Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-11-23

DOCUMENT No. 6)
NO' VI
TARIFF REPORT OF 1916

-
< DOCUMENT No. O.
u TARIFF REPORT OF 1916.
on the Eth of February, 1916, the Secretary
the treasury, in obedience to the resolution of n
House of Representatives of February o3 ISL
$ transmitted his "Report on u general tariff of duli,
C proper TO be imposed OH imported goods, ware
ana merchandise" The Tariff, thus reported, wa
made the basis of that reported by the Comniue
OF ways and Means, and in the advocacy of til
Protecttre duties of which, MIR. Calhoun took so con
t spicuous a part. From this report the following ex
tracts are made:
"a statement IF The general principles for reform,
ing ne IdTU ~ the u. States, including the mean
Of enforcement.
The Tariff which has been thus generally reviewed
originated in the year 1890, soon after the organization O
ue feueral Government. notwithstanding the various
alterations TO which it was subjected during The long ne
ROD OF American neutrality, it certainly has not been lief
In d state adapted TO the present epoch. The peace o
Europe VIII give a new course and character 10 the com.
merce oil the world;' (see Mr.. C.'s speech on the same
points) land the condition Of the United States is essen
ua'ly changed IN population, in wealth, in the employ
inehto OF labor and capital, in the demand of luxuries. or
OF hecessales Tor consumption, and in the native resour-
ces 10 supply the demand. These considerations forciLlv
recommend me measure Of revision aud reform, now con-
.emPiated. Tho task, however, is not more important in
It's oplec'' than dihicult in the pei Torrance. The means
o, Information are scattered and imperfect. Manu- con.
Jncti"g interests and p~rejndices are 10 be yecOneiIeG," &c
In framing the propositions which this report will sub,
MT 10 The consideration Of Congress, for the establishment
u a general arm, three great objects have been princi-
Pahy rcgarded.-lst. The object Of raising, by duties on
imports ana tonnage, the proportion of public revenue
"mCh De Drawn from that source.-2d. The object
u concentrating the various national interests, which arise
IRON TIE pursuits OF agriculture, manufactures, trade and
navis1'on-And 3D.. The object of rendering the collec-
uon oi duties, convenient, equal and ccrtain."0
The examination of the first branch of the subject.
AFTER showing that the sum required from the Gus
toms is SlI,O75,00 concludes as follows:
IL then the average annual product of the single
uuues on imports AMI tonnage may be estimated land
IL cannot be Prudenuy estimated higher at the sum
Tbo olu,,. $l2,OOO,O00
amount will yield 100000
And will give for the amount to be pro-
uT Ti oy me customs $I7,OiO,OOO"
upon:
1.-The social comnactis forn.eLop- tie, haa;> .fn -v,-,a,
political rights OF each State, for the benefit and security
OF the whole confederation. Hence, in the attempt to
conciliate the various national interests which arise from
the pursuits OF agriculture, manufactures, trade, and navi-
CATION, it is necessary 10 recollect that The common OBJ
ject Of the nation will not invariably correspond with The
separate objects IF individuals, or Of their professions, nor
with the local objects Of the respective States, or IF the
industry Of their inhabitants.
"Undcr the beneficial dispensations of Providence, the
territory of the United States produces almost all the ma
tural fruits of the earth; and pursuing the subdivision Of
which labor is susceptible, the citizens of the United
States are engageR in the cultivation of almost every art
and every science within the scope of human knowledge.
But the fruits %Produeed, although they are the fruits Of
the nation, are not The same in euery State; and the Ia
Dor employed, although it be the labor Of TIE nation, is
employed upon rerg different materials, toith Uery dJ-
teTent results, IN the different sections Of The Union.
"From these considerations are derived the principles
of general policy, by which the national character is
formed, and the national interests are maintained. The
interests OF agriculture require a free and constant access
TO a market for lis staples; and a ready supply of all the
articles of use and consumption upon reasonable lerms;'
(sec the opening OF MIR. C.'s specify g but the national
interest may require the establishment OF a domestic, in
preference TO a foreign Market" (see Mr.. C:s specchO
sand the employment of domestic, in preference TO foreign
labor" (see Mi. C.'s speech) ain furnishing the neces-
sary supplies. And again; the interests of foreign com
merce flourish most, when foreign commerce is the
only medium to convey the natural products Of the coun-
try to a market, and to provide for all the wants OF the
people in the fabrics Of the manufactures and the artist:
but the national interest may require, Contemplating
equally the state Of peace and the state OF war; that the
people should be as independent in the resources Of their
subsistence, as in the operations of their government. 1t
must, however, be the aim of every just system of politi.
cal economy, to secure the national interest with as little
prejudice as possible TO the peculiar interests Of agricul-
ture and commerce.
"Thcre are few, if any, governments which do not re-
| gard the establishment Of domestic manufactures, as a
chief object OF public policy. The United States have
already so regarded it. IN the earliest acts of Congress
which were passed after the adoption of the present Con
stitution, the obligation of providing by duties on imports
for the discharge OF the public debts, is expressly con-
nected with the policy Of encouraging manufactures. In
the year 1890, the Secretary of the Treasury was direct.
ed by the House Of Representatives, to take the subject
of manufactures into consideration, with a view Partcu-
larry TO report upon the means of promoting such as
would render the United States independent of foreign
nations, Tor military and other essential supplies " &c.
Z" But il was emphaicaly during the period of the re
strictive system aud Of the war, that the importance OF do
nestle manufactures became conspicuous TO the nation
H"i lidNt ~ iueulk AihIAteolOu uHOu Nt Illu VI tNtIl
statesman and Of every patriot" (See Mr.. C's speech,
The weapons aud munitions of war; the necessalies o
clothing and the comforts of living, were at first but sean
tily provided. The American market seemed for a Will,
to be converted into a scene Of gambling and extortiOn,'
&c.
"From these circumstances Of suffering and mortified
ton have sprung, however, the means Of future safety ant
independence" &c.
"The object to be encouraged and protected merits, il
its intrinsic value, as well as its general influence, the at
tentiOn of the Legislature. From the peace Of 1888 unit
the year 1903, the march Of domestic manufactures wa
slow but steady. IL has since been bold, rapid and firm
until at the present period, considering the circumstance
OF the time and pressure, IL has reached a station Of uncX
ampled prosperity. The attempt, however, TO obtain de
tailed aud accurate Information upon the subject, has onl,
been successful in a very limited degree and, conse
quently, The result must be presented TO the view of Con
gress, rather as an outline and an estimate, than a.
complete and demOnstrative statement Of facts. With thi
understanding, the American manufactures may be salts
hctorily divided into three principal classes allowing 10
such diversities Of shade, as will sometimes seem to rendC
the classification OF particular manufactures doubtful or AZ
bitrary@First observation-disclosures which are hrml
and permanently established and Which, wholly or al
most wholly, supply the demand for domestic use and cor
b., umption-Sccon ass-Manufacturc which, being rC
Gently or partially established, do not at present supply tn
demand for domestic use and consumption; but which
with proper cultivation, are capable OF being mdtured
the whole extent Of The dem9nd.-Ihird C0SS- Mani
D lectures which are so slightly cultivated, as TO leave N
demand Of the country wholly, or almost wholly, dcpcr
dent upon foreign sources Tor q supply"
Tie report then presents a table Of the warrior
y manufactures, arranged in these classes; after whic
4 follow some remarks on the duties proper TO be in
: posed on the corresponding articles ofimport:
d. "Tte mdturcd state Of the first class OF manufacture
relieves the task Of forming a tariff, with respect TO thei
from any important difficulty. Duties might be free