Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-13
THE RECIPROCITY E A
speech of the Hon. II. p. Spalding in
the House of Representatives, March
Sth, ON the bill to extend the pro-
visions OT the Reciprocity Treaty.

Mr.. CHAIRMAN: In the last Congress
I was with my friend from Vermont,
GMR. MORRILL,, the experienced chair
man of the Committee of Ways and
Means. in his ineessant efforts to put an
end to this miscalled reciprocity treaty
l believe I voted with him under all cir.
cumstances, led mainly by his enlight-
ened guidance, and it is therefore with nc
little surprise that I find at this period,
before even the time limited, the 18th OF
March, m round, that gentleman CON-
ing before US virtually to renew that
treaty in a modified form.
Sir, I object at the present time to this
whole system of legislation, and the very
sensible remarks submitted by the gentle
man from Illinois Mr.. WENTWORTH re-
lieve me from tia necessity of an argu-
ment upon it. simply say that l can
see no reason as yet in the argument OF
the chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means or in the remarks from any
other quarter of the House for making q
distinction between the Canadas and the
British Provinces generally, and any other
foreign country, in regulating our nation
al tariff.
Mr.. Chairman, why do we not have q
special tariff between the United States
and the island of Cuba? That may be
claimed with the same urgency as a spe-
cial tariff for the Canadas. The Canadas
are upon our borders. The island of Cuba
is not a great distance from the coast OF
Florida or the coast of Louisiana. Why
not, then, have Il special tariff for Cuba or
for any other portion Of the world with
which we have trade7
Mr.. Chairman, 1 object to this legisla-
ton for the reason that it is not possible
L will not say probable-it is not possible
to afford protection by specific legislation
unless you afford it to the whole country.
Now, l concede TO the learned Committee
of Ways and Means, and especially to the
chairman of that committee, as much dis
interestedness as to any gentlemen upon
this fsor, and more than L claim for my
self, because know that in our legislation
here l do feel moved whenever it touches
my particular district of country. 1t must
be SO to some extent with my learned
friend, the chairman Of the Committee of
Ways and Means and on looking at his
bill l ind that some of the important in
terests Of Vermont are very well taken
care Of not perhaps so much in this bill
as in the general tariff bill of the country.
1 find, Tor instance, that the marble of
Vermont-and l suppose there is marble
enough in their quarries to supply the
whole United States, and l am very glad
that they have that capacity-is protected
against Italian marble to the tune, l be-
lieve, of about fifty per rent. Am l not
right in this? Fifty cents on the cubic
foot, and in addition thereto twenty per
cent. ad UaIorem. That is the tariff now
upon Italian marble.
M. MORRILL,. Mr.. Chairman, this
is entirely foreign to the subject before
the committee. I am really surprised
that so good a logician as my friend from
Ohio should lug e%xtraneous matters into
this debate. l am perfectly willing that
ne shall do so, however, if it meets his
views of prOpriety.
In relation to this subject of marble, let
me say that my State Is not alone inter
ested in it. 1 believe that the States of
Massachusetts,, Maryland, Tennessee, and
to some extent New York, are likewise
interested in it.
As to the point he makes, hat there is
a protection of fifty per cent, let me say
that Italian marble is sold at the present
time in New York for So so per cubic
foot. l do not care what may be its pre-
tended value abroad, you may estimate it
at what you please, but every of
sense must know that there Is nc such pre-
lection at fifty per cent.
Mr.. SPALDING. NY learned friend,
the chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means, will excuse me if in the short
time during which 1 shall occupy the at
tention of the committee l show myself
misinformed. l did not inland any dis
paragement TO the State of Vermont or to
the gentleman himself. l wal only illus
trating my position that we are, all of US,
actuated somewhat, not by motives of self,
but by motives which seek to ~aggrandize
the localities in which we live.
Mr.. MORRILL,. My reply is, that
while 1 have been loosely accused by
political opponents OF doing what the
gentleman suggests, I have never yet been
accused of it before by q political friend.
Mr.. SPALDING- My friend will par
don me. / say that he may de it invol-
UNFAIRLY.
Now, 1 will refer to an article of which
the State of Vermont may well be proud,
its Morgan horses. I believe this breed
of horses is worry nearly peculiar to the
State of Vermont. Those horses are COW
eted in all parts of the country; they are
in demand everywhere. Vermont ex
ports a vast number of those horses, verv
many Of them to my W section of coun-
try and to the far West. Now, L find in
the general tariff bill that all live animals
are admitted free Of duty. But in this
bill my friend has taken care to insert a
duty of twenty per cent. ad U~aIorem on
all live animals; which will protect Nor
gan horses pretty well.
MIR. MORRILL,. IF the gentlemen
from Ohio Mr.. SPALDING) will allow me
to interrupt him again, 1 will say that
while the reciprocity treaty was in force
Of course it was proper that the same ex-
emptions and the same duty should be
upon live animals from all parts
Of the world, because we obtained none.
very few, except those which came
from the Provinces. If the gentleman
will look st the prior tariff he will find
hat animals were admitted ct a duty of
per cent. Gd uqlsre1n. This bill
proposes to restore the same du-
les that existed prior to the enactment of
he reciprocity treaty.
Mr.. SPALDING. In the humble dis
rict 1 represent on this floor the article
# grindstones cut a very conspicuous fig
ire.
Mr.. MORRILL, "There's the rub
Laughter.)
Mr.. SPALDING. CAV, there's the
ub," says the gentleman and I NAV as
veil rub on the grindstone as anywhere
lse, and in time I may become sharp
nough for the gentleman from Vermont.
Laughter Under the general tariff law
.rindstones, manufactured, were protec-
ed with a duty of twenty per cent. ad ga
prem unmanufactured grindstones, ten
er cent. In this bill, grindstones rough
T unfinished, are found among the arti-
les free of duty. II
Now, sir, 1t Is an established fact that I
grindstones of Nova Scotia can be !
to the markets of Boston, New
,ork and Philadelphia by sea for three {
ollsrs a ton, whereas::it costs my constitu- {
nts some eight or nine dollars a ton to +
'ansport TO the same markets their grind c
They are left without any pro- {
,ction whatever to compete with this
reat interest of Nova Scotia. ,
Again, the wheat-growing interest is C
'mewhat extensive in the western coun- t
v My State is somewhat largely inter- Z
ted in it; and the States of Indiana. .
linois, lows, and other northwestern :,
.stes are even more interested in it. =
In the general tariff bill the duty on Il