Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-01-21
DIJTIEs on RATI,ROAD IRON.

-
readers to the movement of Mr.. Clingman, in the
House Of Representatives, to extend credit to i'm
porters on duties on Railroad iron. We give the bill
below as Introduced by that gentleman and REFER
ed to the Committee of Ways and Means
I" Be it enacted By the Senate and House Of Rep
resentataUes Of the United States Of AericG in Com
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 salts
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 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 Provided, That
if at any time hereafter, it should appear any i'm
portation had not been made bona fde for the use
of some railroad then, besides the duties then due,
fifty per centum additional shall be payable to the
United States.
Sec. q. and be 1t 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 a subject, Mr.. Speaker, which we fire.
quently had before the last Congress, but which
was 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-
membercds that the proposition failed by single
vote one occasion. At that time there were five
members out of the House who had promised me
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 take effect at
the last Congress-.
You will also recollect, Mr. Speaker, that during
the last Congress allowed several companies
credit on the terms proposed in this bill; but we
did not succeed in passing any general law 1t is
simple matter, and presume that every member of
the House has an opinion uDOn it now.
= beg leave to remind gentlemen, that within the
last eighteen months there has been an enormous
rise in the price of railroad iron. Less than two
years ago it could be had for forty dollars per ton in
this country, after paying all the duties and charges
and now 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 it 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
a 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, it will be expended before
that time, when it may be wanted.
L think therefore, a 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 the
House may PROPOSE and if it turns out that at the
end of four years, are involved in some war
and we getting to be warlike people, and need
all the means we can lay our hands upOn-this mon
ey will come in very OPPORTUNITY. think it would
have been WELL perhaps, for the Secretary of the
Treasury to have recommended this of the
means by which to get rid of the surplus revenue
which we are now receiving from year to year. If
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 large accumulation.
This is important measure of relief especially
to those Southern States which engaged in con-
structng Railroads; and it is offered at time when
the government can best afford to extend it, and
when, Also it be of most service to the parties
concerned. Indeed, the whole system of protection,
part of which is the heavy duty on ron 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 ridicule yet the
party which conceived this maxim, and stroye so
long asten it in the American mind is still devo
ted to protection and would eagerly seize any OPP
foster the interests of the manufacturers
at the expense of the agricultural nterests and of
generally.
There are, it is said but three establishments in
the United States where Railroad iron is made; and
the duty of thirty per cent this iron, is in fact
tax on the SOutnern SlateS THEIR DcucHt Is
Just? 1t is also stated, and presume the fact is
So that previous to 1872 Railroad iron imported
free of duty and it was during this period that
most of the Northern roads were made.
We are gratified to observe that Mr.. Clingman is
sustained in this movement by the entire delegation
in the House from this State infer this from the
vote on the proposition which failed, to lay the bill
upon the table.
We wish to be clearly understood on this ques-
ton We propose sudden radical striking down
of the duties, either iron other articles; we
would prefer to the principles of free trade grad
ually but surely carried out; but we look forward
with confidence the time when the tax on all ar
ticles of prime necessity-ncludng the farmers and
mechanics iron, as well as Railroad iron-shall be
entirely abolished or at least so imposed as not
to affect in any seriously injurious degree the farm
ing planting and Railroad interests of the country.
We should be pleased to have the views of the |
Raleigh Register the organ of the Federalists, on
these points; we do not see why should differ
upon Them as they involve the prosperity and prog
ress of the State without regard to party interests
party distinctions
Hon. RoBr. STRANGE. We are gratified to find the
following paragraph in the last Fayetteville Caroni-
an
"JUDGE SrRANGE's HEALTH. We are pleased to |
know that this distinguished gentleman is now re-
covering from his Illness and with the pros
oect speedy restoration to his usual good health
By the by we see it stated in the Raleigh Estates