The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1908-12-12

NnO dl' Iihl'lk a NN'l\ interest ~
the tariff question that will be-
brought up in the special session
oi congress in the spring and at
which tim, it may hc We will be- ad
mittcd. Most people know wha,
the tariff Ut today -, but not every
II the history OF IT,, and now
that We are on the threshold OF
political manhood, 1t ma, bc well
to think over it., and let It soak in
pending that time when We get to
be- Tree, white and twcutv.onc sure
enough.
Owing To- the prominent place tina,
the tafiti question Is now occupy.
ing, and will continue to occupy
unit after the special session OF
congress agrees on a revision. a
bret history ui tariff legislation
will hc OF much assiStanc, to those
who desire to study the subject
The word tariff" Is usually applied
10 the customs duties l,yi,d hy
congress on merchandise imported
Tradition Identified the word
with, the town OF Tarlia, Spain.
Here, during the Moorish occu.
pancy OF the country about Gihral
ter, all vessels passing through
the strait were compelled to pu
IL and pay such duties a, wrr,
demanded dy the chiefs IN pos
session.
Among the Greeks and Roman
a duty similar to the tariff ui tn,
present day was known, and IN
England as early a. $50, during
the reign OF Ethelrrd, duties on
ships and goods were levied, to
be paid at Billingsgatc.
Charles II established a regular
schedule OF rates in 1909. After
1896 ENGLAND gradually abolished
her taiih duties, beginning with
the repeal OF the corn laws and
continuing until 10000, when
revenue duties alone were collected.
and those upon less than twenty
articles.
In the United States the hrs,
congress passed a tariff law levy.
lng on an average less than ; per
cent. ad valorcm on imports.
This was approved 10y Washington
July j, 1850. The tariff OF 1910
imposed duties OF about Is per
cent. and certain leading manu-
features, under protest from the
agricultural states OF the south.
In 1894 new tariff act was passed,
increasing, among the changes
made, duties on metal and agri.
cultural products, Ian. 81, Is2S,
the tariff OF denominations, as
It was named bv its enemies. was
introduced in the house, emhodv.
ing the accommodations OF "A ma.
tional convention OF manufacturers
held at Harrisburg, Pa. This bill
proposed a ~ per cent, rate aud
was favored 10y Daniel Webster,
who reversed 90, ,sition OF IS24.
The south opposed II, d nying the
power OF congress II lay duties
Tor protection.
July -, 1854, President lack.
son approved a bill reducing the
tax on iron, increasing that on
woolrns, making some raw woods
tree, and leaving cotton unchang.
ed. This bill retained the pro.
trctive feature OF the law OF IS2S,
but reduced the taxes somewhat.
South Carolina passed an ordi-
nance multiplying this act, but her
ordinance was rcScIndcd after the
approval OF the compromise tariff
OF the 1888, This measure, in.
troduced 10y Clay and supported
by Calhoun, provided tor a grad.
ual reduction OF duties TO a uniform
rate, TO be reached IN lS42, II
secured a tariff revenue hy success
sive reductions.
In IS42, the wings being in a
majority, congress enacted a pro-
teCtive tariff, which Preslden ut
TYLER vetoed. July 80, 1890, a
tariff law was enacted which sub
ordInated the principle OF pro,cC.
ton to that OF revenue. II passed
the house 10y a vote OF IIS To oS
and the senate 10y the casting vote
OF Nice.Prcsident Dallas The
average rate OF duty was fixed at
about IS per cent. This wa 5
lowered 10 about 40 per cent. 10y
an act OF 1857.
In 1861 the principle OF protcc.
ton was r%easserted in the Morrill,
act, which increased the rates OF
1857 about one third.
During the civil war the tariff
rates were repeatedly raised to
meet the expenses OF government
and stimulate anuiactuTe
These rates were continued long
alter hosulitlcs had ceased. In
1852 a tariff commission was APP
pointed to visit different sections
oil the country in the interest OF
tarltt revision.
The commission recommended
a reduction OF 40 per cent IN rates.
President Cleveland, in his mes
sage oi Dec. s, 1885, recommended
reduction oil the ta'lii, and his