The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-10-04
MR.. SHADES SPEECH
on THE TARIFF BILL, IN COMMITTEE OF TIE
WHOLE ON TIE STATE OF THE UNION,
JULY, ii & 10, 1912.
Concluded.

Concluded.
it is evident that the present stock OF
wooIlcn goods in the United States, is very
iaree and that the depression ofour wool
len manufacturing business, must conse
mentv, continue for some time to come,
whatever duties may be now laid. The
wool growers, tn en-, must continue TO feel
the double influence Of slowness of increase
in the demand for wool, and the excessive
supply now in the country, amounting, as
have stated, probably TO one hundred mil
lions of pounds. 1t would by a great aggra,
WALTON of the pressure of this state of things
npon the wool growers TO seize this occasion
TO reduce the duty on wool, one fourth be-
low the duty on woollens, as is done by the
bill on our table.
Az to the duty on woollens, | think the
40 per cent in the bill before us, is sufficient,
if that per cent on the real foreign value
san be collected The bill contains new
and important safeguards against frauds,
which, If it becomes law, hope to see
thoroughly executed, so as TO make the
nominal protection which we give TO the
great woollens interest, the real protection.
Ifthcre are to be new cyasions TO meet these
new enactments, then will there be impo-
sed upon Congress the necessity Of new leg
isatiOn TO carry out the purposes of that
which hope TO see conSummated by the
passage, with some notifications, of the
present bill. One of these notifications
have sufficiently indicated. 1t is the addi-
ton of at least ten per cent TO the duty on
wool; and this should be in the form of a
tpccific duty in addition to the ad valorem
Of 30 per cent now in the bills
have proceeded, in this argument, upon
the assumption that it should be cardinal
principle in our policy, TO give ample pro-
lection, Oy direct duties, to the raw mate
rla!s 70. or manufactures. regret to see.
in any quarter, a disposition to overlook
this principle, and TO regard the whole ques-
ton of protection as absorbed In the interest
merely of the manufacturer. Such is the
yicw taken of the matter by the minority of
the Committee of manufactures in their E.
laborate report upon the subject, made at
The present session.
"If(say the minority Of the committee) the
manufacturers of wool, iron. and leather are
really in the distressed condition in which
they arc represented to be. we may, with
out destroying the factories, given them
essential relief by reducing The duty on the
raw MATERIAL"
Again: in reference TO protection to the
cotton manufacturer, and the impracticabil-
lily of aiding him by a reduction of the duty
on cotton wool, which will not affect its
price, the minority OF the committee say
Then the relief 10 be afforded TO him (the
cotton manntacturer) must be by other
means than by reducing the duty on the
raw material. The other mode which pre-.
sonts itself, is, by a reduction in The price u
laior."
1t Is strange that the minority of the
committee should have so entirely mistaken
the true character and aim of the protecting
policy. 1t is not mainly to sustain the
manufacturer and give increased profits &c
his capital, that this policy has been adop-
ted; but it is that the productive power OF
the irholc community should be stimulated
by furnishing a demand for labor at good
wages, and market for all the productions,
including every description of raw MATERIAL
which our soil is capable of producing, lat pri,
ces which will give competence and conn.,
tort to our people,-such competence and
comfort including, of course, the means OF
education, as industrious freemen ought TO
enjoy.
The woolcn and cotton manufacturers OF
my State, will not thank the minority of the
committee for their discovery that the man.
ulacturcrs may be protected by reduction
/" me duty on 1co0L and dtminution of the
Price OF labor. 1t would be no satisfaction
10 ihe'n, thus to prosper at the expense of
lie wool growers and laborers, by whom
they are surrounded, ant. with whose nros-
penty and happiness their own are deeplv
identified. Such an argument better suits
the latitude where capitalists own the labor.
e7s, than it does that where the laborprs
own themselves, and are a part of the com.
RlTnitv. ~
Occurring again TO The question of the
d.ho'nt OF duty required for the protection
u WOOL remark seems to be due to an ar.
gament Of the chairman of the committee
ID ways and means, in his speech at the
'lehing OF this debate. Abiding to the
Impressed price of wool, he inferred that il
sould moi be the result of diminished duty
n muse the amount imported for the las
Dl'ee years had been but "littIe over half q
L. "a'y Of three cents per pound was subseque Mt
.,Ir n' zee The wool clause of the bill at th,
TIN "'ese rema' Ks. The three cents is equivaen
,,,, PFr cent on wool costing so cens-the average
'"e mportaiions of dutiable wool for the las
len, !enrs' On wool costing 20 cents if is equiva
.