Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-12

Here is list of articles in the iron manufacture
which shows most conclusvey that the duty, by
producing domestic competition, has reduced the
price more than One-halE have taken these prices
from docum' nts furnished from the Treasury De-
parment, and have placed the duty and the prices
IN connexion, so as 10 show what each article sold
FOR under each duty. have selected the year 1916
to show the Of the article before the tariff NJ
That yenr, and tho years 1926 and 1920 to show the
effects OF TIE tariffs Of the preceding years, and
1892 as the last year contained IN the Documents
referred to. TINS table shows most conclusiyely
the wisdom OF the protective policy.
Nor IS this principle illustrated by the manufac.
turc OF iron alone. Other articles which have en-
Jcyed protection have also fallen IN price The
same 4 cotton sheetings which, in 1916, sold at IT,
81 s'erlng could be bought IN 1882 for 1id. s,erl-
ing per yard. Printed goods costing in 1916, Sos
per piece could be bought in 1882 for from lisa To
22s. per piece. Common blue and white calico
costing IN lSl6, 32s. per piece could be had in 1882
for l2s. or los. per piece. Broldclohs costing in
1917, 2Os. could be had in 1892 for Is. I0d. These
facts NIL taken from official documents and their
correctness is vouched for by the names OF David
Henshaw, Of Boston, and James N Barker, of
Philadelphia, collectors Of those ports, aud MIR
Secretary McLnne.
And while am on this subject, have ono fact
more, for tho special consideration of nv friend
| from South Carolina, who has uttered such doeC1l
/ lamentations over the oppression Of tho poor man
Who was so heavily taxed 10y the manufacturers
on every natl he drove into his cabin. ~ I'm 1910
cut nails were selling nj wholesale for cents nor
| pound. duty Of 3 cents per pound was inposod
by the tariff Of that year. and the vtfy next wear
they went down to cents per pound. The dntv
was subsequently, raised TO cents per Mound, md
the price OF nails has been reduced to 8, 7, G. 3.
and believe to ~ cents per pound; that IL, los
than the protecting duty. This is the hardship oil
| the poor man, whose cabin nails excite so much
sympathy. am asked, Mr. Speaker by gentle
man near mo, whether the nails which sold in 1916
for II cents were not wrought nails, and the nails
| which have since been sold for tho low prices men o.
toned, were not cut nails. I will answer the zen.
,lemani they were all cut nails, and nails Of the
| same klnd-all 1ponny nlils--ind this on the an.
| thorlty Of Mr. David Henshaw. lie places wrought
nails and cut nails in separate columns. Wrougb,
nails have not been manufactured to any consider.
abo extent in this country and hence the price OF
that article has not been materially reduced.
But II may DO said that theso reductions in prices
are owing not to protective tariff, but to the great
improvements which have been introduced into ma.
| chinery. have no disposition TO deny th,t inn
progements in machinery have 'dono much Ia ro-
duce prices. But what has caused this imp,oro
| mcnu What has given dso to labor snvin, ma
chioe1 The very competition which proteciitn
mas produced, has been Tho efficient produe no cans
OF these improvements. That inventive noso,
which has been oSshed in psrfecting machinery.