Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-08-17
VOL. 80. NO. 80.

DIS patent tnere- British capitalists selZcd
upon 1t, put il in operation, aud now the wood
screw manufactures of this country are forced
to suspend, and England furnishes us with that
article. The reason is that the machine can
be worked by little girls, obtained from the
almshouses perhaps from the streets and
poorhouses, aud vagrants from the lanes and
alleys are brought in to workist low wages
They not only supply the home market, but
come here ana glut our market, TO the exclu-
sion of our OWL artisans. Now this branch of
business is very large one, formerly giving
employment and support to thousands OF our
honest laborers. We had right to its con-
tiEuance, for the invention came from the
genius of an American citizen, under tho
fostering care and protection of one of our
former tariffs. A little protection now wou.d
induce some one of our intelligent artisans
again to Improve upon the machinery, ?, and thus
enable us to reduce the price still lower.
The soap manufacture was formerly a very
important interest 10 this country, So important
in fact, that probably few gentlemen on this
floor have an idea Of the immense capital that
was invested, or of the great numbers to whom
the business gave employ. Some two or three
years ago gentleman of my aequaintance,
chemist of great practical knowledge and skill
10 his profession, as also of large experience,
discovered process by which he concentrated
the alksli, and produced substance which he
called caustic soda. He went out TO ENGLAND
for the purpose of Introducing the article and
supplying the market there. Forming con-
nectlon with capitalist in E1inburg, Scotland,
he set NJ the manufacture of this caus.ic soda,
and had actually manufactured several tons.
when discovery was made of the fact that the
British Government bad imposed very heavy
excise upon the manufacture of soap. and n
penalty, consisting of fine and imprisonment.
on persons manufacturing it without authority
derived from the Government itself. The OK
else on soap was ELS pounds per ton. The
penalty for violating the excise law was fne
aud Imprisonment Not even the housewife
was permitted to make soap in her own kitchen.
on pain of fac and Imprisonment. Owing 10
this state of affairs, the gentleman referred to
gut the business and returned to this country.
NOW mark what foliowed directly afterward
the SritIsn Government changed its excise
laws, and enabled their manufacturers not en-
~ to supply their home market with this arti-
cie 9f eaustc soda for soap making, but also 10
manufacture aud send it over to glu, our own
markets, SO that it now has the entire control
OF our home manufacture. In conuection with
this matter there is still another fraud. This
caustie soda Is pat up in iron barrels by the
British manufacturer, for the purpose of eyad-
ing our revenue laws, aud getting rid of the
duty on iron.
These, Mr.. President, are but few of the
many instances of fraud practised uader the
system We now have; and this, think, is the
worst feature OF the present revenue system.
Were 1t not for the frauds constantly practi-
eed under it, and which can Only be avoided
oy substituting specific for ad uaioreu duties.
he rates might not appear SO Objectionable.
In conclusion, it may be proper to speak of
an9ther OF the evil effects of the sysiem, which
The Secretary of the Treasury, and the chair
nan of the Committee On Finance seem to he
50 much enamored of. / refer TO the excess of
specie exporta,lons over importations under the
present ad rdforem tariff a tabular statement,
y which herewith present.
JAied Sfdies exports and imports of spscae dariap
period Of nine gears, from 1851 10 1889 incixsipe
and the aggregate for period Of ftrenfv- seem
years, from 1924 10 1850, iRciasire