Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-04-17
REVISING THE TARIFF

The Republicans, If they control the next
Congress, will not need the advice and assis
lance OF tariff commission, for all they
need do is to call in the experts and attor
neys OF the trusts. That is what they did in
1897 when the present tariff law was fixed
up. What is the use of deceiving the tax
payers, as Congressman Payne does, by de-
claring that "tariffs have always been made
without anything like adequate informa-
ton" Mr.. Payne and the other members
OF the Ways and Means Committee were
folly advised when they were considering
the DINGHY tariff law that the high rates de-
mAnded by Mr.. Carnegie and the Steel
Trust people would breed monopoly. When
they allowed the Standard Oil Trust attor-
ney to write the proviso to the oil schedule
they knew they were protecting the trust and
adding at least so per cent. to the price OF
kerosene to the American people, and the
poorest people at that.
When they accepted the Beef Trust seized
ule on hides they pretended to be protecting
the American farmer, but they knew they
were helping the Leather and Beef Trusts.
When they accepted the wool schedule Of
the Wool Growers Association they knew
they were adding rs per cent, at least, TO
the cost OF wooden goods TO those people oil
Northern States, who from necessity have
to buy them, and instead OF helping the
farmers it was the hockmasters Of the great
Western plains that were mostly benefited.
When they wrote the schedule that protects
the Paper Trust they must have known the
newspaper owners would have TO pay the
tariff duty in increased profit to the trust.
Not schedule but was carefully consider
cd and all with the same intent and pur
pose OF adding to the burdens OF the peo-
pie for the benefit OF the trusts.
The trusts were well acquainted with the
facts and In return have been most liberal
contributors to the campaign fund Of not
only the Republican National Committees,
but also to the committee that manages the
election of Congressman. Millions have
been paid by the trusts and protected mo-
nopoiists TO secure the election of Presidents
and Congressman, both OF the Senate and
the House, who were Sound on the tariff"
And now the same old show is to be
played again with different title and the
excuse that there must be added maximum
schedule rates to protect US from the pau
per labor of England, whose workingmen
are now in better circumstances than our
own workmen are because their cost Of liv
log is 80 much less.
The English workman has lower wages
but the world to draw upon Tor his necessi-
ties, for every country, including the United
States, sells him It's surplus products in
competition with each other, with no tariff
duties 10 speak OF to add to the price. Here
everything imported that is manufactured
Is taxed and the trusts profit by adding the
tariff rate to their own natural profit. The
only difference being that the government
collects the tariff tax on the goods i'm.
ported and the trusts collect the tariff
tax on their products produced here while
the tariff protects them from foreign com
petition. 1t is now proposed to promise
the people to revise the tariff latter cleo
tion," but whether the tariff Is TO be re-
vised lower or higher is lett to the i'm
agination of the voter AS the Repub.
lican leaders now declare they must en-
act maximum tariff as well as minimum
tariff, it is evident that some of the trusts
want still higher rates, and no doubt they
will be accommodated by their friends, the
Republican politicians.