Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1852-12-22

linton and in giving my vote on this question l
viii, give 1t as beieve right. believe the po-
si,ion taken By the gentleman from johnson 10
he the correct one. have learned something
rom the gentleman from Scott, Judge GRAFT,
that has induced me 10 take stronger posiioh
than otherwise could have done.
We saw that the price OF carriage on railroads
is moi egulated blythe costs OF building the roads
bu, il is rather regulated by the competition
of different railroads.
This prop sition will have tendency to re-
,ard our prospects for railroad grants; Tor the
deficiency in the treasury caused by the propo-
sit;on would only be supplied by congress re.
fusiny to gran, the land they otherwise would
be disposed to grant.
an a strong rail- DAD man and have always
shown nv faith by my works, ! make my Nv.
inc by the sweat of my brow. never owned
stock in railroad aud never expect TO. 10
remit the duty on railroad iron is rot Tor The
benefit OF the !aboring class, but 1t IS giving
benefit to the rich stockholders.
Mr. Sells here went into datail Of statistics
tending to show the amount Of money that
would thus be thrown into the hands OF the
stock holders Of the La Sale and Rock Island
raj, road company and other similar compan-
les.
By the repeal of the duty on railroad IRON
there will not be one mile more OF railroads
built, but there would be vast smouns %
money thus thrown into the hands Of wealthy
railroad companies. For these and other rea.
sons which might be given,.I am compelled 70
vote against the resolution.
/ Mr. Heuy said The gcntlman from Muscatine
| has said that ii you take the duty of Of rail.
| road iron You give the proceeds to the railroad
companies. II not SO. II you take uagdn,
,x i.s% s sss s e AZ pd 81
4 will ask the gentleman from Musc.tine
how tho profits on roads are regulated, !
say sir 1t is done by the positive cost OF rail
roads. If roads can be built at cheaper rates,
you would see railroads springing up and
freights carried at a cheaper rate, because cap
ital must have certain percent on It's invest
ments.
There is wide difference between renting
the duty on railroad iron,a and on silks and 9TH
er articles of luxury.
How are roads built? By capital. II there.
fore IRON, the principal cost in building roads,
be reduced in cost the same amount Of CAPT
tai will build more roads, besides it would en-.
courage capitalists to build railroads.
What are railroads doing for the countryl
Their advantages can hardly be estimated
The lands along the central railroad bring
twice the money they would before the road
was talked of, and find ready sale.
What would be the value of railroad
through Iowa in an agricultural or in a com
mercial view? This is something not only We
but our posteriLy are interested in.
The gentlemen from Muscatine says there
will not be more railroads built if we reduce
the duty on iron? What are railroads built
WITH Means. And the less they take the
more miles we can build.
| What would the Genera! Government gain
! by retaining this duty; nothing it will not bt
! felt. We have surplus of 10 or II millions
in the treasury. Where is the necessity fol
this? If the object Of this resolution be &C
complished it will reduce an unnecessarily
large revenue, and reduce the cost and conse
quently increase the number of railroads II
the country.
The gentleman from Muscatne would have
US taxed to support eastern manufacturers
and would argue that it would create homo
} market, when only about two thirds OF oul
surplus produce could be consumed in this
country. And would they drive our people from
their natural avocations to learning trades; tt
be the serfs of eastern manufacturers.
The proposition to reduce railroad iron
wond do great good to the country and would
} do no injustice to any.
, | say abandon our manufactures if they can
no, compete with the old world DO not act up
on the principle of the old dutch miller who
argued with his customers that the more toll
) he took from their grists the more -four tAa1
J would have.
Gay , bas said psf H ss n l hf dH
has said ''the reduction of duty will
rily reduce the price"
| shall vote for the adoption of this resolu'
ton, have heard it intimated out of this
house that this resolution was introduced for
other purposes the gentleman in this are much
mistaken, the resolution explains itself and it
is for the reduction of railroad iron and nothing
more.
Mr. GRIMEs-Mr Chairman, had intended
to have said nothing upon the proposition
now before this house and TO have cas-
my vote in silence for the measure. Bu
sometime having been said by gentleman
of the position occupy in relation to this ques
ton, and having been singled out by some as ;
leader in this matter, l will in few word:
define my position on this question. | do moi
wish to dictate or control any member in thi:
House and hope those with whom may &C
upon this question may manifest the same indie
pendence and freedom thai intend to do. as
, ing their own judgments in the matter, being
responsible to themselves and their own con-
sciences.
} l am opposed TO making this resolution :
resolution of instruction but merely aresolutior
of request. l wish to leave our members II
: Congress free to act in this matter as the cir
cumstances Of the case may require, 50 that
they could accomplish the object OF procurin!
grants tor railroad purposes better by not act
ing on this subject, they would be LEFT free to d
so, and that if their purpose could be better at
tanned by sustaining the duty they ought SO Il
: do, for Hook upon the procuring Of grants 70
Iowa as OF primary importance to the interes
i of the people. am abstractly in favor Of du
: ties for revenue and Incidental protection.
l see these great railroads passing throug
l. Illinois anG destined TO pass through Iowa, an
those roads are owned and intended to be bull
e by the people of the west, and not by Europe
l. an capitalists.
The gentlemen on this floor have said tina
v the remission OF this duty will benefit the stock
holders in the rail road companies, think moi
n 1t will rather benefit the contractors on thos
d roads, the laboring men, the men that do tn
work. | believe that this measure will turtle
d the building up OF railroads amongst US, and
IF may be little selfish, for the city Of mytadoI
ton and future home,is deeply interested in tn
!. matter, for twill be great saving to the cit
zens 4 Dss Moinas~ county =
e After some time spent in debate in who
Mr. SELLS, lIaun, Grimes, Grant, Bunker an
s Nc Arthur participated, the committee rose o.
and reported the bill back to the house.
lie Mr. Bunker moved to amend as follows to 5
modify the revenue law as to make railros
IN iron and all other iron pay aspeelhc duty p
ton instead Of an ad valorem one; lost.
De Mr. Grant PROPOSED to amend by so modi!.
ing the resolution as not to make them assuu
at the position Of instruction, in case our repre-
MS tatives in congress thought it inexp, dent
d. urge the matter; amendment agreed to.
r. The committee rose and reported the bill al
amendme nts back.
c. Mr. Grimes moved to amend by leaving 4
,boI ~, altar in ba hands pf 0ur mr. 10