Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1892 — WHO PAYS THE DUTY! [ARTICLE]

WHO PAYS THE DUTY!

A H; Hull by Secretary of Agriculture Hunk. The proposition that the foreigner pays the duty has received a deadly blow in the house of its friends. "Uncle Jerry Rn.sk, the secretary of agriculture, who has always seemed impressed with the idea that it is his highest duty to instruct the farmers of the country in the beauties of protection, has committed himself to a most astounding “free trade heresy,” admitting even that the tariff tax is added to the cost of goods and is thus paid by the consumer. The following communication tells its own tale: Wkathkr Bureau, Washington, Feb. 8. The Secretary of Agriculture: Sir—l have the honor to return herewith house bill No. 8,047, appropriating *16,000 to establish signal display stations on Aiddle and Thunder Bay islands in Lake Karon, whioh you transmitted to me for suggestion. * * * Tilts bill is of tho same general character as senate bill No, 205, which I returned to you Dec. 28, 1801, and which appropriated $12,700 for this purpose. The estimate fbr this bill was originally made by this office, but since that time a change in tho tariff laws has nearly doubled the cost to the government of telegraph cables. Tho government now cannot import free of duty as formerly. Instead of $1,500 a mile the est imates should be increased to—--7 miles cable, at $3,000 per mile $21,000 22 miles land line, at SIOO per mile. 2,200 Total $23,200 I am, very respeetfnlly, your obedient servant, Mark W. Harrington, Chief of Weather Bureau. Depautmbnt or Agriculture, Feb. 11. Respeetfnlly referred to the oommlttee on interstate and foreign commerce, house of representatives. I approve of the recommendation of Professor M. W. Harrington. J. M. Rusg, Secretary. But there iB one feature of the oase here which Uncle Jerry did not point out In his formal approval of the weather bureau's report. He did not remind the house committee that when Uncle Sam pays duties at the custom house on telegraph cables for the weather bureau he merely pays the money from one pocket Into another. The custom house returns are Increased and the weather bureau costs more; but it is all the same to Uncle Bam, as he has the money in his other pocket. Could not Uncle Jerry have pointed out to t he American farmer that thesame does not hold true of him, that when he pays the tariff tax his dollars are transferred to Unclq Sam’s pocket, or, what Is still worse, to tho pocket of some protected tariff baron, and that they return not again?