The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-04-19
COFFEE AND TEA
REVENUE

lax on tnelr y tdA VI wv
cents a pound on these imports would
produce about $25, 900 of revenue
annually, based on present importa-
tions, coffee averaging about 1,2O0'-
600, 900 and tea over 100, 0 900
pounds. Under ordinary circum-
stances such a tax would be resented.
and we would hear the old wall about
1.-The poor mans breakfast table; but
present conditions would justify the
tax. We need the money.
The first appearance of coffee in
our tariff dates back to May 20, 1880.
when a duty of two cents a pound
was levied, effective December 81,
1880. and one cen after December 30,
1881. In August, 1861, coffee was
made dutiable at four cents, and in
December of that year at five cents
a pound. Both of these were war
measures. In July, 1870, coffee inn
ports were taxed three cents a pound,
and after July /, 1872, it went on the
free list. where it has since remained.
Last year the Democratic party gave
consideration to the a~dyisability OF
putting a two-cents-a-pound import
tax on coffee, but such a fog was
raised about it that the majority gave
up the idea. Free coffee has been in
with the general Repub-
lican principle of protection, for the
reason that no appreciate amount Is
raised in this country. and no indus
try will suffer if it is admitted free.
But the patience of the Republican
party, with respect to coffee, has been
sorely tried, because of the export du-
ties and valorization enforced By
Brazil, whence we import rs per cent
of our consumption. Fghe Brazilian
export tax, varying in each Brazilian
state from 8h to IL per cent of the
export value, was coiaeident with our
free-listing of coffee, and the valori-
cation proposition was taken up along
about 1907 or 1908. In effect. this
was a proposition for the government
to assist the growers of coffee in hold
ing it for a higher price, and it has
been estimated that this added so per
cent to the price of coffee to the
American consumer.
When the Republican tariff bill was
presented to the House in 1909 it con-
tanned a proviso that IF any country,
dependency or colony shall impose an
export duty or any export charge of
any kind whatsoever, directly or indi-
rectly, upon coffee exported to the
United States, a duty equal to the
export duty, tax or charge shall be
levied, collected and paid thereon"
This proposition was fought tooth and
nail by the then Democratic minority,
who charged that it was a Joker"
and the effect would be to add to the
export charge levied ON coffee from
Brazil, the import charge to the same
amount on the same coffee coming in.
As the very purpose of the proviso
was to discourage the Brazilian ex-
port duty. it is plain to be seen that,
had it gone into effect, and succeeded,
no import duty would eventually have
been levied. for Brazil would have
come to time. However, the proviso
was later stricken out because, as
stated by Mr.. Payne, I'VE found that
some of the (South American) gov
ernments had pledged these duties
for twenty years for the payment oi
a loan, and we could not put on this
"fdilluS uutg NAthOdt NAipplAhe
them"
Ross, Weir & Company, prominenr
coffee importers of New York. thinl
coffee is a proper article to be taxes
under present extraordinary circum
stances. They say the jobbers woul'
probably pay half of it and the Bra
lillian producers the other half. MI
Weir said: IF coffee were to go VI
two cents a pound l doubt very mucl
whether it would mean much chang
in the retail price. except in the ex
tremely low grades, which are tn
smallest end of consumption. TIL
big consumption of coffee is in rs an
30 cent sellers"
Here is a fruitful source of much
needed revenue and a good excuse +
tap IL. The proposal should met