The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-01-22

Sir, the honorable Secretary has in hi
report three great objects IN view. Thu
first is, to prove that low duties Away
produced increased revenue; the secont
is, to prove that the reduction of dutie.
has produced not only an increase of i'm
ports but of exports and especially ofthe
exports of breadstuffS and provisions; and
the third is, to show that, by reducing
the duties and increasing imports, he has
benefited the farming, mechanical, and
manufacturing interests of the country
Yes, to show that importing foreign
goods by millions on millions, and send
ing money out of the country to pay
for them, is the way to help the interests
! of American ldsor' Yet SO says the Sec.
rotary.
The first position this report attempts 10
establish is, that lis project of reducing du.
ties has produced an increase IF eighty nil
lions oi.dollars in The revenue. So far is
this from being true, or anything like the
truth, that | will show that instead of bring
ing into the treasuary eight millions more, it
has actually brought S7,2o2,657 less than
would have been received during the last
year had the tariff of 1912 remained in op-
era!ioh, b!under of the small amount of
fifteen millions of dollars in a single year
If gentleman viii look at the first pages
of the three last annual reports of the Sec
rotary, they will find that, by his own shows
ing, the la'iIf of 1912 produced in 1915 S27,
52s, l12! in 1876, S26,7l2 ,667; and in 1917,
under Mr.. Walkers tariff Of 1916, he recev>
ed ONLY S23,747,ssl, almost three millions
less than was received in 1916, and nearly
four millions less than 1915. Now, sir by
looking at the late report of the Secretary, it
appears that last year we imported about
ten and half millions more duiable goods
than in lsl5, which at 81 per cent, the
average duties under the tariff of 1912,
wouldyield S3,4l6, 429, which, with the
excess received in 1S45 over 1917, S3,71S,
2Ss, makes 81, 2O2,6o7 more revenue which
would have been received if the tariff Of
1912 had not been repealed. This is math
ematicaly true; and yet. in face ofthese facts
the President and Secretary say the revenue
has been increased more than eight millions
o. dollars.
In his report of last session, he gives his
own estimate for the proceeds of tho pres
ent or last year (1S47) at S27, s35,73l, yet
it has actually produced but S23; 147, 1854,
more than four millions less than his own
estimate Yet both he aud the model Pres
iden, say that the tarltfhas more than reals
lied the most sangune hopes of its friends!
confess; do not comprehend statements
like these. Perhaps the Secretary may
explain them
Now as to the modus operandi, the leg
erdemain, the sleight-ot> hand, by which
falsehoods are made TO appear true, the
plan by which he attempts to make it Out
that he has received more revenue under
| the tariff Of 1916 than was received under
that Of 1912. How is this dones Ii is done
10y cutting up the years; taking few months
of one year and four or five months of an
other five months under the tariff Of 1912
and seven under the tariff of 1916. Ewes
ry body knows the tariff Of 1916 was pass
ed in July, and did no, go into operation
till December; during this time imports pay
The fact being that the duties would in a
few months be greatly reduced, very large
amount of goods which would have come
in and paid duty according 10 the ihen en-
listing tariff Of 1912, were WITHHELD til. TIE
duties came down They were pied up
in warehouses or kept in bond ull the tariff
of 1916 and low duties took effect besides
goods which had paid heavy duties were
rceXpoted and the duties withdrawn from
the treasury. During this period, o! course
little revenue, ill comparison, was coming
in, though the country vas still nominay
under the tariff of 1912. Now these are the
months which this very fair and candid Sc
cretary takes for his estimate of the produce
of the tariff of 1912. As soon as the
reduced tariff of 1916: and these are the
months which this truth seeking Secretary
takes, as showing the comparative product
of this model talif. contrasted with five
months of the tariff of 1912, giving little
over seven millions, when, for two years
before the revenue had exceeded an aver
age of tweniy-sever millions! And this is
put forth as a fair comparison. This is no
deception Oh no: this is fair. This Is tile
way to bring truth to the people! lie
might as well compare the strength OF q
ant and tina, Of child, by putting down
what he grant could lift when on his sick
bed and in his last hours, and what the
child could lif, in the vigor Of health and un-
der sudden and violent excitement Would
this be very satisfactory way OF proving
that the child was stronger Than the giant!
The next thing the learned Secretary at
tempts TO prove is, that under low duties
more revenue is always obtained than under
high duties. To show this, he selects ten
years income under high tariff, and len
years under IA low one. He selects ten
,oors f-o,, 1920 IN 1919 uu1pr the cOmDrO-