Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-05-05

On sugar II Is prOpoSeu W piace uutN VI
one cent, graduated on clayed sugar to one cent
and half and on loaf two cents and half per
pound. This will prove a better protection
than an al ralorem duty when our sugar plan
tiers need it, and will not be an intolerable tax.
when their crops happen to be cut oil. In 1870
when we did not require it for revenue, and the
planters had no crop to protect, we collected on
sugars alone. in duties, Sl2, S32 $50. Being an
article of universal necessity to our people, who
use more of it. per capita, than any other ma
ton, it ought at no time TO be placed beyond
their reach
With the subject of wool, the same difficulties
which have hitherto perplexed Legislators still
exist. The manufacturer and the wool grower,
equally anxious to confer benefit, one upon
the other, are equally firm in their convictions
of policy Facts show that the crop of wool
produced in this country will not supply more
than about two-thirds of the home demand.-
This supply must be obtained on terms that
permit It's manufacture here, or it will be i'm
ported in wooden manufactures. On the other
hand, if our wool crop is now too small, its in
crease ought to be encouraged. 1t is clear the
consumption of wool is getting ahead OF the
production the world over Ii anything like
present prices continue, there is no doubt that
the present stock Of sheep in the United States
can be doubled within FIVE years.
Meantime, the bill proposes to harmonic
these interests, by allowing all wool under a
maximum price to come in free of duty, and
wool above that to pay duty of eight cents
per pound. 1t taking two pounds of fair wool
to make one pound Of cloth, specific duty Of
sixteen cents per pound, to equalize that on
wool, is proposed on cloths; and in addition
thereto, fifteen, twenty, and twenty-five per
cent al ralorem, according to their respective
/ Il IL. l,,,. ,,,1
fine cloths higher rate. This adjustment is
believed to be entirely fair, and should be salts
factory.
On faxseed or linseed we propose a specific
duty Of eight cents per bushel. BY strange
device, it is now free. A duty, it will be seen,
was placed upon flaxseed, and none upon lin
seed, while, generically. they mean the same
thing, and of course nothing under the name of
faxseed is imported but the imports of linseed
are very large-above two million bushels. ANY
higher duty than eight cents would seriously in
tericre with the returning trade from California,
which seeks freights in India, and in the end,
would only result in the importation of linseed
oil instead of seed. If our stock raisers could
make as profitable use of the oil cake as do the
English, we should not have TO carry all that to
a London market, as we now do; and the bust
ness of crushing seed in this county would
save handsome profit now lost in freight.
The duty of eight cents will considerably aug
mert the revenue, and at the same time en-
courage those engaged in the culture of not less
than one hundred and fifty thousand acres of
land in the West devoted to this crop. a duty
also Of sixteen cents per gallon is proposed on
linseed.
In connection with this, may also state that
mo reason was seen why linens. to some extent
an article of luxury should pay less rate of
duty than other textile fabrics. They are ac-
cordingly raised from fifteen per cent, and class
flied so as to be equal in rank with wool and
cotton.
Importing over ten million in value of linen
goods, as we do, annually, it will be conceded
that We ought not to close the door against all
efforts in behalf of a larger production of these
goods at home The edict of Nantes drove the
French linen manufacturers to Ireland and
then England zealousy encouraged them, by
granting liberal bounties on all exports of linen
goods. Our policy offers a contrast. Just be-
fore the duty was last changed down to fifteen
per centum, company with large capital
bought two hundred thausand dollars worth of
flax machinery, paid the Government $4,000
duties, and when the tariff was lowered, they
were forced to abandon the whole project, and
the machinery, duties and all, was a total loss.
If there was home demand for the lint. flax
would be cultivated for that as well as the seed
and our farmers would realize, instead of fifteen,
forty dollars per acre, or as much as is obtained
in Scotland for the same crop.
While the reciprocity treaty lasts, it is quite
immateral whether any duty is placed upon coal
or not, as it will be imported free of duty from
the British colonies. A duty however, is pro-
posed. 1t is not irrelevant to say the treaty
alluded to has proved most disastrous to many
other American interests; and having been
made, as / conceive by relaxation of the con-
stitutional rights of this House, which has the
sole right to originate revenue bills il ought to
be speedily terminated.
1t is also proposed to limit the time for ware
housing goods to thirty days. 1t would be diff
cult to show why we should give merchants,
who choose to withdraw their goods from mar
ket for the purpose of obtaining better prices
credit upon duties rather than those who en-
ter them at once for consumption as soon as
landed, or why they should be furnished with
stores by Government, from which to peddle
their commodities. To our merchants it can
be of little advantage, as they import goods
such as they need to SELL not to hold for a
speculative market. Our whole policy seem,
unwearied in behalf of interests which antag-
onize our own. SiXty-nine per cent. of the
importing business of New York is asserted tc
NC ~ lle HdHuS vi foreigners. IL Is time 70
curtall the business OF renting stores on the
part of Government. If foreign manufacturer,
or shippers avail themselves Of our market to
dispose Of surplus stocks, they should have nc
power not practically enjoyed by Amerinans
and the power Of warehousing is practically {
foreign convenience, useful to foreign shipping
and disastrous alike to our own trade and manu-
features.
Among The results to be looked for, should
this bill pass, it may be confidently asserted that
if it should not diminish, it will not increas,
the expense of collecting the revenue. Upor
very considerable share of the Importation
the duties will be specific, and as in such case
they will require only to be weighed or measur
ed, the forces of the custom-house can be re
duced. Then number of minor articles from
which the revenue is inconsiderable, but which
will be of no small advantage to great diver
sity of maui acturers, are placed upon the FREE
list, and will merely require to be properly reg
istered. In regard to those articles upon whcl
mixed or compound duties are proposed, tina
is in part specific and in part all ralorenl, Their
will be no difficulty, if merely competent mel
rather than political partisans are employed
tor, mold your laws into whatever shape vol
please, the trade possess wonderful nimble
ness as well as sagacity in adapting their order
and SliDmentS To new Sfotutns | hovn M ouoe