The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-21

vegetable food was IS 5l9 sos; tie loss ON pIoyls
ions and animal products Sl,373loo The loss on
a total ol Sl26, $780, Well, sir. il individual
who had ordered goods under low taIi, aud miro
dueed those goods under high lan has any equitable
claim before Congress Tor relief for the difference be-
tween the amount he would have had 10 pay under The
and actually did pay under the other, would not
The agrcuuriss have precisely the equitable de-
mand for this immense difference between The prices they
would have received under the operation OF tariff and
the low prices they actually received under the operation
OF another tariff think no one deny that But toe
legislation OF this country, lar presented by these
tables, 10 be compromising in matters OF this sort
Thus find that under the tariff of lsl6, which in.
tended 10 do justice 10 the agricultural interest, which
depressed under the operation OF the tariff OF 1872
the prices OF agricultural productions were brought up
and upon THESE same productions Tor another period OF
hive years, there gam by The rise oil prices
under the tariff OF iS4o, to the amount of Sl4S,
4s62H. So the fact IS II an equitable settlement
Of accounts is desired between the government and
Its citizens growing out oil It's revenue system, II Will
be, has been, most easily and certainly attained by
general legislation Such legislation, | am aware, has
BEEN and may again be, somew hat ucuatng but IN the
long II will be as nearly equitable as will probably
be In power TO make it. No such legislation as this,
therefore, is required 10 do justice 10 the PARTIES or to
give them equitable relief In the presented, gen
era legislation TO have been sufficient for the re-
lief OF the agricultural interest," and am Tor leaving The
settlement OF accounts between the government and mer
chants and other operators TO the same mode and meas
oil relief and would withhold special legislation, par
cuarly in old like this, the precise merits OF which
the senator from Virginia has very clearly shown cannot
be asceItained, especially at go long period after The
transaction has taken place
Mr.; RHETI. The position taken by the senator from
New York. MIR SEWARD, in this case, is that the petit
toner has lost money by the operation of tariff laws
think that if that principle IS admitted to be good It can
be applied 10 most Of our legislation II Is next TO I'M
possible 10 make law that operates equally upon all
classes and individuals OF the country, especially when
you interfere with property. Now, for instance take
the case OF making railroads You sci up railroad and
while il throws Immediately into dlsnse 1t at the
time ruins all The tuDpikes and canals that are IN It's
vicnity and in this way thousands are ruined You set
up steam factories and those that go BY water power are
ruined. knew OF case in regard 10 Texas. a fnend
OF mine purchased sixty miles OF land on Arkansas
river. You admitted Texas into the Unon and by that
act he became ruined man II is impossible for you to
lay your that they shall not fall unequay upon
some portions Of the country. And if you lay down the
proposition that whenever your taxation operates une-
quay you will compensate those who may be thus IN
jued then il will be impossible for you to impose tax
without having claims brought forward exactly like this
one that the senator from New York Mr. SEWARD ad-
vocates Is it not certain that if you impose tax upon
any particular article you affect those who
gagged in 1t, and some OF them will be operated upon by
that inurousyi And then upon the principle
that the senator contends for not only IN this instance,
but in all instances where your legislation may have
like unequal operation you must necessarily be followed
up by Hood OF petitions produce what he calls equity
in the Legislation of Congress, The principle upon
which legislation always lakes place is this the legis
ainre endeayors TO egisae for The good Of the great
bulk the majority OF the people and although evil must
necessarily be done 10 portion OF our cluZens yet
asmuch as greater good is done 10 The greater part OF
them, therefore the law is made and goes effect
Consequently all the Legislation that affects materially the
interests OF the country will act IN some lew cases
equally Therefore, upon the broad principle that have
stated, not applicable simply TO the tariff but to all the
legislation of the country, 10 that the bill ad
vocated by the senator from New York mr. SEWARD
ought H. Sniff Pass do not propose to discus, the merits
OF this bill al any length al this time Ii 10
however, 10 be extraordinary and in which
we can grant relief without violating any principle.
know that II Is utterly impossible 10 change the
laws OF the country without producing degree OF
inequality in the operation Of those sws-without doing
some degree of injustice TO this 10 that In
cases, also will be totally impossible ascertain
whether The party has sustained any very serious injury
Considerations like those adverled TO by the senator from
Kentucky Mr.. UsDERwoopl would come into view. IL
would be necessary 10 take them into consideration
many cases II should see that there had been
degree Of injury resulting from these laws, il would be
very difficult ascertain the extent oil that injury, TO
determine what should be the measure OF relief.
But here - very extraordinary case, where Congress-
without giving any sufficient notice, but Inadequate
noce-one al all available the party, II in
point OF time just injurious 10 the party, 10 citizens
generally as no notice al ai-Congress suddenly IN
posed exorban duty and necessarily took thousands
OF dollars out Of the pockets OF citizens do not say
would nterpose IN doubtful case at all. Yet where
we have OF the character OF the one presented
heTe--whcIe in regard TO articles some 100 per
cent duty was imposed without any available notice
being gven-it seems 10 me may consider II
where the party may appeal Congress for redress Now
TO the suggestion OF my friend from Kentucky, MIR
UKDERwooD1 that the importer IN this may have
added the duty TO the pnce OF bis articles, thlnk II
is entitled to weight IN. he had added the duty
10 the price OF bis articles they would have probably
remained on his hands unsod for the most Of them
had fixed market pfice-a supply for The market
had been furnished under a lower duty. Congress,
nj once, without any adequate notice to the party,
laid exorbllant duty upon these articles, which must
have amounted almost TO coniiscailon OF the property
OF this party.
But did not Use 10 discuss the merits Of this bill at
any considerable length. But wan, 10 make exps
nation in regard TO the tariff Of 1912, for which voted
being then member Of the House OF Representatives
did also, believe several OF the present members OF this
body II will be admitted all sides iha, ordinarily
revenue law should be made prospective, and prospect
too, for a very considerable period OF tme
give full notice 10 the mercantile and commercial com
munity know that the tariff act of 1912 passed with
out any provision making prospective in lis OPERATION
and of took effect Immediately after being ap.
found in The third section OF what is ordinarily denomi.
mated the compromise tariff OF the I'd Of March, 1888.
BY the hst section OF that act provision made for the
gradual reduction Of duties all where they exceed
ed 40 per cent until all duties were brought down TO
ad valorem of 20 per cent. | have nothing 10 say
about the wisdom OF that law. This third section is
follows
THAT. until the Goth day OF June, Isl2 the duties
posed by existing laws modified by this act shall
the day last aforesaid all duties upon imports shall be
lected In ready money and all credits allowed by law
in the of duties shalt be and hereby sbo-
nhcd and snch duties shall be laid for the purpose OF
rasng such revenue may be necessary TO economi
ca administration oil the and from and after
the day last Aforesaid the duties required be paid by
on goods wares and merchandise shall be upon
INC vhue thereot al the port where the shall be
law" = 49, = i -
So then IN TIN. third section Of the ACT OF March q 1882
there general provision that the existing Laws should
he tnnat CT IL