Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1891 — Who Pays the Tariff Tax? [ARTICLE]

Who Pays the Tariff Tax?

One of the foremost claims of the protectionist is that thx foreign shipper pays the duties. If this is true, isn’t it strange that when famine threatens any country, one of the first means of relief thought of should be a diminution or removal of import duties on food stuffs? Again, the «eport of the Treasury Department for the fiscal year 1890 shows that 6,109 gallons of castor oil were imported, valued at $2,910. The duties were $5,520. Now, if the foreign shipper paid the duty, is It not certain that he not only made us a present of the oil, but gave us, besides, $2,610 to get rid of

it? In 1890 importers brought into the United States 664,653 gallons of spirits distilled from grain, valued at >456,121, the duties on which were >1,329,367. Who paid these duties? If the Importers, they lost not only the liquor, but 8873,. 246 besides. These are, of course, extreme cases, but the truth or fallacy of a proposition IS generally most forcibly shown by taking extreme cases.—Rural New-Yorker.