Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-04-26
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.


The tool selected in the House for this
dirty work is fellow from Illinois named
Richardson, who took occasion the other
day to offer 4 resolution calling for the ap-
pointment of committee to inquire into
the course of action pursued by Mr.. EwINo
in certain matters designated and this res
olution, with these insinuated allegations
against the Secretary of the Interior, was
offered at time when, as the mover well
knew, it could not be entertained except by
the unanimous consent of the House.
Some one having objected, Mr.. Stanly
moved suspension of the rules for the
purpose of having the resolution acted upon
at once, with the view to the appointment
Of the committee and the institution of the
proposed inquiry. But it did not suit those
who started the movement to have the res
olution acted upon. Their purpose was
gained by imputing charges and leaving the
implied calumny TO go forth. On the fol-
lowing day the matter was pressed in anoth
er form, until the locofocos felt compelled to
pass 1t; and we shall now see whether the
slanderer who made the reckless charges
can substantiate them.
During a debate Oh bill for the relief
of the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad
Company, by advancing money for mail
service to pay duty on railroad iron i'm
ported by that Company
Mr. STEVENS, Of Pennsylvania, expressed
hope that before this DILL was allowed to pass,
the House would take time TO look at it. 1t
was proposition to bring the Government into
aconnection with the system ofinternal improve
ment, by advancing money for the relief of this
railroad company, for that was the true import
of the bill. 1t was bill to authorize an extern
sion of the time for the payment Of the duties on
imported iron. until such time as the Govern
ment might pay itself out of the moneys due TO
the company under contract for the transpor-
tation Of the Mail. Now, if the company had
entered into contract with the Government,
let them fulfil their contract, and if the Govern
ment has made such contract with the company
let them pay what they have contracted to pay
whenever the terms OF the contract are corn-
piled with. He believed this road runs through
Two States, and if so. the Government has jurls-
dicticn over II.
Several voices: Three.
Mr. Stevens Three States then il does
come under our jurisdiction. He was opposed
to this system OF encouraging the foreign manu-
faciurer 10 send his iron here, for the construc-
ton Of our railroads, and TO the manifest injury
Of our domestic manufacturers.
Mr. Porter. Mr. Stevens yielding at his re-
quest,) desired to ask the gentleman from Penn
syvania, whether that State had ever paid duties
on the iron imported by her in the construction
of her railroads Had she not obtained a re-
mission of the duties on all the imported iron
used in the erection Of all her public works
Mr.. Stevens resumed. The State OF Penn
sylvania was at this moment buying British iron.
He admitted that there was time when Penn
sylvana, in the construction Of her railroads,
imported a considerable quantity of iron from
abroad, and by some arrangement, she had only
partly paid the duties oh that iron. But latter
Iy, neither Pennsylvania nor any of the eastern
States, had asked for a remission OF the duties
on their imported iron.
Before the act of 1912, when Pennsylvania
first embarked in the business of manufacturing
all the iron she imported; but since the year
1912, when the law of ls42 went into operation
railroad iron had been purchased at the rate of
fifty-sx dollars the ton; and now this foreign
iron can be purchased in Boston at thlrty-nlne
dollars the ton, duties, freight, and all other en-
pen5ss included. And although this is the state
of things with our competitors, and this IS the
way in which the domestic article IS depressed,
we are now called on to give new privileges IN
favor of the imported iron, by extending the time
in which this railroad company shall be required
TO pay the duties on the iron imported by them.
The domestic manufacture is thus to have the
disadvantage of a foreign valuation of the import
ed article, and the credit system instead Of
home valuation and cash duty. These duties are
thus in part to be made payable, not by the rail-
road company, but by the United States Govern
ment; because they are not To be paid until the
Government shall have in its hands enough of
the money due to the company under their mail
contract to pay them.
He called on all those who had any regard for
the iron interest Of our own country, or who
were disposed to sustain our home labor, to
pause and reflect before they consented to pass
this law which would prove but an entering
wedge to q system, the tendency of which is to
break down nil our domestic interests. There
was never SO UluCH iron HilpOIlcu iHtu any couh-
try as is now imported from England into the
United States. Pig metal can now be brought
into this country from Glasgow at a less cost
than the bare expenses of carrying the same ar
ticle fifty miles by internal transportation, and is
delivered here at price which is absolutely ru-
nous to our own establishments. The effects of
this destructive policy are already visible in the
dilapidated condition ofthe Pennsy vania works.
The establishments in Clarion county are, for the
most part, idle; and even coal is imported from
Europe and brought into the Pennsylvania coal
region. And as if this was not enough done for
the injury four domestic industry, rairoad COM
panies must come here and rsk for an extension
of time before they are TO be called on 10 pay
their duteson the iron imported for their benefit.
And in this way all the great interests of the
country are to be disconnected and frttered
away by piecemeal, until the whole shall be