Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-10-18
THE .uNIoN" AND THE DUTIES UPON SILKS

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THE "UNIoN" AND THE DUTIES UPON SILKS
We have neither time nor inclination Cor am en-
counter of wits with the editor of the government
paper. Nor are we tempted by the brilliancy Of
his success in that line to substitute, in the discus
sion Of great public questions, mere quips and guild
dities for the gravity of tone more properly be-
fitting such investigations. So far, indeed, from his
mirth being contagious, it rather makes us melan-
choly. The reason why, we have no intention to
trouble our readers with; but we proceed, without
further preface, to notice briefly the only tangible
point in the article in " the Union Of Saturday
night concerning the duties upon imported silks.
That point is comprised in the following Illus
tration, by which the government paper aims TO
prove its former position, that the duties upon inn
ported silks fall heavier the poorer classes Of
the community" than on the rich
"We hope may that the sIntellgencer knows
that the present tariff imposes duty two dollars and fy
per pound silk goods We hope ALSO that we may
give the Integencer credit for knowing that
usually buy such goods dy the pound but by
the yard Now, beg the 'nteligencer standing firmly
these facts put forth its whole logical power and grasp
inference, which, its editors fond of old women
we of the Union pleased to illustrate by the cha
racer of young lady, Here then, Miss Wilhemna Ca
yendsh the rich belle of the when she selects some
beautifully fine. gauzekc, transparent silk scar or mant
las or badresses danty figured and colore she will find
that good many yards of such articles will neigh less than
the substantial plain black silk gown which Mrs. John
Smith, the wokngmans wife, (and she need not be the ia
voIe old woman Of the 'Ineigencer either has worn
to church Sunday for years past But the duty
is charged by the eg of the silk and by the number
IL t.xt lo .s~rsL f--ssr ~
to pay two or three times much duty the belle will pay
In reply to this illustration, such as it is, we re-
iterate our statement that the terms coarse and
fine are not applicable to silk manufactures as en-
ponents Of ualue." A silk mercer will say to his
customer" feel this silk how Aeary it is ~ and his
customer, be she the Z" working mans wife" or
the rich belle of the season., will answer it is too
light silk for the price," We know also that in
Germany silk goods are retailed by soeight. we do
not say that all are but we know of ladies' dresses
having been bought by weight.
Upon referring to the Treasury Annual State
ment for the year ending both June, 1874, we find
the following entries under the head of foreign
imports:
SILKS, floss, and manufactures specified, pay
ing duties nd palorem amount. .-.... 81, a24 asa
srwISa SILK, silk twist or twist Of silk and mo-
hair, paying specific duties, amount 1890. 4se, 745
PoSerxs, plain, white, and other manufactures of
silk, paying specific duties, amount . $3.50 als
Raw SILK, and all silk in the gum &C., paving
specific duties, amount Observation-Disclosures. I72 $50
SILK shoes and slippers, and hats and bonnets
paying specific duties, amount .....,..... a2,443
Total. Observation-Disclosures. ss,4s5, e22
Amount paying ad val0rem duties. si,aa4.a6