New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-11


present Tariff thus leaves Yarn, made OF Hemp
to enter this country under duty OF 20 cent as
Eor. enumerated article, not embraced under the
term HEMP or Cordage. When il is considered
that this Hemp Y arm requires bat very little Ia
Dor, and even that little is almost entirely done
BY machinery, you can judge OF It's effects upon
the business The importation in this form ls, IN
fact an evasion of the Revenue Law, not autici
pated by the makers Of that law. The Iarln OF
isf6 went into operation in December OF that
wear. a period too late for importation from nus
STA the leading country for the produce and I'M
portation of Hemp before the Spring OF lsi :
and even after that, it required some little time
for the Manufacturers, in country tour Thousand
miles distant TO adjust the form OF their manuiac-
ture TO our Tariff. A ruinous importation soon
commenced, which has driven half the operatives
in the seaboard manufactures out OF employment
and rendered the whole trade so precarous and
fluctuating as to threaten its entire extlncton.-
The leading business of the Rope manutactories
in this vicinity now, is, the working OF Husss
yarn, by machinery, giving employment to less
than one quarter Of the hands necessary TO manu-
facture an equal amount Of Rope out Of American
hemp majority Of these have only an irregu-
lar employment, at moderate wages for filling up
the active season, or when the w inter STOCK is
consumed, leaving them nearly half OF the time
out Of employment The section Of Long Island
immediately adjoining WILLIAMSBURG embraces
nearly all the Rope Manufactures in the vicinity
of New. York Il is estimated that the several
Rope w alks in this vicinity manufacture from
90 coo to 30 900 tuns Of Rope per annum. Agents
from Russia have recently visited this place, ana
made extensive arrangements for the importation
of Hemp Yarn during the coming Summer. The
Rope-Makers of this vicinity anticipate the
almost entire extinction Of their business, unless
Congress should remove the injustice which has
been done them by the Tariff of 1876. The I'M
mense amount of private suffering caused by the
breaking down of large class of laborers, and
forcing them, at the age OF from 80 to o. win
families dependent on them, 20 abandon the trade
in which they have been reared, can be better
conceived than described A Tariff of 20 per cent.
affords them no adequate protection, and with
duty of 30 per cent. on raw Hemp, 1t IN effect
offers premium of ten dollars per hundred on its
foreign manufacture in addition to the cheapened
price Of transportation on the half manufactured
article. Its influence has been mainly felt hith-
erto on the seaboard; but unless its importation
is checked, the Hemp grower ofthe United States
will look in vain for q market for his produce 1t
is not alone the operative who is interested for
every pound of Russian yarn imported, drives an
equal amount Of American hemp from market
The principle adopted as to other articles, that the
manufacture Of the raw material in this country
should be encouraged, has been here reversed,
and an effectual premium offered for its foreign
manufacture. While Sugar, Tobacco, Cotton,
Iron, Wool Lead, and other articles of American
production are protected by duties of 90 to 30 per
cent, and their manufacture by at least an equal
duty, we see reason for perpetuation OF this In
vidious distinction in favor of imported Hemp
Yarns. We believe there is no other article en-
braced within the Revenue Laws, where the duty
on the manufactureds not as great nnot greater
than that on the raw material So long as it Is
deemed material TO have Revenue Laws, so long
as it is deemed material to protect American in
dustry, let us have a proper adjustment and cor
rcCs e.fu~ti@@si-.- l-t:s- I'M norts The in
PRODUCTION of Hemp Y arm probably affects tnou-
sand laborers in this vicinity. The operatives in
the Rope Manufactures throughout this country
would form population Of several hundred thou
sands, while if we include the growers of Hemp,
and those occupations more Immediately depend
ent on this branch of business. the number
throughout the whole Union would undoubtedly
reach a million. In view, therefore, OF the extent
and Importance Of this manufacture, and OF the
great injustice which has been done by the pres
ent Tariff we respectfully solicit your influence
in amending this law, so as to protect the rights
of American labor The true principle of protec-
tion demands higher duty on the manufactured
ask that a duty may be placed on Hemp Y arm
Hemp.
JAMES CLEVELAND, JR. JOHN MACKINGTOSH,
SOLOMON WILSON, JAMES HOWARD,
ARTHUR DORSEY, BENIN BALDERSON,
JOHN VALENTINE, Committee.
This is a mistake, as we have often shown.
Several descriptions of Wooden fabrics are like
wise admitted at rates of duty below those inn
posed on the raw material-[Ed T'rib.