The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-07-16
- EIsl.h.Eaa u III.

Editor Worlds Events,
Your favor requesting "brief mes
SAGE" regarding what consider
''Would Be- 90 IDEAL policy for the gov
eminent 70 pursue m iis relation 60
both revenue and industry, has been
received. Complying. / would point out
q few fundamental principles and logi-
cal deductions:
lst. Generally speaking. the tariff Is
tax, and Is paid BY the consumers Of
the commodities upon which an import
duty Is laid.
"a. The general government has the
power, and no more, 70 lay and collect
taxes for the purpose Of raising revenue
for the support and maintenance and
operation Of the government and for
governmental purposes.
Sd. There is no authority 70 legislate
values into products or commodities for
the benefit Of special private interests
alone at the expense Of all other people.
9TH. II Is clearly an abuse Of the gov
ernmentai function 10 employ IL 10 sub
serve a private interest.
9th. A tariff should be laid 80 as 10
produce the greatest amount Of revenue
with the least burden on the people.
6tn. To raise sufficient revenue for
the economical administration Of the
government, n duty on imports must be
Imposed Eve call It q tariff, and this
duty will inevitably result in some Incl
dental protection 10 American indus
tries. II the duty 10 90 high as TO pre-
vent importation, you RAY have two re-
suits: first, no revenue will be produced,
because no duties will be collected, there
being no importation; and, second,
there will be no foreign competition and
the home competition, where any ex
ists, will soon be avoided by the forma-
ton Of combinations and trusts which
will fx the price In the hCme market.
This IL the result Of high protective
tariff, such as now exists, IN respect 70
many articles Of consumption.
Tth. The lower the duty, the greater
the importation and the competition,
and the greater the revenue, provided
the duty is not too low. The point
where the rate Of duty will produce
the greatest revenue wi h the least ar
tifCiaI stimulation Of prices 10 the point
where the duty should be fixed
9Th. There will be inequality Of bene-
iits and burdens under any tariit, bat
the higher the tariff. the more ''protec-
ton, . the greater must be thO5e inc
qualities "A policy Of protection, with
our regard 10 The raising Of revenue FOR
governmental purposes, just for the
sake Of taking care Of industries, means
faVOFitiam; the aid BY the government
az the expense Of ell the people 10 par
ticuIar interests; the sustaining, by
taxing the consumers, industries which
could not live without high protection,
excessive protection 10 certain indus
tiles far above what Gny principle would
justify, resulting IN mountain peaks 20
which the prices climb, aud vast In
crease In the cost Of necessaries and
comforts Of lie.
eth. It follows that where benefits
and burdens are more nearly equAhEod,
favOritism largely disappears, excessive
duties are avoided graft d not prob
able, q feeble and undeferving indus
try Il not enabled to become an imposi.
ton upon the people at large and pri.
vate interests are not made paramount
b the public good. A reduction OF the
tariff duties should Be gradual towards,
and ultimately should reach, strictly
revenue basia.
IL seems 20 me now, that before we
can have much relief from the high
tariff taxes, We must have greater
economy In administration OF the gov
eminent, and q Decided reduction IN exc
penditures. Yours very truly.
DUNCAN U. FLETCHER.