The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1846-03-09
TARIFF AND ANTI-TARIFF SCENE.
Correspondence ofihe Baltimore Patriot.


WASHINGTON, March 2, 1916.
The ways and doings ofthe British Free Trade
party in this country, and their co workers and
coadiuors, the lordly Manufacturers of England,
are rapidly developing themselves!
The proceedings of Congress being dull to day,
| accepted an invitation to visit the room of the
House Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads,
where found a Mr. Homer, whose anti-tarif
letter appeared in the last number of the 'Union,'
exhibiting about 200 specimens of goods of En-
glish manufacture, with like goods of American
production, and prices attached to each-in order
to convince members of Congress that our tariff
ought to be struck down
| don't know when ever | enjoyed an hours
time more heartily. Mr.. Homer is a gentleman
ly person, who seems to understand the wants of
the English manufacturers admirably well. In
deed, he told those present that he had resided
in Manchester, England, for ten years, engaged
in sending British goods to this country, and that
he left England to reside in the United States in
1912. He has amassed a large fortune, and
seems to come to instruct Congress in behalf of
s'Sir Robert Walker on the side, and the
manufacturers of Manchester on the other. He
brings letter of instruction and recommendation
from Mr.. Alexander Henry, great capitalist in
Manchester, which is dated January Sd, 1916, and
was received per steamer Hibernia A par of
this letter, Mr.. Homer exhibits to those who wish
to peruse it. The British writer of it, in speak
ing of Mr.. Folks anti tariff message to Congress-
excaims-s' A second Daniel come to judgments
A second Sir Richard CobdenR' He praises the
message very much-thereby showing how high
ly it is appreciated by the British manufacturers
In regard to Mr.. Homer's mission to instruct
Congress into the belief that it would be best to
break down the American Manufacturers and ex-
alt those of Great Britain, Mr.. Henry writes 81
am glad that you, whose long experience as our
Trop tn and tI,o
subject, have taken it in hand for if the object
of those at Washington be to obtain sound infor-
nation and arrive at Just conclusions in the pro-
posed alterations of the present tariff the informa-
ton which you can lay before them will be high
ly valuable
There were present in the room while | was
there, Messrs. Stewart, Collamer and Hubbard,
OF the House, and Mr.. Wethered of Baltimore.
Also two or three anti-tariff members who soon
lett. You may well imagine that such gentle
men as have named would, under the circum-
stances, put some searching questions TO Mr. Ho-
mer, coming there Tor such purpose and so rec
1 ommended And | assure you they did put
them Mr.. Homer answered as well perhaps as
any free trader could-but never have seen a
man so completely cornered
! He exhibited two pieces of calico, which he
said, were manufactured by Senator Simmons, OF
! Rhode Island who sold them, one for II cents
cred thought there must be some mistake in this,
and went up to the Senate, and requested Mr.
Simmons to come down to the Committee room,
who readily assented to the request. He said
the pieces IN question were none OF his manufac-
ture; and, from the quality, the best piece was
not worth over II liz cents, and the other not
over 10 per yard. Those persons, from whom
Mr. Homer had obtained them, had deceived him
Mr. Homer said the manufacturers Of this spe-
cies OF goods made profit of from 60 to so per
centum. Mr. Hubbard asked him why then more
persons did not invest their capital in such profit
able business? He asked Mr. Homer why he
! did not embark in the business The latter re-
! piled that he would invest $50 900 in it. if he did
not fear that so many would rush into the same
enterprise as TO bring down the profits by compe-
| luton, so low as to destroy the business Mr.
Stewart asked if that was not the American doc
trne, that competition reduced not only the
profits but the prices Mr. Collamer asked who
but the great mass of the people reaped the ben
eht from this competition among the manufactu-
ring capitalists Mr. Hubbard wanted Mr. Ho.
mer to say if the reason why he did not invest his
capital in this line of business, was because COM
petition would bring down the price of the goods
manufactured? Mr. Homer faltered in his reply,
and said there were several reasons why ne
would not engage in manufactures. One was,
that the market would be Auctuating.
Mr. Wethered, seeing the state Of things. and
exercising his compassion, said it was too bad for
SO many to be against one. He hoped the Tar
IN folks IN Congress would also have Committee
ROOM as well as the British manufacturers, with
specimens Tor examination and comparison, and
that they would appoint some sensible gentleman
to superintend it, and argue the matter single
handed with Mr. Homer. Whereupon the gen
tlemen made their bows and took their leave |
fear Mr. Homer will find his mission too hot for
him. The American people don't like these kind
oil missions on behalf Of British manufacturers,
who seek the destruction Of the American Tariff
however plausible and right the thing may APP
pear in the eyes of Mr. Polk or Mr. Walker.
~ The 81. u ~ !. IL