Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-16
THE VOICE or ktcHMoNb IN 1ssl .

1924
Robert Pollard was appointed Chairman, and Bernard
Peyton Secretary.
Circular letter from the Committee of the Chamber
of Commerce. Of the city Of New York, relative to the
proposed Tariff of duties, before the Congress Of
the U. 5, was read; whereupon
Resotoed, That the letter read by the Chairman from
Commute ofthe Chamber of Commerce, of the city
of New York, be referred Committee to prepare
remonstrnnce against the proposed Tariff, before
Congress, to be submitted TO meeting to be called
by the Chairman Of this meeting, at an early day for
the consideration thereof
Resofred, That the Committee consist Of seven, 10
wit: Benz. w. Leigh, John Allen, Thomas Broken
broueh Richard Anderson John Rutherford, Robt
Gwarhmey and Daniel Warwick.
Resoiotd That The foregoing proceedings be signed
by the Chairman and Secretary and published.
RoBT POLLARD, Chm.
BERNARD PErros, Seey.
lErOm The Richmond Enquirer Of Feb. II, 1921
AT meeting OF the citizens of Richmond and Man.
chest r. at the Merchants Coffee House. in the city OF
Richmond, on Saturday, the l4h Of February, 1924,
called by the Chairman of former meeting, on the
subject of the proposed Tariff, before Congress:
The Committee appointed at that meeting TO propose
memorial to the Congress the U. S. in opposition
thereto presented the same, which read and una
n,m0nsty adopted by iie NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
EeSotrcd, That copy Of the Memorial just adopted,
be signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and trans
m'tted to the Representative in Congress from tins
district, and like copies be furnished to the editors OF
newspapers in this city.
The Memorial Of sundry Merchants and other Chi-ens
of Richmond and Manchester, TO the Congress Of the
u. s.
RESPECTFULLY REPRESENTS:
That they have been much alarmed by the n,roduc-
ton on bill in the House Of Representatives, entitled
"a ba to amend the several acts, for imposing duties
on Imports
Your Memorias,s have entertained the opinion, that
the present Tariff high, and that It's experience
has caused in many instances the consumers OF manu-
featured articles, To pay heavy bountes TO our own
manufacturers, whereby great benefits have accrued TO
that class, at the expense Of the Agricultural and Com
mercis classes which constitute the great bulk Of our
people. Your hicmoriasts did entertain the hope
that the manufacturers would have been satisfied with
the great aid which these high duties have rendered 10
them; but in this, they entirely disappointed and
find that, that SMALL but perseverng class OF the com.
nunity have by their exertions been enabled TO lay be
fore the Assembled Representatives of the people,
scheme by which that people shull be compelled to SUBJ
NIT 10 the alternative of paying still more exorbtanl
prices for articles of great necessity and convenience or
TO buy similar articles Of inferior value OF domestic IA
brcaon, nj almost equally high prices or to abandon
the Of them altogelher:-And for what purpose is
il, that this people required to submit to these
heavy exactons; Is it 10 provide q revenue for Ia
rental Government which is charged with our defence:
No such purpose is pretended.
The appears from the report of the Secretary
sdent be in lourishing condition, and the motive
which has been avowed for this scheme, is that the
manufactures of our own country may be toslered and
protected
lj7Your memorialists do not mean to enter into an
examination of the question whether Congress have any
constitutional power to lay and collect imposts and du
ties, for the purpose of giving encouragement and pro-
lection to class of the community, to the injury and
al the expense Of all other classes: they will merely
venture to suggest that THIS important power was
granted by the Constitution for the express purpose OF
"payinr the debts and providing for the common de-
" fence aud general welfare Of the U. States; and
they cannot perceive how This generat object can be-
attained 10y fostering particular class to the prejudice
Of others.
u Whenever il has been found necessary TO increase
the Tariff for the purpose of raising revenue 10 be
appropriated for the good of the whole your memoir
alss have not complained nor will they ever complain
when ii shall be found necessary for such purpose: but
they cannot believe that Congress are acting entirely
within their Legitimate sphere, when they depart IRON
this great object and put their hands into the pockets
Of the great mass of the people, for the purpose of
transferring The money there found into the pockets OF
the favored few.
When we consider the progressive increase oil duties
which has taken place since the establishment OF Inc
Federal Government 10 this time, must be convinced
that manufactures have, by the mere operation oil
laws intended principally for the purpose of raising re-
venue, been fos,ced and projected TO prodg'ous e1
tent In quence thereof there are many articles
of foreign manufacture that now seldom, ever I'M
ported How rarely do we hear of the importation OF
The manufactures of leather lead pewter and tin, paper
hats &c, Sc' Pants, twine manufactures
Of from together with the fabrics OF cotton these
and many others may be almost considered as proh
bi,ed Where then this Legislative encouragement
10 stop IA we advance, the point at which 1t IS to
terminate is continually reccdng from Us; we fear we
shall never reach it, till are barred by total PROM
billion.
INTO this result we seem be advancing gradually,
but certainly When heavy deity first imposed on To-
reirn articles the manufacturers, seemed for while 10
he contented because the encouragement thus gwen
them enables those hose capitals already invested
Or about to be invested in manufactures, TO realize
prcnt profits These great profits, however, after
lime induce much capita TO be vested IN those esta
that reduction IN Proh's na'uialy 'akes
place Instead Of conentment, dissatisfaction again
bcpins to shew itself They cry out, that they want
protection and encouragement. They harraSs Congress
with their importunate clamor. They must have still
HIGHER duties their establishments VIII iaii 10 oe'
cav Thus they require restriction upon restfc'oh'
until they succeed in destroying all competition by
,roLibng The introduction Of such foreign goods as
might interfere with goods Of their own iabricat'on
This seems to your menoriasts TO be the course OF
lhnrs and against the destruction and ruinous result
of such course we trust that your body Will save the
nation.
Your mcmoriasts have every reason TO believe that
the proposed Tariff if adopted will operate oppressive
" on the agriculture commerce, and navigation oil Inc
country: that j, will diminish the revenue, lead to d.
rect taxes, and introduce systematlzed plan OF SNUG
cling The extent and effect of which cannot be lore
told 80
The oppressive character of this measure will be at
tenn pied 10 he shown by few examples:
The first clause of the bill provides that on all manu.
fac,nres Of wool or of which wool shall be compo-
men. part, duty of 30 per cent ad valorem shall be
imposed until the Goth june 1925 and after that duty
of 334 per cent ad valorem: and 1t IS PROVIDED 'nas
,be.e vooen roods the original cost of which at the
Mace whence imported with the addition OF ~ per cent
shall be less than 80 cents per square yard shall WIN
such addition be deemed and taken to have cost GU
cents per square yard and, shall be charged WIN GUY
accordingly. ,ooo H.,
At the Port of Richmond, for the year 1922 there
were imported nearly 300 bales Of the coarse wooen
cloth known by the of mapped cotton,. Inns rs rs
omr ,borers and although in the farming counties,
the exisng high duties on coarse woolens have driven
the farmers to the domestic manufacture OF negro
clothing, yet in the tobacco making d,slric,s lne
hacy vet