Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-10-02
THE TARIFF AND IT'S REPEAL.

Folks friends, we hardly know whether to con-
slider them serious. affecting however, as such
partizans do, the utmost gravity. 1t seems TO us
almost beyond belief that any intelligent mind
should have failed to perceive the beneficial ope-
ration OF the Tariff of 1912, for the Government,
for Society, for the Mechanic, for The Farmer,
Tor the producer and consumer-in short, for the
whole American People. Yet, as we said, there
are numbers who denounce it-who stigma,ize
It as odious and oppressve-who rail at it, as
the "Black Tariff" and who are prepared in
theory at least, rather to dissolve the Union than
submit to it.
Let all such, and let the People, read the fol-
lowing Cd No. of the Hon. John p. Kennedy of
Baltimore. We have no fears of the repeal of
the Tariff, or of any essential modification of it
We believe that the agitators who affect that in
tenion, are working not in reality for it, but for
the attainment of private, personal, unavowed
and offce-holding designs but there is some
danger that they may effect more than even they
intend, and overturn in their selfish scramble, a
benign and even woodworking system. 1t
time that their Vaccinations had reused the
People.-Richmond Wig.
TO THE MECHANICS, MANUFACTURERS AND
WORKINGMEN OF THE CITY OF BALTi.
MORE.
'ls the Tariff Of 1912 worth fighting for o.
Never has there been in the Legislation of the
United States an act that has more triumphantly
vindlcated the wisdom of the Congress that
passed it than this.
II found the country depressed, dishearened-
and suffering an almost universal stagna,ion of
ne LII.
were prospecting. Thousands of laborers were
out OF employment, or doing but half work; the
capital OF the country was lying idle 1.-The people
were cast down. The Mechanics and Manufac.
turers Of Baltimore will never forget that time.
No houses were building; no keels were laid :;
no factories We're projected. Every where was
complaint oil hard times. There is 10 more me-
'anchoiy spectacle on earth than strong arms and
willing hearts in robust working people, and no
work ior them to do; their great power idle for
want OF a field to toll in; their necessary COM
forts reduced; their domestic thrift turned TO no.
thing; whilst they themselves, by habit and
sense of duty industrious and anxious to be EN-.
ployed, can find no full employment for their
hands. You well remember how much this was
the case in 1871 and '42. You saw many ex-
pert woTkmen then willing TO take employment
at the mere price of subsistence. In this state
OF things the Tariff OF 1912 was passed by the
twenty-seventh Congress. What its effect was
1 need not tell you. Yon see it around YOU now.
has the country ever been so thriving before 3
Has Baltimore ever been so busy! Has an in
dustrious man ever had better chance1 Vet
what was said of that Tariff when it was pass
cd IL was the measure of Wing Congress.
ana OF course all those whose prejudices were so
strong as TO lead them to think no rood could
come out of Nazareth, abused it. Iii is entirely
100 hlgh,' said some, 'and will bring no reyenue.'
III Is 100 ProtecIve, said others, and will build
up the Mechanics and Manufacturers at the ex
pense OF all the rest of the community.' .It is
imperfect In lis Details said great many, .and
must be amended In this spirit, party action
was Drought TO bear upon Il, and meetings were
held here in Baltimore and many other pIaces IN
denounce it. The Globe said .our first dulv will
De 10 repeal lt'-and the Conventions passed re-.
solutions echoing the Globe, and saving I'VE in
scribe REPEAL upon our banner A new Con-
gress was elected in 1913, with large majority
against the Wings, in tho House of Representa-
tlves. Gen. Mckay, of North Carolina, was
made Chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means. That Committee, with the assistance
it is said, of Gov. Wright, of New York. made
strong report against The act. They denounced
Protective Tariil,-and talked about IgcipeN-
tai Protection and Revenue Standard,-as The
anti larlii men always talk when thew do not
wish to be understood. In their report they said
that duty laid for Protection was unconstitu-
nonal. They said moreover that the Tariff of
1912 had made deficiency in the revenue that
IL ola not BRING money enough to support the Co
Vernment, and that TO increase the revenue they
must reduce the duties. That | may represent
them fairly, will quote their own words:
''They-[this is an extract from McKay's re-
portJ have already stated the grounds upon which
they determine that additional revenue is neces-
sary 10 secure these objects the supply of the
treasury and their examinations Of the present
Tariff law and of the import tables have demon
stTated to them proposition which is not contro-
verified In any quarer-that to obtain an increased
revenue from the imports charged with duties
under the existing law, the rates of duty estab-
iished by that law must, in general. be REDUCED"
A curious incident happened This report was
begun to be written in December, 1913. 1t is
very long and was not finished until March 1874
In THIS interval the committee were thrown into
CONSERVATION by the disclosure, a. the beginning
OF Spring, OF the fact, that the tariff of 1872 in
stead oil leaving deficiency in the revenue, was
actually rapidly producing great surplus
Every body remembers how large that surplus
eventually was. Now, what would be expected.
ny the world at large, to be the course of fair,
Impartial men In such contingency as this 3
Inc committee believing there would be def
cheney in the revenue, had suggested. as a re-
medy for that deficiency the reduction of the du-
Ties. 1t was their opinion that lower duties would
produce more revenue. They find out after thew
have drawn up their bill to reduce the duties.
that instead OF deficiency there would be surplus.
What is their remedy for this evil Identicaly
the same as for the other--the very same reduc.
ton OF duties which they had proposed for the
purpose OF increasing the revenue. Hear what
their report says. The first extract have made
Is from page this comes from page II:
sit may be belleved-as indeed the fact NAV
turn out 10 be--that the revival of trade will be
so vigorous as, even under the existing law, to
furnish the requisite amount of revenue for the
present and the next fiscal year. Information
which has reached the committee since thew have
had this subject under consideration, and which