The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-20
CON REssIoNAL.
SPEECH OF. MIR. FICKLIN,
OF ILLINOIS,

On The oil reducing the duties on Imports and for
Mr.. FICkLlN addressed the committee as fol.
lows; H ". ...
MIR. CHAIRSIAs: "The world is governed too
much" This sentiment, whether applied to per-
sons or things politics or religion, is no less true
than it is forciby and beautifully expressed. IL is
the constant. the uneeasing struggle Of the few 10
gain absolute dominion over tho eonscisnces, the
pockets, and Persons Of the many For this pur-
pose, statutes are sometimes so written and framed
that the multitude cannot understand them. The
Roman emperor adopted the plan OF having the
laws written in small letters and placed on a pillar
so high up that the common people could not read
them. Our lawmakers effected the same object by
different method in framing the tariff OF 1912
They concealed their ideas, their meaning with
words, and covered them up with technical terms so
effectually that the masses cannot understand their
import. Minimum and specific duties constitute a
part Of the machinery cunningly devised for that
purpose. ..... ..n..... .
What is a minimum duty' II means the smallest
amount possible-and is adopted in the tariff act
of 1912 u false valuation, used for deceptive and
mischieyous purposes 1t is made TO apply to cot
fabrics and yarns in the following class of cases.
to wit: 20, 80, and IS cents, are the minimums as
applied to those winch are cotton fabrics in whole
IN part; 90 and rs are the two mlnimums applied
by that act TO cotton yarns. That law provides that
all cotton cloths, costing less than 20 cents per
square yard, shall be assumed to have cost 20 cents
LEVIED accordingly Take a coarse article Of cotton
goods, costing cents per yard in England, and the
tax imposed Il is precisely the same az that levied
on the fine article costing 20 cents per yard thus
making the coarse article pay five times as much
proportion TO its value as the fine article
50 on the minimums which apply to cotton yarns,
The duties are alike unjust; and tax ranging from
80 TO $50 per cent ad valorem is imposed under the
DISCUSSES OF that act. give you the following ex-
pose prepared by an able hand:
on all manufactures Of cotton of which cotton is
component part NO dyed coored printed stained
20 etHis yard and that assumed value duty
SOPer cent Is imposed which amounts every
square yard ... r.....r. ..H .....
On all fabrics Of the description u dyed eolored
printed OF stained in whole in part not breeding in
and on that assumed value duty Of 30 per cent is
WHICH amounts to . cents on every square yard
On velvet cords, moleskns fustans buffalo cloths Of
which cotton Is component part goods manu-
BY tapping or raising cutting Shearng trc,sdc
and on that assumed value duty Of 20 percent imposed
which amounts to 10 cents mills per square yard
costing less than 60 GEMS pound shall Be rasd f.
e'Hts per pound and that value duty OF 80
per cent Qs cents per Pound) is imposed.
On the same articles bea ched coorhd, costing less
than 10 cents and go per pound shall al
80 per cent 90 cents mills per pound is imposed
The duties actually paid taons the mini.
range rom as appes. 81 sr tho reco 81
the Committee OF Ways and Means Of the House of Repre-
ing document 306.
Now let us examine the specific duty Incorporated
in that act.
Where the same amount of tax is imposed upon
all articles Of the same kind, per gallon, bushel
yard or ton, without reference to the value or cos
thereof, that is a specific duty. For instance, silk
fabrics, used for dresses, pay 81 so per pound,
whether they be coarse or fine, cheap dear; thus
the coarse silk dress pays much duty as the fine
one costing five times as much. The re-
mark applies to brown and loaf sugar and mo-
lasses, which fixed and inverable specific duty
lad without reference their real cost or value
is this just, or is 1t right? Again, the tariff act of
1912, discnmnates in favor of the rich and against
the poor Here will give few instances. The
farmers pay from 80 to $50 per cent on their iron
and implements made of iron, about 100 per cent.
on coarse flannel, from IS to 1870 per cent on sugar
IS to ITO per cent moasses, and from LOG to 40
on salt while fine flannel is taxed about 40 per
cent, rich silk for dresses % per cent, gold Watches
diamonds and gems, u per cent. The reason as
signed for the low tax ewery is the facility with
which 1t can be struggled into the country. |
1t was charged from the first, that the odous tariff
OF ls4l was framed by delegation of manufacture
ers, who visited Washington and hung about the |
Capitol till they secured its success; and there are,
indeed strong inherent marks in the bill itself to
prove that such was the fact, for its determinations
and Its leanings are against the farmer.
lake the following articles, for instance: ALL ber
RES nuts, and vegetables used in dying; all dye
woods, barilla, Brazil wood, keIp lac dye, madden,
madder-root, crude saltpetre, shelac, sumach, and
urmerice are admitted duty free, because it benefits
and encourages the manufacturer.
Further to encourage the manufacturer, and to
prejudice the sheepgroa in this country, the cheap
priced wool which comes in competition with our
wool, Is admitted at duty of per cent ad valo-
rem, flax is admitted at about per cent, when re-
duced to ad valorem rates, hides at per cent.
ad vaorem, linseed 5 per cent. All these articles
wool rau in
luton with those which the farmer produces for mar
ket II 1t were deemed necessary, this catalogue of
determinations for the benefit of the manufacturer
and against the farmer, might be multiplied to an in
dehnlte extent; but the instances enumerated sufi-
cently prove and establish the fact that the tariff of
S42 Ii emphatically the manufacturers bill-taxng
other industrial interests for their beneht--and
should, therefore, be repealed
SO odious and hdeous is this protective policy in
lts naked condition, before it has been arrayed in its
rich drapery, that its friends seek to give it popu
lar but false name, to cover up deformity The
principle itself IL the personlhcation Of the yelled
prophet, and is permitted to pass through the world
only when it is masked.
The distinguished Kentucky statesman [Mr.
Clay] zeaously and ably supported the tariff of
1924, and sought in the course of his remarks, to
oaptlse 1t as the American policy; and Mr.. Webster
OF Massachusetts who then opposed to that tar
I'll bill, Indignantly repudiated the effort In his
speech on the tariff Of 1921, Mr.. Webster, in
reply to Mr.. Clay, who was then speaker of the
House, said:
And allow sir in the first place. to state my regret
u lhdeeu ought not express warmer sentiment the
names or desg nations which Mr. Speaker has seen fit to
adopt Tor the purpose OF describing the advocates and the
opposers Of the present bill It's question he says be.
tween the friends Of an American policy and those OF
foreign policy This, sir assumption which take
the liberty most directly to deny"
Indeed, sir il is little astonishing III, seemed convent
ent 10 Me Speaker for the purposes distinction to make
use OF the terms American policy, and foreign policy
that he should not have applied them in manner precisely
the reverse OF hatn which he has in fact used Them II
names are thought necessary, II would be well enough
one would think that the should be In
descriptive OF the thing and since Mr.. Speaker denom
natesthe policy which he recommends policy this
country since he speaks fhe present a
era IN our legislation; since he processes to invite de-
part rom our accustomed course TO instruct ourselves by
the wisdom OF others and to adopt the policy OF the
distinguished foreign sass is little curious 10 know
with what propriety OF speech this imitation of other
lions Is denominated American policy who thu
contrary, preference for established system
now actually exists and always has existed called
loregn policy "(See FIRST volume Websters speeches,
26s and 266.