The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-10-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
81 c. Il. Taycrne7.

cue, they Cu9hC 10 support Che
Democratic candidates for Con-
gress. and thus place their stamp
of approval on the record of the
House Of Representatives.
Since January 1st. 1912, aDem-
ocratic House passed tariff bills
which would have reduced the
high cost of living $4,000, 600.
year.
Every bill which in the slight
est degree provided relief for the
masses was vetoed by the Presi-
dent.
The Farmers Free List bill,
passed by the House, would have
saved the people $500, 600, 600 an
nually. This bill removed the
duty from agricultural imple-
ments, of which $36, 600, 600 worth
were exported and only $165, 600
worth were imported during the
last fiscal year; sewing machines,
fence wire, bagging and cotton
ties. lumber laths, shingles, meat,
-four. salt, leather, shoes, etc.
Under our tariff law a barrel
of flour valued at 81. abroad is
is taxed % per cent ad valorem at
our ports, or one dollar on the
barrel. This bill removed this
entire tax.
The Democratic wool bill pro-
posed to reduce the average rate
of duties on wool manufactures
from 90.10 per cent to 49, 6 per
cent. President Taft's veto Of
this measure means that the
American people will have to pay
fifty million dollars more for their
clothes this year than they would
if the President had signed it.
A wool hat valued at one dollar
abroad and taxed 78 cents upon
its entry into the United States,
under the psesent tariff law,
would have been taxed only 40
cents.
Flannel underwear valued at
$27 per dozen suits is taxed I'M
der the present law at at the e.
uuivalent ad valorem rate of a
bout 1O6 per cent. The Demo
cratic bill proposed to reduce
this to 40 per cent. A suit of
ready made wooden clothing
worth in Europe so is taxed nu-
der the present law at the equiv
alent ad yalorem rate of Is per
cent, or $3.50. The Democratic
bill proposed to reduce this tax
from rs to 40 per cent and save
the consumer $3.50 per suit.
The cotton bill reduced the dut-
les on cotton manufactures from
1912 Der cent to 27.06 per cent,
a reduction of the tariff burdens
under this schedule from not less
than 5000, 600, 900 to about SIP,
100000 for year, or saving of
about S88, 100000 for a twelve
month period.
The bill revising the metal
schedule reduced the average
rate of duty on the entire sched-
uIe from 80. IS per cent Imports
of 1910 to p. AZ per cent. This
revision, it is estimated, would
have saved the American consul
mers i'm o tWelve-month period
more than eighty million dollars.
The bin placing sugar on the
free list would have saved during
a wear not less than one hundred
and fifteen million dollars to the
consumer. The tariff tax on
SUGAR amounts to about one and
one-half cents a pound. The
the amount Of sugar consumed IN
continental United States in 1911
was about 1850 million pounds,
and the application Of 1 IL cents
per pound to this consumption
affords the estimate of the above
stupendous sum as representing
the saving to the people.
The House passed bill provid-
ing for an excise tax on incomes,
thereby transferring a consider
able portion of the tax burdens to
the wealthy, who are escaping
their proper proportion.
The Excise Tax bill passed by
the Democrats provides for the
extension of the Corporation Tax
law so as to include individuals,
firms and co-partnerships. Itac-
composites the very desirable pur.