Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-04-04

IL. hut i, should be recollectcd that when
monopolies were divied they ceased IN TACT
to be such. Suppose, for instance there
were ,hree butchers in small toWn-one
supplying the inhabitants with beet ano.nef
with mutton, and third with veal. lhey
would then each charge his own price, not
! ha7,ng any competition in the trade; CUT II
each begin to deal in the commodity Oh 'he
other, The consequence would be an inme-
date competition, and. OF course, reduc-
ton of prices. 1t would be something IKE
this here. There were other Canals IT should
be recoIlected, al the opposite side OF the
water, There was the commercial DOCK
the Surry Canal, and another' and though
they were not on that side of the river, most
advantageous to the trade the port. This
c. mpeltion was the more necessary at
time when there was considerable falling
off IN our imports and exports. in the year
1890, as compared with the preceding year,
there has been falling off in QUIZ exports OF
not less than len millions, and in our imports
of not less than SIX millions. This of course
showed decline in our manula ctured goods;
for he might say that though our exports con-
! sist Of nine millions out Of ten OF British ma
nufactured goods, it was generally admitted
that the increase on the manufactured arti-
Gle, as compared it'll the raw material. was
as seven or eight to one; so that this increase
on our export of len millions was spead and
divided among different branches of our do
meslic industry Now he would say, that
if by reduction of The rates Of dock duties
the exports could be brought back 10 what
they were in 1918, it would cause an in
crease of about eight nj Ilions among our sew
eral manufacturing branches; and as nearly
one fourth in value of what every man con-
sumes finds its way into the treasury taxes
of some kind or another, this would prove
on increase of about 2,0OO,0O0l. 10 the re-
venue. This would be intellectually more
certain and efhcaciouS way Of aiding the
state, than that ofadvances to secure monop-
olies. In fact TO give up such permanent ad-
vantages for temporary advance would
be TO initiate Esau, who old his birthrigh:
for mess of potage. Our ancestors on almost
all occasions showed themselves enemies 10
monopoly.
In the reign of Elizabeth, the house of
commons having addressed the throne for
the abolition of certain monopolies, her ma
jesty thanked them Tor having pointed such
harpies and horse Isec hes as she term
ed them. la the reign of James, monopo-
lies were renewed, and complained Of; and
it was well known that The establishment of
monopoies and the ship money, in the reign
of Charles, brought on that fatal rebellion
in which that monarch lost his life. He sin.
cerely hoped that his majesty's ministers
would not continue such odious measures,
but if they determined to do so, he trusted
that they would be foled in the attempt, e.
that the public spirit IN the house Of CON-
mons would give them most efectual OPP
position. This was reason with him for
wishing for a reduction or the monopoly
which affected hundreds Of others in SINH
lar manner. 1t operated also as a tax on
those consumers who were supplied from
the London market, while it was as kind
of bounty to the trade of the out port He
also thought that in justice to the London
Dock Company, this monopoly ought not
to he continued. The London Dock Com
pany bad built their vale houses and docks
near to town, and expended on them sum
OF not less than 3. 2OO.O0OI. while the pre-
misses of the West India Dock Company,
though more extensive; did not cost more
than l,x00,0OOl.; for an are of land in the
Isle of Dogs did not cost more than the
price Of square yard nearer TO the city.
In fact, the West lnlia Dock Company
had a large dividend upon smaller capital;
and if ihei- charter should be renewed. a
compensation would very naturally be
claimed by the London Dock Company, g.
very probably be given. This would entail
another. restriction upon commerce general
! ly, for it was we'll known that all ship. en-
tered into the port of London paid duty OF
seven pence in the ton, exclusive. Of all o.
ther charges, to make good the sum advan-
ced an former occasion. from the consoli-
dated fund. as compensation to the uptown
ware houses and other interests which were
affected by the establishment Of the docks.