The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-07-09
D. U. FLETCHER WRITES ABOUT
THE TARIFF
If He Will Live Up 20 What he
Writes He Will Do We'll

|
The following letter was written 10
the editor of the Worlds Events By
Duncan U. Fletcher. Florida's bril-
liant junior representative In the
United States senate.
d Editor Worlds Events-Your fevor
requesting a brief message regard
ing what I consider would BE- an
ideal policy for the government 90
pursue in its relation 10 both revenue
and industry" has been received
Complying / would point out a few
fundamental principles and logical de-
auctions:
l. Generally speaking the tariff is
tax, and is paid by the consumers
of the commodities upon which an inn
port duty is laid.
.. The general government has The
power, and no more. TO lay and col
lect taxes for the purpose OF raising
revenue for the support and main
Itenance and operation Of the govern
ment and for governmental purposes
3. There is no authority 90 leEis-
late values into products or commOdi-
ties for the benefit Of special private
interests alone at the expense 0f aIl
other people.
4. II is clearly an abuse OF the
governmental function 20 employ t
TO subserve a private interest
.. A tariff should be- laid So O. to
produce the greatest amount OF rev
enue with the least burden on the
people.
6. To raise sufficient revenue for
the economical administration of the
government, a duty on imports must
be imposed 1--WE call II a tariff and
this duty will inevitably result, In
some incidental protection % Ameri-
can industries. II the duty Is so high
as TO prevent importation. you may
have two results; first. no revenre
will be produced. because no duties
will be collected, there being no Inn
portation; and, second. there viii b.
competition. where any exists. viii
soon he avoided by the formation OF
combinations and trusts. which win
fix the price in the home market This
is the result Of a high protective TAR
if. such as now exists. In respect to
many articles Of consumption.
Z. The lower the duty the great.
er the importation and The competi-
ton, and the greater the revenue.
provided the duty Is not too low. The
point where the rate Of duty viii pro
duce the greatest revenue with the
least artificial stimulation OF prices
is the point where the duty should De-
fixed.
$. There will be inequality OF ben
efits and burdens under any tariH
but the higher the taria the rlorr
protection" the greater must b.
these inequalities. A policy OF protec-
ton without regard 20 the raising uf
revenue for governmental purposes.
just for the sake Of taking care % In
dustries. means favOritism: the aid
by the government az the expense of
all the people 10 particular interests.
the sustaining. by taxing the consum-
ers, industries which could MOI live
without high protection: excessive
protection to certain industries Tar
above what any principle would JUST
~, resulting in mountain peaks o.
which the prices climb. and vast la.
crease in the cost OF neeessaries and
comforts OF life.
3. II follows that where beneats
and burdens are more nearly equaHs.
ed farOritism largely disappears. en-
eessiVe duties are avoided, ~eraft" H.
not probable. a feeble and undessry.
ing industry is not enabled 10 become
an imposition upon the people a. laras
and private interests are not made
paramount to the public good. 70.
duction Of the tarin duties should b.
gradual towards. and uItimatsly
should reach. q strictly revenue b.,
sis.
IL seems 70 be noe. that before us
can have much relief from ths high
tarin taxes, We must have greater
economy in the administrator 81 me
government. and a decided reduc,ion
in expenditures.
Yours Vsry bully.
DUNCAN ~ m rr~ur-u