The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-10

appropriate between twelve and twenty millions
more. The war may last year or two, at an en-
pense OF forty or fifty millions annually. Instead
Of throwing away six or seven millions a year Of
the revenue produced by the present law, We
should increase the amount.
II seems TO me that there be but one opinion
on this subject know, sir, that the people whom
represent are not so anxious TO get rid Of taxes
although IN some respects unequal and unjust, as
TO desire 10 see the government crippled in its
means during the contest with Mexico. Nor are
they OF that class who would be unwilling to see
large public debt, and lis aecruing interest," and its
years OF taxation, fastened upon the country for
The sake Of present relief The people Of New
York are emphatlcalIy debt-paying people. Their
rule is let US pay principal and interest when due.
They will leave no debts TO posterity TO pay except
a debt OF gratitude. In behalf Of such a people,
am bound 10 protest against the passage Of a bill
that will not produce over seventeen or eighteen
millions OF dollars year, when we ought TO have,
and might have, near forty millions.
We have heard great deal during this discussion
Of the beauties and benefits Of free trade. There is
no such thing "a free trade among nations nsr can
we produce It by any action Of ours. IL depends
upon others, over whom we have no control. Tn
term "free trade" is deceptive, and pernieous in
It's effects as the cry Of protection to American in
dusiry," OF which so much complaint has been
made. There is not free-trade man this floor
No man has proposed it-no man will propose IT,
All concur in opinion that the funds necessary 10
support the government must be raised by duties
upon foreign goods. Nobody Is in favor Of direc
taxes for that purpose.
The Baltimore resolutions, and the letter Of the
President contain our creed. " A revenue tariff
with just Determinations in favor Of domestic indus
try, ;" was our motto. We were opposed TO the tar
III Of l642. Under the banner Of free trade we
would have been defeated. II is true SIR that the
RlchmOnd EnnnlreF and nlheF ealled
for the repeal of the law of l642. We denied, and
our papers In New York almost without exception
denied, that we were in favor Of repeating that law
hut aVowed a determination 10 modify it. That we
are ready to do now. No man on this floor has la
bored more Zealously for that purpose than have,
and no man is more ready or anxious than am TO
accomplish that object But, SIR important point
in the creed Of the democratic party, understand
II, seems TO be NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sufficient for
the support Of the government | understand 70
he one Of its essential characteristics. Will the
bill under consideration produce that result I
Clearly not, il now is. The estimates of the
Secretary Of the Treasury show only about twenty
three millions as the gross amount of its products
The expenses Of collection, debentures, bounties,
| and drawbacks, amount TO three millions, leaving
but twenty millions of nett revenue On the other
hand, the current expenses Of the government
for the last ten years, average twenty-five mil
lions Of dollars. The expenses will be increased
in protecting Texas, and improving her harbors,
building lighthouses, custom-houses, and main
tanning federal courts, and building forthca-
tons, and supporting the numerous officers of the
government, one million of dollars. Oregon will re.
qure for similar purposes, and for maintaining a
regiment of mounted men, and building and main.
tanning Notifications along the route for the protec-
tion Of emlgrants, another million. Thus we see
that twenty-seyen millions will be necessary hereaf
in time Of peace. But 1t is said that the amount
goods imported subject duty, will be increased
twelve fourteen millions, and thus the will
be increased three or four millions IL may be so, but
doubt it. Last year the amount Of goods paying
duty about RiRetyfve millions, while, for the last
ten years, the average amount was only sixty-hve
millions, being excess over the average Of thirty
millions Suppose however, for the sake Of the
gument, that an increase TO that amount should ac-
tualy take place. will it produce the supposed in
crease Of revenuel think not, and will state my
reasons. Under the present law about thirty-fve
millions of imports were charged with specific du
ties. ..H- "'.
These goods were consequently reported at their
real value, for the reason that the duties were not
affected by the value. This bill aboishes all spe-
cIfc duties and fixes the duty at certain per cent.
upon the value, at the place where purchased for
importation. The less the value, therefore, the less
the amount of the duty. Instead of an linvoice at
the real value, il will be 25, or so, or perhaps 100
per cent. below. This species of fraud is not w.
rwenty-three millions of pounds Of wool was i'm
ported the last year, under duty of per cent. ad
valorem, at invoced prices of seven cents pound,
or less, actually costing much more than, that price
The same thing will occur under this bill; and al
though the value or amount of imports may be
in fact increased, yet the nominal or invoced val
ne will not be materially varied. Sir, there is a
principle embraced in this bill that do not approve
All the duties are ad valorem. This is a radical
change in our revenue laws; from 1889, being the
FIRST to the present time, there have been many laws
passed, and each of them contain large list Of ar
tcles charged with specific duties. The experience
of our own government, well that of every civil
lied government in the world, has approved of that
mode Of levying duties 1t is the safest protection
against frauds; the most certain in regard to the
amount Of revenue, and the most wholesome check
to over-mportation. Quantity is certain, value un
| certain; as value decreases the duties depending
upon the value also decrease. When prices are
high the ad vaorem principle affords large protec-
tion when it is not necessary when they are low 1t
affords little or no projections when 1t is most neces
sary The specific principle operates the reverse pre-
cisely and is therefore, in my opinion, much the
best. .....
One word more, sir, in regard to the time and
circumstances under which this revolution in princ
pie and reduction of the amount of revenue to be
adopted. Ihave said we are now at war with Mex
leo. On the first day of July, 1912, Congress pass
ed law by which all duties were doubled. On the
second day of July 1916, Congress is engaged in an
effort to reduce the duties very considerably. The
war measure of 1912 was to enlarge the revenue
of 1876 to reduce it II is not for me to say which
Congress exhibits the most wisdom I will ask the
attention Of the committee for a few moments, to
the substitute for the bill of the Committee Of Ways
and Means presented by my colleague, Mr. HUN.
cERroRD.1 1t is preferable in all respects, in my
Judgment, to the other, and will yield three or four
millions more revenue. The only serious objection
to il is that it will not produce much as is desi-
rable. But we are told by several gentlemen, that
| as democrats we are bound to support the original
bill-that the substitute has anti-democratic fea-
turesthat it is protective and contains specific du-
ties. For the expression Of preference in favor
of the substitute to the original bill, by some of the
| Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York democrats, they
have been formally read out of the party by certain
members who have assumed authority to which
they have no right Sir, should be greatly obliged
to any Of those gentlemen if they would inform me,
first by whose authority they attempt to read Ohio,
| Pennsylvania, and New York out Of the party'
Have they counted the strength of those StatesS Do
| they know that we have upon this foor seventy
mise representatives Do they suppose the repre-
sentatves from these States come here to receive
lessons in regard to the principles of democracy!
| Il. .l.t,N oant nd