The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-07-16
CONGR ESS.


Revenue bill-,he question pending being 'oS
amendment proposed by Mr. Fillmore 10 fV0u0S
the duty on iron NOT rolled from IS 10 IL dollars.
Al valorem duties were proposed by Messrs
Cooper and Black, OF Gsosgia. aud sPse'Ae
duty of 25 dollars first, and then Of 70 dollars
by Mr.. Edwards, Of Pennsylvania Tue meFis>
of the various amendments discussed by Messrs.
Cushing. Cooper, Of Georgia, Randolph, Black,
Edwards, and irwin, and others, and thar pro
posed by Nj. Fillmore was adopted
NJ. JOHNSON, OF Tennessee, moved 10 STRIKE
the proviso emitting iron imported prior 10 8
March, 1913, and laid down for railways, 10 the
benefit of the provisions OF existing laws, and
inset clause subjret g railroad iron 10 the
same duIy as rolled iron, except such as shall
have been ordered prior to the date OF the pre-
sent act Various notifications Of this amend
ment were offered and withdrawn or rejected
and finally after debate, in which Messrs.
Johnson and Campbell, of Tennessee, MIR. Ken
needy, of Maryland, and others, participated, the
amendment itself was rejected.
Mr.. RoosEvELr moved to strike out the speci
fc duty Of 80 dollars per ton on rolled iron and
insert 80 per cent. ad valorem. The specific
duty he maintained to be equivalent to 70 per
cent ad va.orem, and therefore an extravagant
impost. The amendment was not adopted.
Mr.. FILLMORE stated that he had been in
slructed by the Committee of Ways and Means
TO reduce the specific duty to 25 dollars.
Mr.. Boris opposed the reduction-from the
information he had obtained ON the subject, he
was inclined TO believe that those engaged in the
manufacture of iron in this country could not
live if the duty was put below 80 dollars
Mr.. COOPER, of Pennsylvania, argued in favor
of the necessity OF a high duty on iron, and pro-
nounced the conduct of the committee unfair,
though no doubt unintentonallv so. 1t was I'M
fair to propose, at the last moment, such re-
duclion of the duty on iron as must prove de-
structlve to that in crest
Mr.. FILLMORE explained.
Mr.. w. w. IRWIN thought that 80 dollars per
ton constituted the lowest impost that could be
laid consistently with protection. But, as dis
position was mantle sted to lower the rate he
proposed medium course Of fixing the duty at
81 dollars, instead of reducing it to twenty 6v e
dollars.
After the proposition of various other amend
ments, and protracted debate, an amendment,
offered by Mr. Randolph, inserting twenty seven
dollars and half, was adopted
To the second clause of the fourth section
Mr.. FILLMORE, as instructed by the Committee
of Ways and Means, offered sundry amend
ments-all of which were adopted. The duty
on pig iron was reduced from ten dollars to nine !;
on cap or bonnet wire, covered with silk, from
fifteen cents to twelve cents; on the same artl
Gle, when covered with cotton, thread, or other
materials, from ten cents to eight cents; on
chain cables, from three to two and half cents.
Corrections and additions were made as to arti-
+ Giles taxed, and provso appended to the clause
as follows:
Proud d, That all articles Partially manufactured,
not otherwise provided for, snall pay the rate
Of duty as if wholly manufactured; and provided
Also that no article manufactured from steel, sheet
rod hoop, other kinds of iron shall pay less rate
of duty than is chargeabe on the material of which
it is composed, in whole or in part paying the high
est rate of duty either by weight value, and du
ty of fifteen per cent. ad valorem the cost of the
article added hereto.
The fifth clause of the same section wa
amended by substituting thirty cents per pound
instead of thirty per cent. ad valorem on brass
screws and twelve cents in lieu Of fifteen cent:
on brass, battery, and hammered kettles.
The SIKH clause was amended by pre6xiDg
the words ION cast, shear, and German stee
in bars, one dollar and fifty cents per one hun
dred and twelve pounds.
On motion of Mr.. X ROOSEVELT the words /" ar
ticles of paper macbe'' were inserted in the frs
line of the seventh clause after japanned ware
Of all kinds.
In the eighth section on motion Of Mr.. Fill
MORE, the dlly of three cents pound on pie
lead reduced to Two and half cents. Tc
the end of the clause, sheathing copper, &c
were added with duty ftwo cents per pound
Messrs. KENNEDY and JOHNSON, of Maryland
advocated higher duty as protection for man
ulacturers.
Mr.. CUSHING objected to the increase of thu
duty, as oppressive to the shipping interest; ant
the motion of Mr.. Fillmore prevailed.
On motion of Mr. OSBORNE, the duty on lead
sheets was made the same with that of leader
pipes and leaden shot.
On motion of Mr.. FILLMORE duty of fou
cents was imposed on lead in all forms not spe
cited in the bill.
On motion of Mr.. FLOYD, the Committee
rose.
Mr.. ARNOLD gave notice that he would, OF
Monday next ask leave to introduce bill TO
reducing the pay of members.
Mr. BEEsoN sent to the Clerks table al
amendment TO the revenue bill which was lait
on the table and ordered to be printed.
A message from the President in answer tC
the call of the House for information relative tt
our affairs with Mexico, was referred to TIT