Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-02-27
The proposed alteration of the
- Tariff.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF MAINE.

instat, contains letter from one of our mos
respected and Intelligent merchants, compli.
mentary to the Journal for its able article on
ihe "toAmercial Interests of Maine" which
we recently rcpublished. The letter contains
the following paragraphs =
sour shipping interest seems 10 demand
from all parties defensive position and a
strong voice against the oppressive tariff taxa
ton with which some of the most importan,
articles employed in constructing and equip
ring our ships have been burlencd. And you
will allow me to add that Mr.. VIM. ID. Sew
all. of the firm of Clark and Sewall of this
city. has Just informed me that your article af-
torded him important aid in statistics, he be-
ing at the moment of i,sarrival writing TO our
L. 5. Senator, Mr. Bradbury, upon the sub
ject of an effort being made to increase the
duty on iron and hemp 10 per cent.
Now, upon Mr.. Sewall's estimate, hemp
and iron, in the variety of forms in which they
are employed in building and equipping our
vessels, constitutes fraction over 20 per cent.
of their cost, and it is easy to estimate the
heavy tax that such an advance would infiici
on this important branch of our industry which
employs as valuable muscles as are any where
to be found at work in our republic"
Aswe have occasionally intimated to our
readers, influences have been at work since
the present session of Congress commenced, to
bring about some modification of the present
Tariff. There are several interests enlisted
in the movements; what with the high pro-
,iectionsts, who go in for an indiscriminate
increase of duties upon political grounds-who,
by the way, comprise now very small party
and with the different manufacturing inter
,ests that seek the fostering aid of government
quite an influence is collected at head quar-
tiers. Under the pretence of remedying some
of the alleged defects and frauds of the ad-va-
loren system, they hope 10 be able to accom-
pllsh their purpose-ior the slightest actual
disturbance of the Tariff will be seized upon
as rally move, upon which to concentrate the
different interests and influences. and through
the log-roliug, and other devices that may be
brought in at the tai! end of the session, it will
be hard TO tell what might not be accomplished.
The Tariff of 1916 undoubtedly needs revi-
sion. The different sections Of the country,
with their diversified interests, are agreed upon
this-the only danger is that interests which
now suffer will not be benefited by revision
but that the change will be all in favor of
those that are already in the enjoyment of the
largest share of benefits. \ comparison of the
duties upoh the principal products of our own
State with some of the other States will show
4 disparity that calls for a remedy. While
the duties on iron and sugar, the products of
Pennsylvania and Louisiana are fixed at thirty
~ Per cent, the duties on potatoes, bark, cord
wood and all descriptions of lumber, are
but hrcRty per cent. And vet, instead of re-
moving this inequality, the only change that
IS proposed is to increase the duties on iron,
hemp and other articles, and thus imposing a
double tax upon the industrious and enterpris-
ing Inhabitants Of our State-for the CONNER
cial interests of Maine far exceed in impor-
lance any other interest, and according TO the
computations Of Mr.. Scwail-whosc intelli-
gence in this matter, and correctness of judg-
nent will certainly not be qncsiioned-at. least
not by his ,rhig frcnds-the hemp and iron
used in constructing and equipping our vessels
constitute 20 per cent, of their cost!
But that our readers may be apprizcd more
fully of the plan Intended TO be carried out, we
append an extract from the Congressional pro-
ceedipgs of a few weeks sincc-it being an
amendment proposed by Mr.. Strong, of Penn
sylvania
Mr.. Strong moved 10 amend BY providing
that on and after the LIST day of April next
duties required by law 10 be levied, collected
and paid goods, wares and merchandise,
shall be assessed on the market value, with
the addition of such charges as are now i'm
posed by law, at the time and place of export
provided, that upon machinery made wholly
. or in part of iron, and upon anchors, chain ca
.bles, and anvlls, that duties shall be assessed
rupon the average prices, with charges added,
(which like descriptions of iron bore in princi-
pal during the ten fiscal years Immediately
preceding the year of Importation; such val
mes and charges to be ascertained and declared
,hy the Secretary of the Treasury as the basis
for each succeeding fiscal year. Duties on
,ayindow glass and linsced oil shall be thirty
per cent, and upon all descriptions of iron, up
on machinery made wholly or in part of iron,
and npcn cha,p cables, anchors and anylls, the
sdntles shall be 40 per cent provided that
any excess of duties if imported by account of
any railroad line, imported for the use of any
.rail road, and actually and permanently laid
down for the use Of such road within one year
after the passage Of this act, shall be RENTED
by the Secretary Of the Treasury on satisfac-
.tory proof being furnished, that such iron was
50 imported aud laid down. Duties upon all
-cordane and yarns imported, composed fully or
IN past Of hemp or grass, and upon all manu-
featured article or articles composed wholly or
in part Of sleeps wool, ard upon refined SUI
-gars. shall be respectively ten per centum ad
Walorem, over and above the rate of duty now
assessed by Law. On hemp and sleeps wool
manufactured, and RAY silk indigo, and all
articles which on The Goth July, 1916, were
exempt from duty, shall be admitted free from
duty, 10 prevent frauds by undertaking, and
10 insure uniformity in appraisement there shall
be none appointed as now provided for; but
Others 10 be called appraisers at large, who
'Shaii prepare rules for the government of the
local appraisers, visit the several ports of the
Shlted States. and .periurm such other duties
as ii'e Secretary Of the Treasury may approve
ana alFec'' each Of which appraisers shall re
ccNe an animal Compensation of $1,000, with
necessary travelling expense That the peri
>ods during whlch by existing laws goods de-
Qoslleu IN Pusllc warehouse NAV be Withdrawn
for Immediate eXporta,ipn or consunnt;op no
and the same are hereby extended 10 three
years"
This amendment, st Avia be seen, IS a,uos,