The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-22

a given rate on a particular article is
the same, whether levied for The purpose
Of revenue or for the purpose of protec-
ton, II may be well to define the diff
ference between a revenu tariff and a
protecloe ,PTiff. A revenue tariff is so
framed as 70 collect a revenue and you
stop when you get enough; a protective
tariff may be so framed as to collect but
little revenue, and yet lay a heavy bur-
den upon the people-and you never know
when TO stop. To ILLUSTRATED: A tariff
may be made so high as to absolutely
prohibit Importation. If. in such a case,
the manufacturer yield to the tempta-
ton mentioned by Mr.. Taft and combine
to take advantage of the duty, the con-
sumerS viii be heavily taxed, and vet
none of the money will reach the treas
ury.
Let us suppose another case: If we i'm
port one-tenth OF a certain kind of mer-
chandise and produce at home nine-tenths,
and the imported and domestic articles
sell at the same price, then the treasury
receives duty on the foreign article and
the manufacturer collect nine times as
much on the domestic article as the treas
ury collects on the one-tenth imported.
1t becomes a matter of great import
ance. therefore, to the people at large
whether the tariff is intended to raise a
revenue or is framed in the interest of
the manufacturers and for the purpose of
protection. No one would think of en-
ploying in a city. a county or a state a
tax system under which the bulk of the
tax would go TO the collectors. and yet
the Republican leaders demand the con-
tinuance of a system under which the pro-
tected interests receive far more than
half the money collected from the peo-
pie through the operation of a high tar
iff-
Question of Right.
AS a tariff law interferes with the nat
ural laws of trade. one who proposes a
protective tariff. takes upon himself the
burden Of proof to show. first. that a
protective tariff Is right in principle; Sec
ond. that 1t Is wise as a public policy.
and, third, that II IS necessary. And.
yet. what protectionist attempts TO pre-
sent an argument in support of any ore
of these propositions?
Is il right to tax all of the people for
the benefit of a few? Where a COM
munity has attempted to collect taxes
for the aid of an industry. even Nhcn
the industry was to be located in the
community. the highest court in the land
has declared such a tax to be larceny
in the form of law. If a city government
cannOt rightfully tax all the people to
bring an industry into the city. where
such benefits as are conferred are moe
easily seen and more universally enjoyed.
who will say that a farmer i'm the Mis-
souri, valley can be rightfullv taxed 10
support an industry in a distant state?
AS a matter Of public policy. is it wise
that the industries that do pay should
be compelled to carry upon their backs
] Industries WHICH. dccoTulilg To- the arSC-
ments made by their representatives.
could not live without aid? Have we not
seen this system introducing corruptio,
into politics, and is il not building buSi-
ness upon an unsubstantial basis? HaV-
ing secured a tariff from one party. the
beneficiarieS loudly declare that :he coun-
try will be ruined if any other party OBJ
tains control of the government. Manu-
facturers have intimidated their employees
and threatened them with a reduction in
wages unless a party favorable to thC
system was continued in power. This is
an old device, and there are indications