The Prescott Daily News

TAXING POOR MAN'S
COAT OFF HIS BACK
Concrete Illustration of What a Republican Tariff Really Means
Causes Workers to Think.

Concrete examples of how a protective tariff operates are causing the sort of thinking nowadays. He is beginning to understand whether it is about time to call a halt on the Republican practice of taxing the coat off his back and threatening him with the loss of his shirt and his socks if he does not submit.

All through the present tariff law, passed by a Republican congress and endorsed by a Republican President THE BEST TARIFF BILL EVER PASSED, are to be found discriminations, the higher duty on the cheaper article, the lower on the shoulders of those least able to bear it the greatest burden of the protective system.

Here are some illustrations:
The cheapest wool blankets bear a duty of 165.42 per cent.; the dearest, 44.55 per cent.
Flannels, not more than 40 cents a pound, are taxed at 143.67 per cent.; over 70 cents a pound, 76.37 per cent.
Wool plushes, cheapest, 141.75 per cent.; dearest, 95.33 per cent.
Knit fabrics, cheapest, 141 per cent.; dearest, 95.53 per cent.
Stockings worth from $1. to $1.50 dozen, 76.37 per cent.; from $2 to $3, 59 per cent.
Hats and bonnets, worth not over $20 a dozen, 62 per cent.; over $20 a dozen, 35 per cent.
Carpets, highest priced, 50 per cent.; that used for mats and rugs, 126.88 per cent.
Women's gloves, unlined, 49 per cent.; lined, 34 per cent.; longest gloves, unlined, 42 per cent.; lined, 29 per cent.
Men's gloves, worth less than $3 a dozen, 66.28 per cent.; costliest gloves, 45 per cent.; leather, unlined, 44.58 per cent.; lined, 29.50 per cent.
Buckles, cheapest, 77.48 per cent.; dearest, 26.3 per cent.
Uncut diamonds bear a 10 per cent. duty; imitation diamonds, 20 per cent.
The humble firecracker bears a 102 per cent, duty, while elaborate fireworks bear but 70 per cent.
Matting, smaller and cheaper grades, 40 per cent.; costlier, 24 per cent.
Watch movements, seven jewels, 102 per cent.; 11 jewels, 40.41 per cent.; 17 jewels, 34.45 per cent.
Underwear, cheapest, 56.90 per cent.; dearest, 50 per cent.
Dress goods of wool, cheapest, 105.42 per cent.; dearest, 94.13 per cent.
Velvets, cheapest, 105.22 per cent.; dearest, 49.55 per cent.
Silk handkerchiefs, cheapest, 77.44 cent.; dearest, 59 per cent.
Scissors, worth 50 cents a dozen, 21 per cent.; worth $1.75 a dozen, 50 per cent.
Table knives, fancy grades, 57.40 cent.; bone handled, 69.43 per cent.
Butcher knives, best grades, 52.10 per cent.; cheapest grades, 93.55 per cent.
Files, smallest, 81.29 per cent.; longest, 36.81 per cent.
Shot guns, worth from $5 to $10, 47.67 per cent.; worth over $10, 45.46 per cent.

These are only a part of the discriminations, gleaned from a swift conning of some of the schedules. Reduced to simplest terms, they mean that the poor man is taxed higher than the rich man.