Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-02-03
A DISCUSSION OF THE TARIFF
QUESTION BYaD. A. TOMPKINs
SAYS SOUTH MUST TURN
FROM POLICY OF FREE TRADE
TO THAT OF PROTECTION.
(From the Charlotte Observer

semi-annual meeting in Charleston
recently. A resolution favoring the
enactment Of a compulsory education
law in this State was passed. The
effects Of the panic, which had ra-
ther depressing influence upon the
cotton mill business in this part of
the country, are said to be disap-
to be encouraging.
A feature of the meeting was an
address by d. A. Tompkins, of Char
lotte, n. c., on american Cotton
Manufacture and the Tariff" as fol-
lows:
"American Cotton Manufacture and
the Tariff"
All governments require money to
defray expenses, such as the main
tenance Of law and order at home,
defense against invasion, to conduct
postal service and to do other things
necessary to the welfare OF the peo-
pie. Part Of the money required by
the United States government each
year for expenses are:
For the army. 500, 900, 900
For the navy. ....... 1875, 900, 900
Soldiers pensions 80. 50,000,00O
Rivers and harbors... 5O,O00,0OO
An approximately complete list
would be tedious here and the fur
ther details unimportant The ag-
gregate expenditures OF the govern
mppt now ropno clpco tn hil,;on
dollars a year. Yet we don't get all
the public buildings we want, nor all
we think we ought to have.
Some. one called one Of the Con-
crosses over which Mr.. Reed presid-
ed "tho billion dollar Congress"
Mr.. Reed retorted this has come to
be a billion dollar country" and SO
it has.
The constitution provides that the
Federal government shall raise the
money necessary 10 pay expenses of
the general government.
(1) BY internal revenue on whis-
key, tobacco and some other things,
stamp taxes on commercial papers
and documents, etc.
(2) BY tariff on imported goods.
(3) BY direct tax upon the States
in proportion to population
This direct tax method has never
been used.
Revenue stamps have been chiefly
used in time of war and for short
periods afterwards.
Tho chief cnnrco. >f Jrp;toJ Stoto.
government revenue are: Internal
revenues on whiskey, tobacco and
import duties
We are now getting about all the
tax money from alcoholic liquors
and tobacco that We may expect for
some years to come. The internal
revenue on whiskey is so high that
it leads to contraband manufacture.
The prohibition movement is making
inroads into this source of revenue.
If the tax should be further increas-
ed 1t would lead to more contraband,
but not more revenue.
The most feasible means Of main
tanning the government revenues to
the mark necessary 10 pay reason
able government expenses is by the
means of tariff on imports. Ex-
travagance might increase the re-
quirements some and economy might
reduce them some, but not enough
to consider in the matter of fixing
principle for laying tariffs.
We all concur that the tariffs |
ought to be laid in such way as to |
bear least upon the working farmers,
mechanics and other producers. |
Therefore we would naturally put |
tea and coffee upon the free list. On |
the other hand, silk is worn by the |
rich only. Therefore the natural first |
thought Is to put a high tariff on |
silk. But a high tariff on silk, to |
make the rich pay most of the reve-
nue., or cost OF government. becomes |
at once highly protective to the silk |
industry Of the United States.
Any tariff which much exceeds the |
difference in cost in this country and !
any foreign country Is apt to be more |
than enough to 'otect. Therefore |
each item Of the tariff should be at |
aome differential figure which would |
at the same time raise the money
necessary to run the government and |
most influence business conditions |
for the better.
Tea and coffee ought undoubtedly |