The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-11-30

great, that fraud would have been lmpractlcaoie-
but Congress rejected the suggestion, and intro
duced al intermediate minimum OF one dollar,
which has produced all the mischief. AIR. b. con-
Guided BY observing that the manufacturers were
unwilling to disturb the law as It now STOOD Inc
growth OF wool was rapidly extending, ana com
petition would soon reduce the price OF that afu-
Gle when this was effected, the existing law
would give sufficient protection ooth ior wool
and woollen goods.
Mr.. Coke said, the gentleman had SHOWN Inc
abuses, but not the remedy. Two might be pro-
posed would be, to allow the government
to take the goods if the owner was dissatished win
the valuation the other to value the gooos al the
port where they were entered
Mr.. Brown observed, that the committee had
that subject under their consideration IL had been
suggested that an ad uGlorem duty would remedy
many of the existing eyiis but 1t was not 'ne pol
icy of this convention, by suggesting remedies, 10
set the whole subject again ahoat. u that plan
were adopted il must be evident that the present
rate OF duties would be too high-they would
amount to prohibition. For himself, he believed
the country would be gamer by even that; out
he did not suppose such could at present Dc
the opinion of majority OF the people. MANY
articles were totally prohibltcd-especI1ily cheml-
Gals, some Of which, with duty of four cents To-
were in market at that price l0,OOo tons oil crude
birthstone, and 1000 of salt pctre, were imported
last year for the purpose of manufacturing ACIDS;
used in the bleaching of cotton and the staining Of
CaliCO-lnClQenta branches vi AduC "hiNh nav
grown up out of the system of home industry, ana
which enjoyed protection, amounting to total
prohibition. The Convention however, would
not take the ground of advocating any alterations
or improvements of the law; let it only be entorc-
ed and il was sufficient.
MIR. Coke asked whether this city oil New iork
was the only sink of corruption, through which
goods came frauduently into the country Were
they not So entered elsewhere! AT Boston, Tor In
stance?
Mr. Brown replied, that there had been some
cases at Baltimore in one of which, though most
clear case of fraud, the jury had been unable to
agree A few instances had probably also occur
red at Boston-but so rigid was the examination
there, that not $1,000 year passed the Custom
House. 1t was seldom indeed that an invoice
could pass there. Nor were there many instances,
any indeed, that he had heard of in Philade pEia
But this city abounded in British agents-of whom
one man sold, i'll single year, more than $500 ,00C
worth of Broadcloths. The man had i'm.
ported 80 600 yards in six months-of this amount
"a 800 had been entered at the Custom House un-
der the dollar minimum, and paid duty of 81 l-2
cents only. Being in the trade, Mr.. b. had an
opportunity of knowing. The jobbers of Boston
had boughtarge Quantities of him but all they had
bought such cloths cost 9s. sterling; die
they hear that the person in question had any or il
any, very few to sell OF lower quality. He had
examined his bills and all the cloths were charged
at from $3.50 to 1926
The Collector, Mr. B. said, intended, he did moi
doubt, to do his dity he as faithful any
man could be, under many difficulties. Since
the extent of the frauds had been discovered, hi
had ordered all cloths under the dollar minimum tC
the public stores. If they passed now II must BE-
owing to fault ii the Judgment OF the appraisers
| The true value would now be known--but attempt.
at fraud should te pursued to condemnation ant
forfeiture.
MIR. Coke inquired whether the cotton trade wal
subject to the sane abuses as that in woolcn goods
Mr.. Brown replied in the negative. Cotton
had but single minimum in the provisions Of th'
law-and that So cents but they would hav,
had the same difficulties woollens if there hat
been scale OF minmums as in the other case at 10
20, and So cents. He then further explained how
the minimums in the woollen goods, came to be in
serted in the law.
The question was then taken on accepting the
report OF the committee, and adopting the rcsolu
tion with which it closed-and it passed in the af
frmatiye.
The LATE TARIFF CONVENTION. The grea
benefit which is looked for, from the late Tariff
Convention in New York, will be the aceumu
lation of masses of facts which will furnish t.
the public safe data for opinions, and the cor
rectlon of speculative errors Tho annexed
statement, from the United States (Phadel
Phla} Gazette, is specimen of this sort
We have gathered Sew scraps which wer,
used in New York There can be no harm il
showing them in advance of losg reports an,
among these is one which refers 10 the effect q
the tariff on iron manufactured in the west
The prices referred to are at Pttsburg.
In 1898, bar iron sold for $50 a 2l0 per ton
Now the price is 100
In 1898, boiler iron was $50 per ton
Now it is $40
In 1928, sheet iron was scarcely
in the western market-value
at IS cwt.
Now it is manufactured in Pitts
burg, sufficient for the valley of
the Ohio, $50 do.
In 1915 1920, cut nails were val
ued at IA Is do
Now the same kind sell for Ga do.
Hoop iron in 1928, was worth $50 ton.
Now it sells for 100 "
Axes in 1920, were worth "a Id.
Now they sell fer IL
Scythes are now 50 per cent.
lower than in 1924.
In 1920, iron hoes ground sold for 9
Now steel hoes ground are worth 4a41-2
The same remarks apply to spades and shoyels
and socket shovels sell now for LIZ, which in 1874
were worth IL.
English vices in 1920 were worth 20 a Is Id.
better article is now made in this
country, at 1919
The same article in 1894 sold for is 81
Brazier's rods (imported) in 1924 sold for ID pc
h.; now our manufacturers supply them at $50 pc
ton, IA to 3-9 inch in diameter
Within the last eight wears there have been erect
ed, II new furnaces in Kentucky near the Ohio.
up the Allegheny.
on the Monongahela.
81 in west PENNSYLVANIA.
rolling mills in Pittsburg.
Steam engines are now fifty per cent lower thar
in 1920 'i'~'
Within the last year, more than 100 steam en-
gines have been made in Pttsbnrg, and il ia though
that upwards Of $50 will be finished in 1882.
Let US suppose the tariff rescinded, and wbal
would be the consequence General bankrupt
cy-lhe country flooded with foreign manufac
'nres-the specie drained from the country I,
the last dollar-broken banks-depreciated n,
per currency-factories IN ruins-hapds idle
Vanished, or driven TO the greatest excesses O
crihe' 10 preserve the spark of lifc-highwa,
robberies-house breaking -.murders-6rss.Y
assinations-ih 3usands and tens of ,bous,nd
of industrious hands driven to fdleness nrons
eating vice, and seeking refuge in irebrio, v
opulent families suddenly reduced 10 want
the country exhibiting an aspect of ruin. as ;e
eesolating army had marched over IT, Tbes,
are but fe~ of the evils that would now "a
suit from repeal ofthe tariff laws. 10 or,t;r,
some half score of ambitious men al the soniL
who ought TO be advised to traoel througb IN
rope, to cool their heads, mend their hear.
improve their patriotism, and incroose iho;,
knowledge and ytoan,a Jybie
Thata Tariff Of protection was originally ma.
posed oy the North, and sustained by tho Sop,b
IS matter of history moi to be denied n, This 4,
How was II then that the North and South ha We
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