The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1921-08-18
THE HOUSEWIFE AND THE
!. TARIFF.


to pass the Tariff bill until it has re-
ceived and disposed of the Tax Revis-
ion bill, and although it is certain
that the Senate will amend the mon
strocity and mystery known as the
Fordney Tariff bill in many particu-
lars. it is interesting and important
to the people to know the kind OF
tariff act the Republican House has
attempted to fasten upon them by
steam-roller and gag-rule methods.
Despite these methods the Demo-
Gratis got some glory on the final pas
sage of the bill by forcing the House
to strike out the embargo on dyes and
restoring hides and long staple cot
ton to the free list. Petroleum and
fuel oil and asphalt are also retained
on the free list.
In the whole history of Republican
tariff legislation one outstanding fact
is that the individuals who bear the
heaviest burdens of the tax are never
consulted in the drafting or amending
or the passage of an act. Among
these is the American housewife.
Some of the instances in which these
worthy citizens are mulcted under the
Fordney Tariff are herewith present.
ed:
! In taking up the items of this bill
we find on all table, kitchen, house
hold and hospital utensils levy of
five cents per pound, plus 80 per cent
ad vslorem, plus 10 per ca:.r more if
the articles are electrical. Thus every
housewife in America mu:t pay tri-
i.u;e # arount1 40 per cent on prac
tically every a,.icle src uses III the
H. ntn and If she sho~...' be,lnce iii
anil to the h, spital !, u'en.i f. i.
fht ,.napital have a ta,iG letic On
them, and she must pay her pro rata
part, which is an additional cost.
Table knives are given the penalty
of l6 cents each, SO that when the
housewife buys dozen table knives
size must pay $1.o2 for the privilege
= Of furnishing her table with silver
knives. An additional amount is
levied upon forks, spoons, tablewares,
etc. If she buys pair of scissors
she must pay three cents each, plus
IS per cent ad valorem.
Here is the furniture schedule which
levies from Is to 50 per cent on furn-
iture, so that the American home will
be penalized when an effort is made
to secure the necessary furniture for
the operation of the home. Carpets
are given a levy of from one to five
cents plus 20 to 80 per cent ad va
loren. 1t seems that on some ol
these articles they were ashamed tC
state all of the levy in one form, SC
they doubled up in the form and thus
got them from two different angles
The housewife must pay for hel
clock s. per cent ad va1orem, and il
she secures a clock with jewels, ar
additional amount of 81 to So for each
clock is added.
Electric light bulbs and lamps arr
given IS per cent levy, so that those
who use electric light for the purpose
of reading and working or for amuse
ment, must pay for that privilege.
These tariff taxes are in addition tt
what the housewife must pay in take;
on food, clothing, shoes and wearing
apparel generally.
Even with the few changes that thu
Democrats were able to have made il
it, at best the Fordney bill is mucl
too bad even to become law by tn
act of party that expects to be con
tinued in power. Tariff laws fa
less unpopular than the Fordney bill
have been unpopular enough to cos
the party that passed them the con
troll Of the lower house of Codgres
at the ensuing election,