The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-17
Fooling the Consumer.


ever got together" he was not far
wrong. For proof of his assertion
one only has to read carefully the
provisions of the tariff law that mas
recently passed Congress and has
been signed by President Taft. Inc
trainers of that bill not only roDs
the people for the benefit OF tine
Interests" but they attempt to fool
the people by the adroit manner IN
which the law is worded into the
belief that the duties levied under
il are not as high as they really are.
One of the most outrageous proVls-
ions of the bill is the one which pro-
vides for a conditional increase or
25 per cent ad valorem duty on the
31st of March next.
Now let us see how the tariff Will
work when this increase goes into
effect. which it will surely do. as
the Republican party always STANDS
ready to pile on the taxes on the
masses for the benefit of the classes.
According to Congressman Cullop' OF
Indiana, who has studied the DILL
ON the chemical schedule there Is
a reduction, but on the important
articles of universal consumption IN
the necessities of life there is large
increase. On the schedule duties
there is an increase Of per cent
over the Dingley rates. ID otner
words. the average specific duties
in the Dingley bill were As per cent
and in the Payne-Aldrich bill the
average specific duties are H per
cent. The bill reported by the con-
ference committee lis higher than
the Payne bill as originally passea
by the house.
But the specific schedule duties do
not constitute the real rates, and THIS
is where the ublic is being deceived
about the real tariff. In section TWO
of the bill is where the consumer is
handed a good sized lemon. Inat
section provides that after the Slse
day of March, 1910, there shall De
yevied. collected and paid on all
aaicles when 9mHorted from any
foreign country into the united
States the rates of duty prescribed
by the schedules and paragraphs OF
the dutiable list of section one, ana
in addition thereto % per cent au
varorem: which rates shall constl-
tnta the maximum tariff OF the
11ni,ed States" This means that IN
addition to the rates fixed IN tne
more than 1000 specific schedules
there shall be added as the tarln 20
nor cent of the value of the articles
as real tariff on the same and hence
this raises the average tarih rate
to 72 per cent, the highest oy lar
ever levied.
let us illustrate what is meant DS
this, For instance, take rough lum-
her the cheapest kind. The speclnc
duty fixed in the schedule is sl'zo
per thousand, but to which must pe
added the rs per cent ad valorem
dirty provided by said section, two.
suppose such lumber is valued at
$40 per thousand feet, 25 per cent
of that value is $3.50, to which aoo
the s1.25, and it would make the
Tariff on rough lumber of that val
ne s375 per thousand feet. On lum-
ber valued at $40 a thousand the
tariff is s6.25, and on lumber Valu-
cd at $50 a thousand 1t is S1.oo'
The Dingley rates were 81 thou
sand straight. Thus it will be. seen
there has been a very large increase
in the tariff on lumber instead or
decrease, if the maximum rate pre-
walls, and we believe it will.
Take coal. The Dingley rates
were CT cents a ton. Under the
Payne,Aldrich bill the specific DUTY
is as cents ton to which must Dc
added the ad valorem duty OF 20
per cent provided for in said Sec
tion. to get the real duty. rake
coal of the value of 81 ton, the
specific duty is 45 cents, and the
ad valorem duty is 25 cents Whlcn
makes the actual tariff on coal Valu-
ed at 81 ton, 70 cents. On coal
valued at 50 a ton the tariff Is 80
cents ton, and so on. instead OF
decreased here is a substantial In
crease. 1t is also published there
has been a reduction Of the duty on
print paper from Sc ton to 1913,
but this is not fact. Such a reduc-
ton is made in the specific duty
named in the schedule, but to this
YOU must add the % per cent ad
valorem. Suppose a ton of print
paper is valued at $40. The specific
duty is 1915 plus 20 per cent OF
$40, which is $40, making the totas
duty on ton of the above stated
s13.75. Thus it will be seen that
instead of decrease 1t has been
more than doubled.
What is true Of these articles TAX
en- as illustrations is true of every
item in the dutiable list consisting
of more than four thousand items.
The woolen schedule on specific du-
ties is the same as the Dingley law.
to which must be added the 25 per