif
duties not 50 much to raise revenue as
70 close the door against foreign compe-
tition in American markets, and to give
to American producers a monopoly in up
plying home consumption. This policy
has been carried to an extreme in this
has it been carried. and So long con-
bic abuse, fostering great business COM
binations which mercilessly plumber the
else, has made possible the organization
of those great Industrial trusts so uni
tariff, not only escape foreign acompet-
ton, but are able to crush domestic COM
7 petition also. IneSe giant m~OQOpO1eS
progeny, of our tarin system. 1t is
a matter of common knowledge that the
wealth OF the country is largely CEN
tered in a few hands. l do not contend
that all the fabulous fortunes possessed
by Americans are due to our prohibitory
all the great Industrial monopolies exist
and flourish because of it. The newt
able endency Of this system is to en-
courage the concentration Of industrial
effort, and hence the concentration also
of the nations wealth. More than that,
II enables the producer 70 levy uncon-
scionable extortion upon the consumer
general run of American manufactures
are sold cheaper in foreign countries
than at home This IS true Of food prod
ucts, clothing, Industrial implements,
steel rails and Substantially everything
else. The Chicago Journal. with assid-
cured prices on many staple articles pre-
yailing on the same day, both at home
meat products from Omaha, Chicago
and st. Louis, steel products from Pitts
burg, watches from New England. har-
81 Louis and Bosfon. and numerous
other roducts from many states were
communities far below the price at
which they were sold at home. Recently
Mr.. George Spencer Of Treadwell Broth
ers, a large shoe distributing house in
London stated that he had seen the
Identical American shoe which was being
sold in London at $5-8I marketed at $500
in New York stores. With ready acumen
he observed that II there was a profit |
on the price in London. then the profit
in America is so enormous that it serves
to explain why milliOnafres are as plenti-l
ful in America as blackberries in Eng
land. Illustrations showing like discrim-
nations in numerous articles could be
multiplied, but mere additions would
to say in general terms. that the differ
ence In prices between the home and
to 40 per cent in favor OF the latter. The
advocates Of the present tariff, while
American products, put forth the plea
that the things sold abroad represent
needs Of our own market. In other
words, the. contention is hat our manu-
oyerp5oduee. and then are
II at a loss, in foreign markets.
To my mind that argument Is worse than
puerile. It implies that the policy of our
home market only, and not for export
that be true, then they overproduce
every year, which they are forced to
send abroad because presumably it would
lbsurdity. I do not believe it. II it
we're true that our manufacturers, who
hess men, produced only for the home
market, and not primarily for foreign I
markets, they would not annually pro- ]
luce a surplus SO There isn't {
/ manufacturer in the United States
Who cannot approximately anticipate the I
domestic demand upon him. If he cares 1
)uIv for the home market II is an alb F.
iurdity to say that he would year after
Fear go far beyond its probable demand 5
continue to produce knowing that I
le would be obliged TO export the over !
'lus for sale at a loss. It is positively {
Lbsurd. No, he manufactures for the I
oreign market as he does for the home S
market. and he ships abroad because he !
&raG@by uhSI PF9Ht-he obtains- lie z
iels cheaper IN the foreign market only 7
1ecause competition cOmpels him to, I
the pront IS sufficiently at \
racuNe Tor MIN 10 seek II II IS only
1n the tarih-ridden American that mo- {
lopoly fattens. The bulk Of our import I
industries have fallen into the hands {
Of combinations These combinations, 1
under the operation of the tariff, have a :
of the domestic markets and
sumers higher prices than they can OBJ
tain abroad in the face of competition
they have two scales Of prices-a
high one for the home market, and a
one for the foreign market. Ny
a healthy economic and Industrial con-
dition, to say nothing Of its honesty It
Is amazing TO me that the great con-
sumlng population OF the states would
for a day to its continuance
Not only are consumers interested in
question, but manufacturer also.
are not yet affiliated with them. There
are many patriotic, enterprising men
engaged in manufacturing who seek
better opportunities to expand their
business and exploit the OF
produced abroad which they need in the ,
d of their bust ess, and the en-
DIIHulS ldIlH ldlQ upon LnGlI llDOIla- /
handicaps them with unnecessary
burdens and hardships. It clips their
and holds them in restraint. These /.
men also look with apprehension upon
the growing hostility, more and more f,
manifest In foreign countries, toward
American productions because of the ex-
clusiOn OF foreign merchants and manu- .
from our markets They want
to enlarge, not restrict, our trade rela-
tons with the world These men clamor :
for a genuine revision Of the tariff. And
the time has come when the American !
should demand that the schedules
Of the existing law be revised and de-
mand, too, that IL be done without pro- :
crastination, not in the interest of trusts s
and mOnopolies, but solely Ia the public
interest. Monopolistic trust-made goods ,
be made to face the competition
Of the world. ]
When. under republican auspices. can
the country reasonably expect a tarim !
And what kindf Since the
close Of the civil war the tariff
have been several times re- {
vised, but nearly always on a rising Z
scale, going higher and higher. For
more than a generation we have been !
under the operation OF a high tariff
with almost constantly aug I
rates of duty. The present law, s
force for more than a decade. It is the {
most excessive tariff law the country
ever known Its rates of duty are
so eXorbitant as to make them for the
most part practically prohibitOry. The {
of this system, putting aside {
its evil effects. for which they make
all kinds Of sophistical explanations. {
Justify the system by saying that under
its operation the country has enjoyed a
nbruOunanaT industrial growth TTndouhf-l