The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-22

for the settlement of the claims of the creditors of
Texas, made the special order for January g.
After n short Executive session
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE rARIFF-RAILRoAD IRON.
The House resolved itself into n Committee Of the
Whole on the state Of the Union-Mr. STUART in
the chair-and resumed the conside of the
series Of resolutions heretofore submitted. propos
ing to refer the various branches Of the Presidents
message to the appropriate committees
Mr.. CLING MAN had offered an anne ndment, in
the form of bill. to exempt railroad iron from
duty under certain conditions.
Mr.. THOMAS M. HOWE moved a proviso-
that this act shall continue in force after the
thrtieth June, 1854. He said the amendment of
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. CLING
MAN) was fraught with serious conseque to the
State OF Pennsylvania, which ia engaged in manu-
factures generally; but her chief and most i'm.
portant interest is iron, the business connected
with which was seriously injured by the tariff of
1916; and this fact he proceeded to demonstrate.
Mr. CARTIER replied. He congratulated the
country on the result referred to, and more espe-
cially his constituents. And he thank ed God that
the duty had come down. This talk about a
home mar ket is all CANNON He said his doc
trine was free trade and direct taxation.
Mr.. HowEs amendment was rejected-ayes
a., noes not counted
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, moved an amend.
ment to the proposition of Mr.. CLINaMAN-to
exempt ALL IRON from duty. He said that corpo-
rations should not be the especial favories of the
Government; and stated the reasons why the iron
of the mechanic and agricultural should come in
free. He was in favor of the lowest possible du
ties; and trusted the subject Of the tariff would be
passed over for the present session.
Mr. FULLER of Pennsylvania, opposed legisa
ton upon this subject at present, a nd garded Mr.
CLINGMAN's amendment not only calculated to
inflict the grossest injustice upon those who had
invested their capital in the iron interest, but would
prove injurious to the Government itself
The amendment of Mr.. .JONEa was ooreed to
Mr.. FREEMAN was understood 10. say the rail-
road interest was great Democratic interest
They could inflict on Pennsylvania little or no
damage by reducing the duty iron as che is
doing comparatively but a small business in tina t
branch of manufactures while they Would benefit
| every portion of the Union-North. East, South,
and West.
MIR. GROW always understood that duties were
imposed to raise the greatest amount of revenue
and with due regard to all the various interests of
the country. With what justice. then. could rail
| laid on the farmer's plough, the mechanics ham
mer, and the laborer's shovel. We are not. he
| said, required to strike down any interests
| Mr.. CHANDLER, since the gentleman from
Mississippi had presented the abolition of the duty
| on railroad iron Democratic measure, and
therefore appealed to the Democrat sympathies of
the House, thought that he might appeal to the Dem
ocratic practice Of the House. The great
trade. Mr.. Walker was himself in favor of a duty
of $25 ton on railroad iron, and refused to nc.
ccde to the wishes Of ultra gentlemen to take off
| the duty in tho tariff of 1876 The farmers in
Pennsylvania are anxious that the duty shall be
retained. The owners of railroads are also the
| owners Of iron beds and coal mnea; al! of which
need the protection Of this duty-not an enlarge
ment-and they ask share of the protection which
other portions Of the country receive. If he under
| stood any thing of Democracy, he understood this
| to be its spirit.
Mr.. FREEMAN said that in mentioning the
| word " Democratic" he did not mean to make IN
| invidious distinction.
| Mr.. CHANDLER replied that he was for letting
| the July on iron remain as it ia.
Mr.. MEACHAM offered amendment in
| structng the Committee of Ways and Means to
| report a measure directing the Secretary of the
| Treasury to refund the duties paid on railroad
iron since December l. 1876. He presumed az
| this was said to be Democratic mea sure there
ing true, it was the duty of the House not only to
| admit rail-ro free hereafter but to make free
that which has already been admitted under the
| present act.
Mr.. CLINGMAN opposed the amendment
When the taxes were collected. it was presumed
the Government needed the money; but the Gov
eminent does not now need the funds, and hence he
| had proposed to repeal the duty on railroad iron
He held it to be the duty of the Government to re
peal all unnecessary ia xaton and if the gentleman
| from Vermont could show that the taxation here.
tofore unnecessary, and the money still in the
treasury, there might be good reason for the adop-
4 ton of the amendment
Mr.. WAsHBURN offered the following: And
|
| fers to the tariff the said COMMITTEES o. Ways and
Means be directed to report, by bill or other wise
on or before the first Monday of February next -
He said it seemed the time had come for revision
Of the tariff. There good and substa initial rea
sons for early action. There a surplus in the
| treasury, and there was no information necessary
| for the work which was not al hand. The subject
ought to be disconnected from party politics There
| should be a system having regard not merely to
how a given amount Of revenue should be obtain
ed, but to the effect and operation all the great
interests of the country. This construction was
| consistent with the power of the Government and
| the views Of those who framed il.
| Mr. HOWARD said it seemed to him that the
| movement from the other side of the House
had come forward and admitted that their policy
| was erroneous, and had proposed to their
| policy, they would he entitled to come degree OF
consideration for their cnndor But they still ad-
hered to the protective policy, and their object
to get tariff wholly protective. If the tariff OF
1916 was to be reduced. il should be done by its
friends and not by the enemies of free trade. But
| to act upon the tariff now would be gross impro-
pretty the subject should be deferred until the in
| coming of the new Administration.
| Mr.. TAYLOR proposed to amend the pending
substitute, by providing instructions to inquire
into the propriety Of substituting specific for ao
| palorem duties wherever il may be practicable, and
! home valuation, instead Of the present mode o.
ascertaining the value Of duties imposed by the
| tariff Of 1876, in accordance with the recommen-
dation of the President of the United States in his
last annual message In support Of this amend
ment, he said that we have no surplus but such az
can be honestly applied to the payment Of ths
debts OF the Government The President bac
called the attention of Congress rauds upon the
revenue; and IL was due to the Executive that tina
part Of his message should not only be referred
but the Committee Of Ways and Means be in
s,ructed to inquire whether can have the pro
tective policy, or hume valuation to prevent
frauds
Mr. VENABLE said il seemed ma nifest that tb,
tariff of 1916 Yields more revenue than the Go
He NUoa frpo traA.
out, but he did not believe that the country wa.
now ready TO abolish all duties upon imports II,
wac 10 favor Of relieving the people gradually from
aration.