The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-29


on motion,
The Senate adjourned.
MONDAY. MARCH %, 1888.
DUTIES ON IRON.
Mr. HUNTER submitted ,hs' following resolution,
and asked its immediate consde alton;
Rs,oued Tha, the Secretary of the Treasury be directed
the Senate at Its next annual session the
age prices annually OF bar iron merchanabe. manuiae
tued by rolling, bar iron mofchanablc, manufactured 9th
ing and Dig ifon for years preceding 1883 in
foreign markets OF production or shipment; also tho
average prices annually OF the same descriptions OF iron
New York and Piusburs for the same period, together
with the charges Tor ireghts, insurance, and commission
Mr. HUNTER. ] will explain the object Of The resc.
luton in very lew words i has been suggested to me
by practical that good basis for compromise b.
tween The producers and The consumers OF iron in this
country would be TO establish point in the price of that
article beyond which no duty should be charged hss
been said that it was proper that some point should be
ascerianed and settled upon al which Inc duty should te
taken of, and that this could be done without injury
either TO the producers 81 70 the consumers Of This article
so that protection would be afforded by the imposition f
duties upon iron, only whenever 1t should range belowa
price be named by law For the purpose oil ascertain
ing if such project be possible, inasmuch as tsveiy
desirable that sort OF compromise between The pre-
ducng and the consuming interests should be agreed apor
have introduced this resolution. think IN This wsy
shall be able TO come to some understandings by that
time The Secretary will be enabled 10 give us the informs
ton upon which act with regard TO tins subject
be exceedingly desirable that In order
produce harmony between the great industrial interests Of
this country, wherever subject IS capable OF comprc
mise, attempt should be made in time to collect nf0l
nation 80 TO enable the government 10 make some
arrangement which may enable all these interests 60
On tremendously. trust that something like this may
be done il seems to me plausible idea and without
committing myself 10 il. will only say that think there
is much in il which makes il desirable that we should
obtain the information which have specified in order TO
afford basis tor action upon the subject hereafter.
MIR. BR0DHEAD. Ever since ls46 or ls47 the manu-
lecturers of railroad iron, well other manufacturers
houa haan sktnnt h0t
mise might be entered into in relation 10 this subject
They have appealed more than once heretofore, be-
leve 10 the honorable senator from Virginia; and am
very happy TO learn that that honorable senator now
willing 10 listen 10 those appeals, and shows disposition
TO grant that compromise. l should have been much
more pleased, however, 10 have heard this iron him
three years ago, when those engaged IN the
manufacture OF ifon and railroad iron in particular, were
suffering most terribly.
Mr. HUNTER. think il proper to say that the bon
orabe senator Pennsyvaa is not exactly Of
my purpose or Of my agency with regard TO this matter.
submitted this resolution Tor the purpose OF seeing
whether something could not be done which would AFFORD
much more satisfaction 10 tue OF r0n without
INJECTING any injury on the producers OF that aVcle
This, my object The idea has been suggested 10
that some compromise OF this sort might perhaps be
effected do not know whether il be done or not but
certain il is tina, at the next shall have TO meet
the question. submit II TO him, therefore, whether II
is not better and beneficial in every way that We
should obtain the information 80 as to enable us to act
sandngly that time That is the whoIs end and
object OF this resolution.
Since the honorable gentleman has referred TO my own
opinions. will say in relation 10 that subject that am
free trade man. Il is known 10 everybody who knows
me that freetrade man to this extent-tha hold
that all duties should be laid upon revenue principles,
and that the lowest duties which will yield sumeency
OF for the purposes of the government are oil
that should be imposed But al the same time that hold
this principle, believe that tAnse industrial Interests,
whether they have been called mo existence either BY
improper legislation BY the proper action OF The govern
meni should be suddenly and wantony destroyed
Whenever the government choose to take step IN the
direction OF reform, should do II 90 gradually and 70
slowly not TO prejudice the existence OF any interests
which ii has called into being Sir my object kind
one.
MIR. BRoDHEAD Mr. President, my honorable friend
from Virginia says that be 10 ree-trade man. oil.
cult to undo rstand in what he reet man.
because three weeks he advocated upon this moor
what consider to be the worst kind OF Discrimination
railroad iron entirely Suppose should take them OF OF
the and the woolIen and all other species OF man
ufscures which enter into general consumption where
know what my friend from Virginia means when be
says that he is ree-lrade man Does he mean that be
absolutely in favor OF The repeal OF all duties, and
ort to direct taxation IL would seem 90 from the fad
OF his advocating The entire abolition OF dates upon rail
road iron /; because reason for taxing CD
all duties from railroad iron and taking them Oh from
the other articles which have named.
Mr.. HUNTER The honorable senator from Penn.
syvana seems TO srasn my consistency. and says tna
he should like to know 10 what senre | pronounce my
self free trade man Sir stated in what sense used
revenue principles and OF raising only 80 much reve
necessary for the proper OF the govern
ment Then he attacks my position in regard TO the
abolition of duties railroad lron and says that am IN
favor OF direct taxation because voted for the proPos
ton take of those duties Sir this does NOT follow
Here is question, il chose TO 60 into II II this rne
relation to the propety OF taking duties Oh Of railroad
IRON but this question involves the principle with regard
TO the proper mode OF taxation, which do not nov
choose TO enter into Allow 10 remind that gentle
man. ALSO that voted under the instructions OF my own
legislature on that occasion and during The whole time
had avoided meddIing with the duties on
railroad iron in sny way He knows that | made no
accordance with the instructions oil my State Bot SUI
resolution 10 obtain information, 40 that we msyss
il canno, discover point OF compromise At wnon
duties may be taken of OF iron entirely for railroad pu
poses without injury TO the producing misunderstanding
provision in that law by which certain duly shall DC
laid upon all iron whenever its price shall range oeioN
this point know, Mr.. President. that there are many
iron masters who believe that this would shoni oas
for a compromise have this from good auinority'
know also that there many railroad men VINO osese
this do not yet pronounce upon the feamo.y OF 'ns
matter myself cannot do until we nave Iui'ne' IN
formation; but "a said before, thnk inc looA ~"
feenily plausbl one justify US IN making n eoH
Obj ain The in ormaon called Tor by me uuoh. sno
when we get IT, we how lar the idea Is souno
and practicable. .-, ~ ....,..;.. :,
was agreed 10. , es@
nnru, nj 49, - A. Ne