White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-08-08
ORIGIN OF TARIFF
SYSTEMS NOT KNOWN
Greece Had Both Import
and Export Duties.

unique features. It raises duties on
many products shipped from the Unit
ed States, and it prohibits the impor-
tation of numerous articles except by
written consent. The objects of the
new legislation are stated to be re-
duction of unemployment, stimulation
of manufacture In Australia by branch
factories under foreign ownership, and
sterilization of the exchange rates.
"Australia's new tariff law, coming
at the time of a revision Of tariffs at
home, arouses interest in the origin
of tariff systems and their develop
ment in various countries" says bull
letin from the National Geographic
society.
mo one knows when or where the
first tariff was imposed or the first GUS
toms duties collected. The collection
Of toll or duty from goods brought
into city or country became impor-
tant with the development Of trade
to a considerable volume. Although
Babylon, one Of the earliest civiliza-
lions of which we have record, had
highly organized social system with
minute code of laws relating to
deeds, leases, mortgages, taxation, and
the like, it Is not known what part
customs played in the affairs of the
government. A country's revenue IN
those days was chiefly from a 1.-THE OF
the live stock and crops of it's citizens
Greece Exacted Duties.
"When Greece held the most impor-
tant place in the world duties on COM
modities moving in trade had come to
be an accepted tax. Export pro-
hibitions had also come into use,
chiefly as defense measures In time
of war or as protective means to pre-
pare against war.
"Rome had little commerce in Its
early days and allowed commodities to
come and go freely. When expansion
set in and trade grew, the government
began to mold economic currents, often
by direct methods. Some commercial
rivals, such as Carthage and Corinth
were destroyed. Other conquered coun-
tries were divided into districts and
customs houses were set up at the d.
yiding lines. Both exports and I'M
ports were taxed.
''Rome's tariff system was probably
closer to those in use today than any
previous ones. The types of duties
were the same that enter into current
tariff discussions: specific and ad
valorem. A specific duty is charge
per unit, as 20 cents for each yard, or
pound, or dozen Of the commodity
taxed. An ad valorem duty is per-
centage Of the value of the commodity
In the early days of the Roman en-
pire the most common ad valorem rate
was 5 per cent. Later 1t was raised
to 121a per cent.
"venice, the great trading republic
of the Middle ages, carried on the Ro-
man tariff theories and went further.
Her object was to obtain a monopoly
in the handling of eastern goods and
to regulate by duties the trade With
the West and North.
Changed Trade Route.
"The Mameluke rulers Of Egypt held
a strategic position in regard to cas-
tern trade during the Middle ages, and
put on as heavy duties as the traffic
would bear. AS a result of the tolls
imposed by them and by tribal chiefs
In Arabia, Indian goods increased 300
per cent In price between India and
Europe. In the end the Mamelukes
defeated their purpose. The Mongols,
who gained control Of an overland
route farther north, charged lesser
duties, and the trade flowed over the
new route. After Vasco da CANA
found the ocean path to the East, both
the Egyptian and the overland route
gave way to the cheaper, duty-free
water route.
"About this time Marco Polo, travel
ing in China, found that duties were
charged there in the realm OF the
Great Khan. He found duties collect
ed at city boundaries as we'll as at
provincial frontiers. These duties
ranged from 3 1-3 to 10 per cent
an medieval Europe, tariffs became
a nightmare to struggling traders. Ev-
cry petty prince and feudal lord set
I'D his toll gates and custom houses
and took q share of the merchants
wares. After the feudal kings took
over the barons' privileges there was
movement away from the collection
of duties in every small area; but
progress was slow, and in some coun-
tries, such as France and Germany,
provincial customs continued to be
levied. Even cities took toll from en-
tering goods. The local taxes OF Paris
are survivals of this custom"
O1d p;Il Fined