Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-03-03
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THE TARIFF.
In SENATE, Feb. 90

The Senate proceeded to consider the
Dill to alter and amend the act Imposing
duties on imports.
The motion pending being to strike out
from the list Of articles made free of duty,
the item of "common salt"
Mr. Davis, Of Mass, spoke at some length
on the question, stating that he was prcpar.
ed to vote for reduction Of the duties on
most Of the articles contained in this bill
II wss said and believed however, that the
country was not prepared for this measure,
and had no opportunity to be heard concer
ming it but still he had no objection that
the discussion should come on, in order that
the people might know what they had to
look to, and what was to be the policy
which was about 10 be pursued He adver.
ted to the importance OF salt as an article
Of necessity, almost as necessary as common
mir. He reminded the Senate that the ar
pumert used in reference TO gunpowdcr
was that. in an article Of such vital impor-
lance q policy should be pursued which
would place the supply above the fiucua-
items Of commerce. This was the argu-
ment which prevailed during the war, and
to prove this he quoted resolutions and pro
ceedings Of Congress as far back as 1895
in relation to supplies OF salt. These res
olu,ions afforded every nducemcnt to the
making of salt. 1t must be apparent TO ev'
cry one that, at this time. there was great
distress in consequences OF the scarcity OF
salt. many not beng able to obtain IT. He
then reviewed the history of legislation on
the subject, after the revolutionary war.
In the very first act to encourage mai
ufactures, duty of 81 cents was imposed,
which was doubled in The same Congress,
raised TO 20 CTS. in 1897. and repealed I'M
der the administration of Mr.. Jefferson
AT that time the recollection Of the suffer
inps of the war had faded, and arguments
similar 10 those nsod bv the Senator from
Missouri prevailed Then came the en-
barge, salt rose to five dollars bushel. In
1918 the duty Of 10 cents was again lmpos
ed, and thus continued until 1880. when
again the recollection ofpast suffering ia
ded. In 1880, the duty was reduced 5
cents per bushel, in the following year 1t
was again reduced cents. thus leaving the
duty Of 10 cents, where it remained until
the passage OF the Compromise Act. 1t is
now, under the operation of that act 8
1.lOth cents. and will, in the next rednc-
ton be reduced to 7 cents. The manuac.
,urc of salt was commenced under the IN
vitation of the resolution Of ITS, and has
been fostered and continued under the pat.
ronace of Congress. He then referred to
a document OF congress in 1881. 10 show
the amount Of salt imported was about five
millions, and the amount OF domestic man-
ufac,ure was about four and half millions.
Taking long succession Of years 1t ap.
pested that the imports amounted 10 from
four and half TO six millions. and the Co.
nestle manufacture nearly hall as much
The production of the country now Is about
1000 600. The value Of tins property lr
ports have remained nearly stationary, il
may be computed that the capital invested
in this article must be ten or twelve NIL!
lions. lfthen, after you consider all these
facts, YOU pass this bill, you furnish pretty
fair clue to the policy which is to be pur
sued.
In Massachusetts, salt is mostly produc
ed by evaporation, being Of the best quail
", employing q capital Of about two mil
lions. 1t commenced about 1916, and has
been carried on, more or less. varying will
circumstances to this day. There are from
800 to 1000 different salt works scattered
along the coast Of Massachusetts alone
The question is--shall this interest b'
abandoned? The duty next Fall will b'
z pes cent; and shall this prop be stricken
away without giving due notice to TIT
count,Y, which is unpreparod for the shock
Both the President and the Secretary 0
the Treasury have declared that this ques
ton shall not be touched, and therefore thu
repeal would be the more unexpected AM
injurious. II is but fair, and just, and right
that notice should be wen, and that thl
interest should be heard, in order that du
measure OF Justice may be dealt out.
The foundation Of the bounty to fisher
men is connected with this measure. On
motive 70! giving that bounty was as
snbi,iute for salt the other was TO max
abe fisheries a nursery for seamen. Thes
are the two legs on which this bonni,
stood strike away one. and the other is de
.etroyed. Salt and the fisheries live to
gether they belong to the same section o
.countfy where the one is. there is tn
other. Has not the policy Of this bouni
to seamen been always cherished by III
government, because the fisheries are
shield between US and foreign invasion -
living wall Of defence. Strike down TIN
wall and the consequences cannot be mis,a
ken. Has the time come, when the public
mind iHbued with avarice that it grudgr
this pittance TO this class of men2
amounts TO about 100000 dollars. TAX
It then, and put it into your pompous Elk
ploring Expedition. and at the same tin
pass your landbiil. and scatter the land
among the people where they are situated
Go oa with this system 0! hostility again,
seamen. aod see 10 what the country vii
in the process OF tia,e. be BE- ought. Tier
was olive oil also, another Important her
connected with the fisheries, which the sen
alta had vefusad IN ctr,ke ont Now