The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-10-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER,

Washington, Oct. 17.-If h {
American people wish to give credit
to whom credit is due, they ought
to support the democratic candi'
dates for congress, and thus place
their stamp of approval on the re.
cord of the House of Representa-.
/ tives.
Since January LIST, 1912, a demo
cratic house has passed tariff bills
which would have reduced the high
cost of living $3.50, 100000 year,
Every bill which in the slightest
degree provided relief for the
masses was vetoed by the president
The Farmers Free List bill, pass
ed by the house, would have saved
the people $39O,0O0,O00 annually.
This bill removed the duty from
100000 worth were exported
and only $4,000 worth were i'm,
ported during the last fiscal year;
sewing machines, fence wire, bag
ging and cotton ties, lumber, laths,
shingles, meats, flour, salt, leather,
shoes, etc.
Under our direct tariff law a bar
rel of flour valued at 81 abroad is
taxed rs per cent ad valorem at our
ports, or 81 on the barrel. This
bill removed the entire tax.
Beef valued at $3.50 per 100
pounds abroad pays a tariff equiva-
lent to 1888 per cent or $3.50 per
100 pounds. This bill proposed to
remove this entire tax.
The democratic wool bill propOs-
ed to reduce the average rate of
duty on wool manufactures from
90.10 per cent to 1886 per cent.
President Taft's veto of this meas
ure means that the American
people will pay S50,0O0,OOO more
for their clothing this year than
they would have if President Taft
had signed it.
A wool hat valued at 81 abroad
and taxed 70 cents upon it's entry
into the United States, under the
present tariff law, would have been
taxed only 40 cents.
Flannel underwear valued at $27
per dozen suits is taxed under the
present law at the equivalent ad
valorem rate of about 1O6 per cent.
The democratic bill proposed to re-
duce this to 40 per cent. A suit of
ready-made wooden clothing worth
in Europe $40 is taxed under the
present law at the equivalent ad va
loren rate of rs per cent, or $3.50.
The democratic bill proposed to re-
duce this, tax from IS to 40 per cent
and save the consumer $3.50 per
suit.
The cotton bill reduced the duties
on cotton manufactures from 1912
per cent to 27.O6 per cent, a reduc-
ton of the tariff burdens under this
schedule from not less than $780,
100000 to about 100000 for
a year, or saving of about $685.
100000 for twelve-month period.
Mems cotton half hose valued at
eighty cents per dozen pairs at
are taxed under the pres
emit law at the equivalent ad valor-
EN- rate of about 81 per cent The
democratic cotton bill proposed to
reduce this to 40 per cent
1t proposed to reduce the tax on
cotton thread from an equivalent
rate of "a per cent to Is per cent.
A suit of ready made cotton cloth
ing valued at the foreign ports at
Sc is taxed under the present law
suit. This democratic bill proposed
to reduce this tax to 80 per cent,
and save the consumer $1.20 per
suit
The bill revising the metal sched-
lie. reduced the average rate of
1uty on the entire schedule from
1885 per cent Imports of 1910 to
PAP per cent. This revision, it is
would save the American
in twelve-month per-
cd more than $SO,O0O,00O.
The revision of the chemical
would have effected a saw
ng to the American consumers of |
bout $17,OO0,OOO by reducing the
rice of all chemicals and at the
anne time the revenue to the gov
would have been increased.
The bill placing sugar on the free
list would have saved during a year |
ot less than $115,0OO,0O0 to the |
onsumer. The tariff tax on sugar
to about II cents per
ound. The amount of sugar con-
umed in the continental United
tates in 1911 was about 1861
100000 pounds, and the application
T R cents per pound to this con-
lmption affords the estimate of
as representing the
aving to the people. .-g.s.-.
The house passed a bill providing
,r an excise tax on incomes, there
y transferring a considerable por-
on of the tax burdens to the
ealthy, which are escaping their
roper proportions.
The Excise Tax bill passed by the
ouse provides for the extension of
re corporation tax law so as to in
Jude individuals, firms and co-part-
erships. 1t accomplished tue very
esirable purpose of transferring
tx burdens from those less able to
AIRY them to the shoulders of the
'ea!thy, who have heretofore escap-
d from proper share of taxation
Or the support of the government.
The present burden of indirect
axation falls upon people having
ncomes of less than $4,000 per
ear. A man whose net earnings
mount to but $4,000 per year
'ould under this bill pay no tax.
!