The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-23

ny was mech higher Than those articles used by Tue
reh which Is plainly burden upon the laborDg interest
of The country Tor the benefit of capital which means, in
PLAN Engish mat The poor were taxed 10 support the
rich The duty on The produce OF the farmers and
planters was very low indeedmoIe Tor The name than
nytbing else but the trainers of the bill took especial
pains that The agricultural interest should be well taxed
to support he manufacturers 10 this end low priced
wool-the only KIND which comes into competition win
the American wool-grower-pad nominal duty OF only
per cent adj Uaorem, Flax paid duty OF per cent
adj ualorem raw hides per cent, while sole. leather
into which they Were manufactured, protected by
duy,ol cents per Id, Brisles paid duty OF cent
and brushes, into which they manufactured, were
protected by duty OF 30 per cent Rags paid SPECIFIC
duty OF onequauer OF cent per pound; while paper
into which they were manufactured, protected by
an ad udorem duty ranging from 10 10 81 per cent In
addition to these unjust Determinations, all the berries
and nuts vegetables, sumac, madden, kep, crude salt
petre and many other articles used in dying, and neces
sary Tor manufacturing purposes, were admitted free o.
duty
Thus have briefly stated of the inquities Of the
cheating act OF 1912 and how you can approve OF such
unjust system as that was, and ask for Its renewal
DO not know How can you, as an honest man, sustain
system which Is based fraud, which taxes the poor
for the benefit OF the rich man, and which discrmi
mates against the interest of labor and in favor OF few
wealthy manufacturing monopolies' Yet such is the
and you have labored most faithfully 10 prove that
this unfair act of 1912 better for the country than the
OF 1885, by which goods taxed according to their
value. | am astonished that any man at this time
should be found bold enough 10 uphold system loaded
down with inequalities this tariff of 1912. will now
bring this part OF my remarks 10 close have derived
much aid from the able Bundecund" essays Of the
Hon Edmund Burke, in pointing out the foregoing pro
visions Of the ACT OF 1912; they have saved me much
labor, and in instances have conveyed my ideas
nearly in his words as the best adapted to the subject
under consideration.
Among the manufacturing interests who asking
for increased protecon, none are more clamorous
than the iron men and from the manner IN which they
demand assistance might suppose Congress under
some constitutional obligation 70 give them bonus from
the pockets OF the people Not satisfied with making
enormous profits, compared 10 every other branch OF
business, they ask for the taxes of the people to
wealth more rapidly Ii the iron interest OF this
country is nov depressed, it arises from other
causes than low duties, and which an increase OF
them would not remedy In the early history OF IRON
making in Pennsy vana, and which, | have no doubt,
was the in other States, and before railroads and
canals thought OF, the furnaces were principally
charcoal. They were located IN regions OF the country
where wood, limestone, and stone could be procured
with the greatest facility All the transportation was
then done in wagons In the course of tine wood be-
scarce and was expensive carung; and the more
modern works being situated upon the lines OF public
works, The couli be- sent TO market with less than
half the expense. The natural consequence was, the
charcoal furnaces too expensive, their owners
could not compete with those who had Increased facilities
for getting market, and they were Obliged 10 blow out
The tariff agltaors, among whom you hold prominent
position, without looking for the true cause at once at
nbuted it to the tariff OF 1916 Another cause which has
operated depress the iron business the oyerproduc
hon You admit that the increase in production Of iron
from 1913 to ls47 from "le more than 100000
tons to 100000 tons" The enormous protection this
branch OF business received under the act OF sl2 inv
II,
making fortune, and the supply increased beyond
the demand, Many left other profitable occupations, and
engaged IN this business without either The requisite
capital skill carry on and alter dragging along
few years they failed, and sold out by The sheriff
Within the last two three years many OF these estab
shmenis have been breaking up all of which is laid at
the door of the tariff The history OF business proves
that, whenever inducements are held out that make
any one branch more profitable than others, the com
petition soon becomes so great that stagnalon en-
sues, and there is great depression. This has been
and now when the effect is felt those Interested have
the assumption to ask the government TO lay heavy tax
the people in order 10 sustain them. Nothing is more
deeerous 10 the stability OF business than changes IN
the Inducements held out to make il or less prohta
ble will always be the case when trades rely upon
legislative aid for support. The wants of the country
always beget healthy and safe increase IN every branch
OF business and whenever II is forced out oil lis natural
channel by fictitious reverses sure 10 follow
Stability our tariff laws will be conducive 10 pros
perty in the trade than constant change from high
to low duties and that such changes will take place as
long the tdrh Is made political hobby, the expe
renee of the pas, proves to US An unnatural production
in every occupation causes low prices and failures.
From S42 TO 1880 the increase OF iron in Pennsylvania
alone from lS9,s36 tons 10 boO,0OO tons his heavy
increase more than the demand aud neither the con-
sumption nor expectation keeping pace with IT, the guam
uty on hand accumulated, and prices fell ana many
who doing sale business was ruined thereby.
The iron business OF Great Britain OF late has been
DONE well in tins country which enable. the pro-
duce 10 ship an increased quany here at reduced prices
So runous the business they have been DONG that
very large number, ia Scotland especially have been
obliged TO blow out. Competition ruined them; and an
increased duty iron in this county would ultimately
have the same etfec; here.
Ii the duty iron under the tariff OF lS46 is The cause
OF much alleged depression In the iron business, and
the ruinaon OF many engaged in 1t, why is it that all
do not al II you will take the trouble 10 INFORM your
self OF the fact you will find all the old iron masters
who understand neir basIness and have sufficient capt
tai to carry il on still prosperous and making large
of money II the tariff OF 1916 Is so rsnous IN It's
operations, IL would certainly affect all alike, and not
leave a few prosperous and the depressed The
hare. nt
capital by those engaged IN the business and rate OF
duties would be able 10 save them. Even under the
tariff OF 1916 the iron business of Pcnnsylva has
much overwhelmingly, IRON 3l6 furnaces and 36S 05o
tons 600 furnaces and 100000 tons. As long ago
1910, Mr.. Galatn made report TO Congress on the
blect of the domestic trade and of ron
which he said he considered this branch OF business las
being firmly established in the United States" The duty
then ranged from 10 Is per cent and why pro-
tection Is required than then, | not able to de-
termne Neither am able TO determine why 23, 900 900
of people should be taxed for the exclusive benefit OF
<l0pD0 who engaged 10 making iron. Can you show
any reason for ~
In your desire for higher duty the material OF
iron the produce OF this country, you TO lose sight
ulaciunng this raw material. The number OF persons
engaged the manufacture of iron is very great
pared those who produce the material and yet for
the former class you manifest Inerestit is only the
furnace and forge men who claim your sympathy II
yvu could have your own way, you would lay all the
workers in iron and the railroads OF the country under
contribution to the irop masters The demand for rail
road iron great that with an increased duty
this country could supply it, and the effect would be
to raise the puce and stop The building OF roads The
duty rails now 80 per cent IN addition TO the cost
OF freight, commission &c; and If the iron masters can