Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-23
IN SENATE

Tuesday, Janucryl9, l54l.
Mr.. BAYARD appeared, was qualified, and took his
seat in the Senate.
REVISION OF THE TARIFF.
The PRESIDENT submitted the following report Of
the Secretary of The Treasury in part reply 10 a resolu-
ton Of the Senate Of the 10th inst:
TREAsrEy DEPARTMENT.,
January IL, 1871.
Sir: 1 have the honor TO submit the following report
in compliance with the FIRST branch Of 4 resolution,
which passed the Senate on the 10th inst. in these
words:
"Resolred, That the Secretary Of the Treasury be
directed 10 communicate to the Senate, the plan Of a
permanent change in the tariff, the details and general
principles Of which, he states in his annual report Of
the 9TH ultimo, he has considered, and on which he ia
ready to report at any moment either House Of Con.
gress might express Il wish to that effect"
Foresee;ng in my annual report Of December, 1889,
that the subject OF a revision OF .he present Tariff, nigh:
be safely postponed, | then stated, that it was not my
intention to examine It at that time, being "a topic in
volving considerations of so difficult and agitating cha
racter." But as some of the Committee on Manufac-
lures afterwards expressed q wish for a plan of such a
revision to be prepared by the session Of 1910 and 1871,
and as the large reduction which is to take place in the
duties al the close of this year, and Of June, 1912, APP
peared IN the view OF many 10 render such q revision
imperative, as a fiscal measure, before those times ar.
rived, | deemed It u duty, for these and the reasons
mentioned in my last annual report, to make the pre-
parat,ons expected, as that a system might be in readi-
ness for the consideration of the Committee or Con-
gress, should it appear to them that the public inte-
rests required acton on the subject at the present ses-
sion.
A call being now made for it by the Senate, and sup
posing, from the language used, and the advanced
period of the session, that an early reply is desired, l
submit without material alteration, the. plan referred
to, with its "details and general principles"
1t is believed that the reduction in the duties on i'm.
posts, which, by the existing tariff, will take place in
the year 1912, cannot vary much from FIVE millions Of
dollars. For reasons assigned in the last two annual
reports on the finances, the expectations of the under
signed are, that if the expenditures are properly and
seasonably diminished, it will not be necessary to raise
all this amount by taxation insany form. But should
Congress think differently, and conclude to obtain il
by revising the present laws in relation to duties, it is
believed that certain facts and principles are highly i'm.
portant for consideration, in deciding what kind of o
revision is competent and most appropriate. In stating
these facts and principles, with a view to explain the
plan called for by the resolution, all possible brevity,
consistent with the importance Of the subject, will be
employed.
The chief legislation, which now exists in force
bearing on this inquiry, is contained in an act passed
March I'd, 1883. That act is supposed to have been,
not an ordinary measure OF legislation, but the result
of a compromise between certain great and conflicting
interests on the difficulties then involved in the agita-
ting matter of the tariff. Hence, though the act was in
the form of a law, and therefore liable in a proper case,
to any future modification or repeal of its provisions,
it is understood that the parties most concerned, con-
t~cmplated thereby n permanent arrangement Of the
leading principles that should afterwards control The
A"S ShS NhtN
which occasioned the passage of the law-the dlstin-
guished individuals who participated more Immediately
in adjusting its provisions, and the salutary influence
of their operation up TO the present time, in imparting
a degree of stability to cur manufacturing enterprise,
sought in vain through the previous fluctuations of le-
gislation, have probably contributed to strengthen this
impression.
But however that fact may have been, and subject
to subsequent alterations, as oil laws must properly be
considered, yet, to change the limitations in this one,
30 peculiarly situated, and to do il against the wishes
OF persons most interested, or without the apology of
some public e1igeucy or necessity of State, would
surely seem to be unnecessary, and, at least, of doubt
ful propriety.
Hence, at this period of peace abroad, of tranquility
al home, OF great Exemption from public debt, and OF
unquestionable ability to raise ample revenue withou,
encroaching upon the plain import of the compromise,
the undersigned cannot hesitate, while CONSIDERING what
would be the most appropriate revision of the tariff for
the wants of 1912, to recommen one which shall moi
violate the stIpulations contained in that compromise.
What, then, are those stipulations or restrictions?
j. The first seems to be, that a reduction, by install.
ments, of the former rates OF duties, when exceeding
twenty per cent. should forthwith commence and con.
tinue uninterrupted until July lst, 1912; SO that when
that period arrived. no duties whatever should exceed
twenty per cent. The leading section of the act is ex.
plicit upon this point. Hence, to defer or repeal, Us
some have proposed, the two reductions now remain
ing, and which are TO take effect in 1912, would keep
many duties higher than twenty per cent, and thus be
in direct violation OF this general provision. But if
these last reductions should create q deficiency in the
revenue, the 9th section of the act would allow it 10
be supplied in a different way. Because this section
provides, that IN such an event, nothing contained in