Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-27
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TARIFF BILL.

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TARIFF BILL.
The Coz, mittee Of WAYS and Means s,ll
I've audience, says the New York Post, to
be Representatives Of various interests
IN / it Is said that Washington is crowded
With these repr, sentativos. who represent
every interest hut that OF the consumers--
Every body who goes TO Washington wants
i higher da'y on everything, and the Goa
ni.,ce have, it Is said, put mp duties higher
md hiGhr until they are themselves alarm
I'd at the result the protectionists are liz.
tie la,ie. struck they begin TO fear that
tie thing has been overdone, and are snx-
io1s 10 choke OF further communications be- |
tween the representatives ofvasious inter> |
ests' and the Committee Of Ways and
Means.
They fear reaction, and there ere al
rerdy signs oft For instance, they pro-
pose TO exclude Canadian whcat--ns though
We could not, II We have far chance, grow
wheat with any part Of the world-but
the millers on the lakes complain bitterly
that this will rob them OF work for the
Cansdisn wheat viii then be ground in
Canada instead Of in the United States.
ia he matter Of salt, too, the western
ofs aud peef packers begin 10 move. The
daty on salt. as Il stands nov, is equal 20
lo0 rcr cent. The import has fallen from
800 ,s24 bushels in 1862 TO 9. 375, 1875 bush
lis in 1866. A cargo Of salt which cost in
Caaiz. in gold. &3,49o was imported here in
February. 1866. and paid duty. in gold. Of
st.G29-or $3.50 in gold more for duty
than the cost Of The salt. This il a duty
equal 70 lG2 per cent.
Yet, not content With this cxhorbitant
duty on an article the manufacture Of which
in this country 10 and mnst remain
monopoly In the hands Of one Or two great
corporations, these monstfous eormorants
now urge duty Of 239 per cent, and have
put Il 10 in the bill nov before the House.
Not only will this strike an almost fatal
blow ut the pork and beef packers; it will
absolutely destroy IN important part Of our
trade with the West India islands. 10 which
many American manufactures and products
can be proftably exported only on the con-
di,ioo that the ships carrying them out
shall be sple to procure return cargo
This cargo 10 salt 50 long as they can i'm
p,rt that they can paw their way; but un>
der this mons,rcus duty proposed they will
have 10 abandon tho trade.
This il but one Ct q number Of similar in
juries wantonly inflicted upon important
living. lf-sust aiming interests in favor Of
monopolies OF Of industries which are feeble
and Of no advantage TO the country. in this
bin In oil and bsrbarous times, a feeble,
WORKOUT old man sometimes married
fresh, vigorous healthy young woman,
qnicks bcicv-g that hc world draw from
hra put of her exubersnt life 70 sustain
his falling forces. But the result was NJ
WAYS the contrary the fceblcncss Of old
age inflicted fatal disease and debility upon
tho ,onng victim Of the experiment yet
this is what the protec,ionist qnacks arc
NV trying upon the industry OF the coun-
~.
There i still another way III which they
attempt 10 tinker The duties are 80 high,
that /, is found they destroy certain indus.
tries. ~ shipbuilding, a. well a. some
branches Of commerce entirely What then !!
Why. they propose TO grant "irawbscks"
IN certain c,ses. For instance, tho bill
proposes 20 grant drawback on the iron
use in the manufacture Of axes, tools, etc.,
for trport. aud on iron used IN the building
Of ships and in the repair Of foreign ships.
That = n say, the Congress 10 asked to 40
legslste that foreie may have cheap
axes and tools and repairs Of ~. but our
own people. fsrmcrs. mechanics, etc. must
pay tie highest prices. The beauties Of
the prosectioaist system are shown hers 20
great advantage. Ii the bill becomes a law,
II will say 10 every American farmer or me.
eaanc who buys an axe or Other tool Ii
you we've 80 fortuna a. h live in South
mn tfN', w M'At'", w tifflAN, III alTiNa,
you meht buy ,h,, article OF us Mt half
pr,ce, hat a. sou live in the United States.
YOU must pay double price
s1t this ~ not all. This system, IF
course. Will exclude all American iron from
these branches Of manufacture FOR what
maker of axes and tools can tell which one
CT his hundred thousand axes pr saws or
hatchet. will 60 abroad, and which will stay
~ home; he must swear at random, or he
must, to get cheap iron, make solely fos .
foreign market
The President, We hear from Washing
to1, was at one time inclined to sign the bill
ii il passes, considering Il the most dasn>
aging blow that could be dealt his oppo>
nen,s. Oar Washington correspondent.
ho~cser. selegrsphs that he is likely to veto
1t; and We doubt II il can 30 passed over
the veto. though 20 complete systsa Of
bribery to all interests represented ID tho
House has been contrived. that IN some
cases, even free>tradsrs ~ill be found 70 vote
for the bill, on the score that - Il 10 gen.
sral grab game, they must 60 in and get
their share.