The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-02-22

York by steamer, having with u
seven yards of serge cloth, whic
was to be made into dress for m
wife. This cloth cost in Londol
sl1.9O, and was declared duitable. b,
the customs officers. On those sever
yards of cloth ! was obliged to pay
duty-a duty on the weight and ;
duty on the value-44 cents a poune
and IS per cent ad valorem. These
duties amounted to 1924. making the
cost of the s1l9O article, $21.14.
"A tax like this is unjust and ex.
cessive, and cannot be defended. II
this is sample of the provisions Of
the present tariff law | am not sur.
prised at the universal dissatisfaction
! that prevails with regard to it, and
hope the Democrats will succeed in
changing this law with some regard
for the interest of the consumers.
Profits of Beef Trust.
The beef trust packers declare that
during the years 1907, 1908, 1909 and
1910 their net profits from fresh meat
were only one-eights of one cert a
pound.
In 1907 the retail price of fresh
meat was from ll.8 to 1873 per cent
higher than in 1900, while the price
OF cattle declined in that period from
1872. 46 to S81. 53.~ And while dressed
beef was half cent pound dearer
in 1910 than in 1909, the price of
beeyes was lower, declining from SO
per hundred pounds in 1909 to $7.55
in 1910.
Any self-respecting COW, says the
New York World, has the right to
wonder who got the extra difference
between her price on the hoof and
her price dressed.
Tariff is Tax.
The word tax should be substi-
tuted for the word tariff. The
people would then understand the
question better. Fewer people would
then accept the protectionist theory
that the way for them to increase
their prosperity would be to increase
the tax on everything they eatt, wear
or use. To use the word 'tax" in
stead Of tariff" would be to make
protection appear ridiculous to the
wage Garner: Instead of saying the
tariff on WOOL" it would be better
70 say "the wool tax" or "the sugar
AK" or 'the implement tax" "the
sewing machine tax" etc. The word
ariff is deceiver. But the people
know what tax is. They know they
Jay it themselves. The word tariff
las certain ring to it that sounds
ike it was paid by some third party.
A Good Dinner
Judge Gary, head Of the Steel Trust,
lttended a banquet in New York.
The food was good; the lights were
fright; the silver shimmered; the wine
parked; the cigars added a final
to the happiness of
everybody present. When it came
Judge Gary's turn to speak his mind
vas saturated with benevolence, and
lis thoughts turned to the welfare of
he republic, the sufferinqs of the
vorkingmen. Listen to him:
Things are being said at the pres
mt time akin to the things that were
aid just prior to the French Revolu-
ion. and inmy opinion there is danger
head-unless capitalists, corpora
ions, and men of great wealth take a
fading part in the amelioration of
there will be changes
1ade later by the mob"
The same newspapers which told !
he story of the banquet and Of Judge j
iary's speech, also chronicled the
.stimony Of witnesses before the |
tanley committee. These witnesses ,
I'D how the Steel Trust forces men
, labor twelve hours a day, seven
ays week, for wages which COM
81 them to live like swinea condi-