Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-04-19
MR.. McKAY's TARIFF BILL.

purpose OF preliminary organization.
i
/ MR. McKAY'S TARIFF BILL.
We have few comments TO make upon thi,
bill, which has been before the House Of
] Representatives some four weeks.
4 Why is this new rate OF duties proposed Is il
pretended that the old tariff does not yield sufficient
revenuel The unprecedented amount Of duties
lately collected in our principal ports-being in
New York and Boston alone, $7,426,2ll for the
first quarter Of this year,-three millions more than
the estimate of the Secretary of the Treasury fol
the whole Union during that tme--belie this state.
ment. Do the advocates Of this new bill wish "a
have an act for TeDeHue alonel The prohbitory
duties they would impose upon sugar and iroD 10
favor the Louisiana planters and Pennsylvania
manufacturers, show them not averse TO protection
in some cases DO they think il protects the manu-.
facturer at the expense Of the farmer? IF so, II
gives such protection almost every farmer would
like, for he can buy almost all manufactured
articles at lower prices than before its passage,
owing to competition, and improvements in ma
chinery while his wool has risen in value so per
cent owing to the increased consumption Of il at
home. Ii some other products are lower, il is no
more effect Of the tariff than is the bursting OF
the "Peacemaker," but must be attributed 10 glui
in the market from the very large crops of the last
few years. "But,' says some locofoco, "the pres
ent act taxes the poor mans logchain % per cent,
and the dandy's watch chain only per cent =
Well, is il not better to receive even per cent on
gold chains than to have them all struggled, as
they certainly would be, the duty high enough
to make il an object! The locos themselves are
- I'm 4.
the duties at all on these articles, notwithstanding
their crocododle tears and their filings at "dscrim-
nation"
Having answered. few general reasons for the
attempt to force this bill upon an unwilling nation,
lei us glance at its provisions in regard to that in
terest so vitality important 10 Vermont, the wool
growing.
The present duty is--'on wool costing less than
cents per pound, 5 per cent ad ualorem." The
new bill proposes TO increase this duty to Is per
cent. This is intended 10 add 10 the revenue only
(Which, we have already said, is amply suf
6cient,) for wool of that description is not raised
in country, and Of course needs protection.
So, the additional 10 per cent is to be needlessy
drawn from the manufacturers of coarse wooIlen
cloths, Blankets and the like that ocofocoism may
show its spite against home industry.
On wool costing over cents per pound, the
present duty is cents per pound, and 80 per cent
ad raIorem. The new bill proposes to take off the
specific duty Of cents per pound leaving it 80 per
cent ad raiorem. just about the rate in I54l when
owing TO excessive foreign importation, wool was
worth but 20 to Soc per ID. Farmers Of Vermont;
If you want your wool to sink to lower price than
the present tariff raised il from, support by all
means, Mr. McKay's bill, and that will be IFS in
eviiable effect
The manner in which this bill was concocted,
should be enough TO condemn il. Instead Of con-
sulting intelligent manufacturers and farmers with
regard to its probable effect upon their business the
committee acted upon the data furnished by New
York inporters-thus sacrificing the interests Of
thousand and thousands of American mechanics
and agrioultursts to heap the overlooking Golfers Of
few prncely merchants, and English capitalists
But we do not much fear IFS passage The cur
rent Of public sentiment against it is too strong
for even the locofocos to utterly disregard. Con-
nectcut has placed the seal Of disapprobation upon
1.-THE New York town elections point the same
way, and Pennsylvania has just chosen TO Congress
two decided opponents to this bill, by large MAORI
ties, in doubtful districts. The locoiocos had
better 'et well enough alone, il they do not wish
for stronger indications of the popular dislike of
their destructive policy.