The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-04-26
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HOME INDUSTRY CONVENTION.
Fourth Day, Friday, April s.

Mr. GrinnelI, Of NJ ass read the report of the
Committee on Commerce. 1t shows that the
comparative amount Of Foreign Tonnage engaged
in American Trade has largely, rapidly increased
within the last years. and is still fast increasing.
1t shows that The price Of ship-buldng Labor IN
Germany is scarcely one fourth what the same
labor costs here aud that the effect OF ihis is con
stantly 10 increase the amount of Foreign and re-
duce that of American Shipping engaged in orr
international Trade. The Committee consider the
adoption Of proper Bonding and Warehouslng
system by the Government rendered necessary by
The principle of Cash Duties. Under this system,
they would allow all Foreign Goods to remain in
bond for one year LPaying duties and interest there
on at The pleasure OF the impor,er,l or entitled to
drawback if exported. The Committee believe
that the system of professed Reciprocity which
now exists in Navigation policy Is injurious to
us, and should be abandoned soon as shall be
consistent with good faith.
MI. e. G.. Haven moved that the Report be so
amended as to provide that the Bonding and Ware
housing system, proposed by the Committee, be
limited to goods imported by our own citizens, or
on American account The Report was recon-
United for consideration on these points, and reVl
sion if needed.
MIR, E. Cook reported on Buttons and Pins
There are six manufactures Of Buttons in the
States, employing, when in full operation 4oo
persons; capital employed 81 900; persons en-
ployed 2 500; value Of annual product ST. ,3OO oOo;
persons depending the trade for employ ment
und subsistence 10 600. The new tariff bill pro-
poses duty the imported article of thirty per
cent which is sufficient except for the very cbeap>
est article. The Committee ask only the adoption
of a minimum by which all buttors costing less
than ST. per grose shall be estimated 10 have cost
that amount.
There are two manufactures of Pins in Tic Uni
ted Statcs,ye in their infancy persons employed
100; annual product 100000. The labor employ
ed in Europe is often that of feIons and pnupers,
which can only be competed with here by the use
of labor saving machinery which is beginning to
be used. The COS, OF the materials is much great
er here than in Europe; but with a reasonable spe
cifc duty the Cnmmit,ec believe they may soon be
produced here cheap as anywhere. The Amer.
lean Pins made with solid heads (1ead and bo-
dy all the same pece) which makes them better
than the European.
Brushes, sc. reported: Value of combs made in
the United States 81 100000; do Brushes 81 $780,,
900. About 5000 persons are employed in the
two: wages PEI day 81 for males and IS cents for
females. In Europe the cost of similar labor is
only twenty cents per day, and in the cost OF mas
teral there is similar disparity In the manulac.
lure of Bellows, 200 hands are employed; capital
100000.
The President observed that our NJ manufacturers
arc compelled to meet the rivalry not merely Of
the Labor of Europe al an average ofl2 cents
day, but the results of the immense Labor Sa-
wing Machinery in Steam Engines, &c. which are
still cheaper. The Report was accepted.
d.. J. g. Fisher reported on Astronomical and
Philosophical instruments. The value and impor-
lance OF these instruments has never yet been fully
considered They have become absolute and gen.
eral necessaries Of life aids 10 Navigation TO
eye.sght, &c. Most of those articles aie now i'm.
ported but may well immed ately, and much
cheaper eventually be made here. The Commit
tee recommend that duty of 30 per cent. on in
struments OF gold and silver, and 80 per cent on
all others (none free as at presenD be imposed.
Mr.. q. g. Davis, from the Committee on Leath
er, Boots and Shoes, reported that the Home Man
ufacture of Boots and Shoes cannot be maintained
under twenty per cent. duty without great re-
duction of the prices of labor now paid The i'm
portation is already large and increasing, and hea.
Wy orders have gone out to Germany in view o
the reduction of duty on theshrst of July next
The Committee report that specific duty OF 3 +,
SO on Boots and Bootes, Of 30c 10 soc. on Shoes
and of 40 per cent on Leather is necessary to pro-
tect the Trade from destruction.
Mr. Harmer Denny from the Committee on A G.
.iculture, made an able report in part, setting for
the direct and Vital interest of The farmers of this
country in the establishment OF an efficient anc
comprehensive Protective system. The doctrine
OF Dir. Jefferson in 1916 that the Manufacture
should be placed by the side of the Farmer for the
mutual advantage, is a sound one
The Committee entered into the statistics OF on
export of Agricultural produce to show that it is o
little comparative value. Under tho operation o
the British sliding SCALE il is nearly impossible t.
export Grain or Flour to England without loss
Oh all the Flour sent their during the last ten years
three-fourths has been at loss, and the American
Flour in bond at Liverpool could only be solo
At a rHinous loss. The Report also shows that th,
Foreign Market for Agricultural produce il
rather contracting than expanding; and the amour
u eAPoIteu ny US uOW Is not So STed
as ii was fifty years ago.
So Of Beef: From 1890 TO 1900 we exported
SOC, 900 barrels Of Beef while in the las, year
our export has been only 400 600 notwithstandin,
its low price, The export Of Pork has slightly in
reased; but gate export of Beef and PorI
is one third less now than il was fifty years ago
Even this diminished amount has generally beer
exported at loss. The committee therefore, from
these and other data, conclude that the Foreigr
Market for the products of our Agriculture insig
niicant, improbable and cannot be depended on
and should be wholly replaced by ample Hom
Market They ask permission to make a futile
and more perfect report at future day.
Mr.. $. Oakley advocated the Report in few
pertinent remarks. Twenty years ago our agrcu
tura Produce would command only half its pres
ent low price, and Yetno Foreign Market was opel
TO our Large surplus. Land fell to half its vau
inevitably. Our Farmers rely only on thei
Home Market.