Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-01-25
DUTIES. on RAILROAD IRON.

tst DUTIES On RAlLkOAD lRON. y.
We have heretofore called the attention of our
readers to the movement Of Mr.. Clingman, in the
House of Representatives to extend credit to i'm.
porters duties on Railroad ron We give the bill
below, as introduced by that gentleman, and referr
ed to the Committee of Ways and Means
90 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatices Of the United States Of America in Con-
gress assembled That in all cases of the importation
of railroad iron for the period of two years from the
passage of this act upon its appearing to the satis
faction of the Secretary of the Treasury that said
iron has been imported bona tide, for the of some
railroad in the United States, it may be lawful for
those importing the same if they desire it, instead
of paying in cash the duties now levied to give
bonds with approved security, conditioned to pay
the said duties with interest at the end of four years
from the date of the importation: Prorided That
if, at any time hereafter, it should appear any i'm
portation had not been made bona tide for the use
Of railroad, then, besides the duties then due,
fifty per centum additional shall be payable to the
United States.
Sec 2. And be it further enacted, That the bene-
fits of this act shall be extended to all where
iron for the of railroads has been imported, and
on which the duties have not already been paid"
In, offering the bill Mr.. Clingman, among other
things, said
"This is subject, Mr. Speaker, which we fire.
quenty had before the last Congress, but which
not acted upon. l do not know what is the
present feeling of this House, but think there is
strong necessity for the passage of such law at this
time In the last Congress it may, perhaps be re-
membered, that the proposition failed by single
vote one occasion. At that time there five
members out Of the House who had promised me on
the previous day that they would be present to vote
for the proposition. l only mention this fact to
show it was mere accident that provision similar
to the of the bill submit did not take effect at
the last Congress.
You will also recoect, Mr.. Speaker, that during
the last Congress We allowed several companies
credit on the terms proposed in this bill {; but we
did not succeed in passing any general law. 1t is a
simple matter, and presume that every member Of
the House has an opinion upon it now.
beg leave to remind gentlemen, that within the
last eighteen months there has been enormous
rise in the price of railroad iron Less than two
ago it could be had for forty dollars per ton in
this country after paying all the duties and charges,
and it is worth nearly eighty dollars per ton to
the consumer here. The consequence Is, that many
of the States and companies which began to execute
works with sufficient capital two years ago, find,
owing to this great rise that is difficult if not i'm.
possible, for them to proceed.
| also understand Mr.. Speaker, that the money is
not needed at this time in the Treasury. We have
large surplus on hand My bill proposes credit
of four years In all probability at the end of that
period, the Government may need the money very
much. If the duty goes into the Treasury now, in
stead Of what PROPOSE 1t will be expended before
| that time, when it may be wanted.
think therefore, financial measure, it would
be wise policy to throw the receipt Of this money
four years ahead leaving the present surplus in the
Treasury to be exhausted, for the construction OF
national vessels or for other purposes which tho
House may propose and if it turns out that at the
| end of four years, We are involved in some war
and we are getting to be warikc people, and need
| all the means can lay our hands upon-this mon
| ey will come in very opportunely. think it would
| have been well, perhaps for the Secretary of the
/ Two tn npv, ntptf nc nj
means by which to get rid of the surplus revenue
which we receiving from year to year II
| the proposition which he has made in his report
should be adopted and carried into effect the reduc-
ton Of the would not take place until year
| from next January, and, in the mean time, there
will have been a large accumulation
This is an important measure Of relief, especially
to those Southern States which engaged in con-
structing Railroads; and it is offered at time when
the government can best afford to extend it, and
when, also, it can be of most service to the parties
concerned. Indeed, the whole system of protection
part of which is the heavy duty iron, is gradu
ally giving way under the influence of Democratic
principles and Democratic rule. The old Federal
maxim, the higher the tariff the cheaper the
goods has long since fallen into ridiculc; yet the
party which conceived this maxim, and strove sc
long to fasten it in the American mind is still devo
ted to protection, and would eagerly seize any op
portuny to foster the interests of the manufacturers
at the expense of the agricultural interests and o.
consumers generally.
There are, it is said, but three establishments ir
the United States where Railroad iron is made; ant
the duty of thirty per cent this iron, is in fact
tax on the Southern States for their benefit. Is th
/ just? 1t is also stated and we presume the fact i
So that previous to 1872 Railroad iron was importct
free of duty; and it was during this period tha
1 most of the Northern roads were made.
! We are gratified to observe that Mr.. Clingman j
sustained in this movement by the entire delegation
in the House from this State; infer this from tn
vote on the proposition, which failed, to lay the b
upon the table. s.ss,..,,.s 50:
Wewsh to be clearly understood on this ques
ton: We propose sudden or radical striking dow
Nof the duties, either on iron other articles; v
would prefer to the principles Of free trade grad
ually but surely carried out; but VIC look forwar
with confidence to the time when the tax on allal
ticles of prime necessity including the farmers an
mechanics iron, as well as Railroad ron7-shal b
entirely abolished or, at least, SO imposed as nc
to affect in any seriously injurious degrees the farn
ing, planting and Railroad interests Of the countr,
We should be pleased to haze the views of III
4 Raleigh Register, the organ Of the Fcderalists 0
these points we do not see why We should diff
upon thern as they involve the prosperity and pro-
ress Of the State without regard to party interests
s party distinctions. S; 4
! I,ospox Dock .BaASpY. 4 New York corrcspo.
Z dent of the Mobile Tribune tells the following goo