The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-02

true and what was it,, sir, that has stimulated the
ingenuity Of the American people but the protee-
ton afforded against composition from other coun-
tries. The nations of the Old World had the OF
US in time, they possessed unlimited capital, and
had the markets Of the world, including our own,
at their command. The protective policy so wisely
adopted by us, invited capital into this department
Of our industry, and the "mechancal contriyances"
diminishing the Of production, is the cause OF
the diminished price of all protected articles and it
is the reason, sir, why the poor man is enabled to
clothe himself and family cheap.
We may reason about this matter, but the fact
remains unconuadlcted, that the imposition of pro.
tecuye duties Is invariably followed by reduced
prices Of the articles protected whether il be the coal
and iron dug from the bowels OF the earth, or the
productions OF the loom, or any other branch Of
manufactures. With these lights before US, Mr..
Chairman for one am not disposed 10 groPe in the
dark maZes Of theory.
There is one other branch Of manufactures which
wish TO revert to, and Il Is one but little known, al
though no one could have visited the fair without
noticing the beautiful specimens there exhibited.
The article allude To is the manufacturing of os-
trch feathers into brushes. IL is now some ten
years only since this article first introduced into
this country and are indebted TO the " mechanI.
cal cOnriyancs" Of an American citizen for the per
fiction which the manufacture OF this article has
reached
The feather Of which these brushes are made is
not the feather Of the African ostrich which is
uce of ornament, but Of the South American bird
and which is only used for the manufacture Of
brushes and articles Of that kind II the bill before
US becomes law, it will impose the same duty on
the feather as on the brush and the American srt-
Gle will be driven out Of market. The Gazette and
Times" published in the city Of New York, has
been sent to me, and It contains an article on the
manufacture OF these brushes. will send II TO the
clerks table that he may read part Of II:
Whatever praise may have heretofore been awarded to
Peely obscured by foreign skin and psrtnacy Al least
such would DO the natural superstition judging from the
conhGel OF some OF our leglslaorh WShlngon foresn
merchandise and foreign agents have had for some time free
ngress 10 the rooms OF the Committee Of Ways and Means
while 4msrcan and 4srican products have
been carefully excluded The desire would to be
for and protect foreign interests rather than those Of
our own country.
The present arn imposes duty Oftwenty five per cent
ostrich feathers and the manufactures OF that
material whsn imported The proposed tariff bill OF Gen
Mckay raises the duty in both thirty per cent The
imported feather brush Is very bunglng, unsubstanal
and comparatively useless AFFAIR and, being unsaeable
does not enter at all into competition with the American
cle. The duty the material therefore in effect
much MIR seess manufacture, and. consequent
y, all it, consumers and II is the unjust because
does discriminate between the African ostrich feather
which is article OF luSury-and very few OF which
used the manufacture Of the the greatly
common durable and cheaper feather Of the ostrich OF the
southern Continent which forms the principal staple Of Mr.
Steeles business
in order to set this in the strongest light before the Com
mitse OF Ways and Means MIR. = made visit weeks
since to Washington with view Of exhibiting to them
spec OF his work that the differences IN the
era anil the unjust operation Of the duty might
become visible 10 the eve as well as TO the undsTstandng
lie however rudely repulsed by the chairman Of tbs
committee, who would not detgn TO look these spec
mems OF American industry AMI skill. hear word Of
personal explanation In relation TO them and this too
before stated while the agents Of foreign manufactures
allowed TO exhibit their In any quantity, and
to tell such stories as might advance the Interests they rep
resented.
the case of Mr. Steele by no means singular one
Hundreds Of similar instances have occurred since the
mencement OF the present session OF Congress"
or course, Mr.. Chairman, | cannot vouch for the
correctness Of the article which has Just been read.
Mr.. Steele is gentleman of veracity, and entitled
TO the respect of every member Of this House; will
only add sir that it agrees substantially with what
he told me before he left this city his return TO
New York.
will revert to other article, and by no means
an unimportnnt one, allude TO hatters' furs when
on the skin. Under the tariff Of 1892 these are adj
mitted at duty of per cent, and the manufac-
tured article is protected by duty Of IS per cent.
ten per cent thereby removing all protection to the
manufactured article. The effect upon this branch
of our manufactures cannot but be very disastrous.
Sir, fear it will entirely break it up.
object to the bill before us on the ground that
il proposes a system of ad vaorem in the place Of
specific duties. | know 1t is contended by some
that ad valorem duties are the most just. In theory
II would seem but experience is the best teacher
and 1t is found that this system leads TO the most
dangerous results. | have had some experience in
this matter and know the danger of the system.
| hold in my hand letter from one Of the largest
importers in the city Of New York, in which he
says, "that nine-tenths of the American importers
are in favor Of specific duties. They are great
protection against frauds. To honest importers it
is not material what the duties are, provided they
are collected Of all alike. That under an ad valo-
rem system, see not but honest men must give
up the buslness-they cannot contend with the
frauds which will be practised." The writer then
describes u case wherein an attempt was made to
defraud the during the past winter Of l8 900
francs in one invoice Such testimony as this, sill, ,
is worthy of consideration, and should lead us to be
cautious in our legislation. | believe, sir, that on
the whole continent Of Europe specific duties pre-
vail to the almost entire exclusion Of ad valorem.
In the tariff of Sir Robert Peel, Of TIA enumerated
articles, Cos are specific and only 100 ad valorem.
The opinion of all practical men, familiar with the
subject, is in favor of specific duties wherever it is
practicable.
Ad valorems lead to great uncertainty in your
revenue. Prices at home and abroad are continu-
ally changing. The quantity consumed varies but
little from year to year. Make your duties specific
and you have no difficulty in estimating your prob
able revenue.
Gentlemen object to specific duties on the ground
that it mpopes the same duty the poorer article
as on the good, and thus throws the heaviest tax
upon the working classes. Even if this true,
the tendency of the system would work in favor Of
the poorer classes, as it would exclude the inferior
qualities, and reduce, by competition the value Of
the better qualities which are always cheapest in
the end.
Sir, repeal the present tariff and establish your
ad vaorem duties by passing this bill, and my word
for it the country will be flooded with European fab
ricR; the rejected patterns land spurious limitations,
with false fugitive coors, will be thrown into our
markets in quantities to break down the most skill.
full manufacturer" especially during period Of de-
preston in the markets of Europe and the country
will be drained Of her coin to pay for that which
she does not want But this is not all; you strike
a death blow at the mechanics of the country. You
take from them the protection they now have. You
lessen the duty on the articles they manufacture,
and you greatly increase the duty on almost every
thing they use in manufacturing them. Sir, the
tanner, halter, tailor, shoemaker, blacksmith, sad.
der, &c, will find themselves undersod by articles
of foreign production. | fear it will shut up the
salt works of my own State, and the iron and coal
mines of Pennsylvania The tanneries and glass
works cannot be sustained against the foreign com
petition which will pour in upon them. We now
import hides at duty Of 5 per cent, and when
made into leather, export it to considerable ex-
tent. Make the duty the same Tor difference Of
IN \ H. al. l..