Charlevoix county herald., 1908-04-18
POINTS WELL TAKEN
INIQUITY OF PRESENT TARIFF
RATES EXPOSED.
With Taxes of Over 100 Per Cent. on
Articles Of Necessity, Repub-
Iican Leaders Still Refuse
Necessary Relief.


In his speech against the Beverage
bill on the 5th 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 40 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 and
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 number of in
| stances are sold in foreign countries
under the present tariff at a lower
rate than in America.
The fourth fact, which is already
I 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
! the tariff tax is over 100 per cent.
And there are many such instances,
! 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 5000, 900
in Massachusetts. The motto of the
Democratic party is, as | understand
it, the greatest good to the greatest
number
Careful estimates show that the
| average tariff tax per family paid in
1903 was about Sill for the United
States. OF this tax only $16.52 per
family went to the government. Over
$94 went to the trusts and other pro-
tected interests. It is probable that
this tax for the benefit of trusts aver
aged 500 per family for the 100000
families in Massachusetts. or 500 ,O00,-
600 for the commonwealth
While T. is impossible, as long as
We obtain our revenue largely from
tariff taxes, to prevent considerable
salvage for the protected trusts, yet
our aim should be to minimize this loss
and to get into our treasury at Wash.
ington nearly every dollar collected
from the people. There should be no
tariff graft for the trusts. This 500
tariff tax paid by each family should
go for more and better food and cloth
ing for our women and children, and
not to increase the dividends on the
watered stocks of the protected cor
porations. Our constant aim should
be to reduce the cost of living and
to increase the comforts and health
of the people.
1t may not be possible to remove
all OF this heavy burden, but it is en-
tirely possible to remove the great
er portion Of 1t. / propose to do my
utmost to free our industries and oui
people from oppressive taxation.
ITO accomplish this end | shall la
Dor in season and out of season. and
use whatever influence | may have
TO reduce the taxation on our mate
rails and our food and clothing.
shall favor the reduction of these
tariff taxes by revision of the tariff
and by reciprocal treaties with Can
ada and other foreign countries"
But then Gov. Douglas has shown
himself to be statesman, and thus
able to take a broader view of the
plundering tariff than the Republican
politicians can attain to.