Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-04-02
POINTS WELL TAKEN
tNiQUITY OF PRESENT TARIFF
RATES EXPOSED.
With Taxes Of Over 100 Per Cent. on
Articles Of Necessity, RePuh-
lican Leaders Still Refuse
Necessary Relief.

In his speech against the Beveridge
bill on the 9th of February, Senator
Culberson established by facts and
figures exceedingly important points
relating to the present tariff Law.
1.-THE first is that the average ad
valorem tariff tax is As per cent. or
more.
1.-THE second fact is that the average
tariff which we have now is far great
er than the difference between the
cost of labor in foreign countries n
in this country. So, whatever a man
may be, whether he be a protectionist
or a revenue reformer, like myself,
the fact stares him in the face that
we have schedules now which go far
beyond the difference between the
cost Of labor in foreign countries and
in the United States.
THE third fact, which is indisput-
able, is that manufactured articles in
the United States in a number of in
stances are sold in foreign countries
under the present tariff at a lower
rate than in America.
1.-THE fourth fact, which is already
established and in the minds of the
American people, is that a protective
tariff fosters and encourages the
creation of trusts"
In spite of these four facts the Re-
publican leaders refuse even to con-
slider bills for revising the tariff, even
to the extent of not considering the
bill now before congress to reduce
the tariff on all articles upon which
And there are many such %inctances,
including those in the wooden and
glass schedules, all articles of neces-
sity. Think of it, necessities taxed by
the tariff over 100 per cent!
How different is the position on the
tariff of former Gov. Douglas of
Massachusetts, who in his speech of
acceptance when a candidate for gov
ernor said:
Besides the effect of the tariff tax
on raw materials, which affects the
manufacturers, primarily, we must
not forget or neglect, as the Repub
licans do, the interests of the consum
ers, of whom there are about 9,000,0 0(
in Massachusetts. The motto of the
Democratic party is, as | understand
it, the greatest good to the Creates
number
Careful estimates show that the
, average tariff tax per family paid il
1908 was about Sill for the United
States. OF this tax only 1852 pei
family went to the government. Ovel
1914 went to the trusts and other pro
tected interests. 1t is probable tina
this tax for the benefit of trusts aver
: aged $500 per family for the $50, 00C
families in Massachusetts, or $65 900,
0C0 for the commonwealth.
while it is impossible, as long a.
Y we obtain Il revenue largely from
tariff taxes, to prevent considerable
salvage for the protected trusts, We
a our aim should be to minimize this los
e and to get into our treasury at WASH
ington nearly every dollar collecte'
from the people. There should be n
u tariff graft for the trusts. This $40
tariff tax paid by each family shout
go for more and better food and cloth
ing for our women and children, an
not to increase the dividends on tn
watered stocks of the protected co
l. porations. Our constant aim shout
be to reduce the cost of living an
to increase the comforts and healt
of the people,
ut may not be possible to remov
p. all of this heavy burden, but it is Ell
n tirely possible to remove the grea
y er portion of it. | propose to do m
utmost to free our industries and OF
P" people from oppressive taxation"
n But then Gov. Douglas has show
;e himself to be a statesman, and thu
able to take a broader view of til
ID %plundering tariff than the Republica
1t politicians can attain to.