The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-01-30

OF forty-hve dollars per ton, doubtless IN
tending to be, ss il certainly will be, entirely
prohibitory, ell for the benefit of the rich mo
nopolists who are the assignees of the pat
ented proceeds by which it is manufactured.
Now, what is to be the effect Of this great
increase in the price of iron and steel
Need any one be told that iron and steel are
the basis OF al production, and that the en-
haucement Of their value will increase the
cost of every variety of manufactured Can
any one name q single fabric the cost of
which will not be augmented by this increas.
ed duty? The railroad iron-mskers, content
With the existing duty of fourteen dollars, in
sist that if the duty be raised on ordinary bar
iron, they must have an increased duty on
their production TO meet the increased cost
of blooms and the increased wages Of pud-
dlen and other skilled laborers.
The manufacturers Of every variety ofhArd.
ware and cutlery asked with great justice that
We should give to them an inereaaed nrnser>
ton, because Of the anticipated increase IN
the value Of what is to them the raw mate.
rial, iron and steel. There is not single in
dustry that does not demand and need great.
er protection because of the increase you will
give to the articles. The manufacsurers Of
machinery require, they tell Us, that the duty
on machinery shall be raised from thirty-6ve
per cent. to sixty.6ve per cent I'D ralorem,
at least q rate corresponding with no other
articles il the present bill except upon silks
and other articles Of luxury, saving and ex-
cep,ing always iron and steel They insist
that machine for spinning cotton yarn cost
ing in gold $4,000. shall have added to it .
duty Of $500, and all other machinery en-
ployed in the manufacture OF cotton, wool,
&C., must be enhanced in corresponding
degree Mills therefore already built will be-
come monopoies.
Do the advocates Of this measure insis. that
this is the way to build up manufactures and
make cheap goods Is this the way TO spread
prosperity through the land aud make glad
the hearts Of the poor7 Ia there any ono 30
blind a. not to see that the effect Of the bill
will be to increase the colossal fortunes pf
iron aud steel masters and Of the owners pf
wooden and cotton mills q the expense Of the
consumers Of their products7 IL this the WAY
to pay the interest on the public debt? Will
an increase of the price OF every necessary of
life and of every consumable fabric enable the
people to more easily pay their internal taxes,
or make them any more willing to do it?
These are questions that it would do we'll for
~ to ponder. Yet We are expected to vote
for all this, because We are permitted to have
an increased duty on wool.
We were reminded the other day shat the
farmers interests were to be specially prp
tected under this BILL and SO it contains .
provision by which the duty on salt, an abs4-
lutte necessity OF life, is increased one hundred
and sixty per cent above its cost. We in the
West produce beef and pork which are packed
and sent TO foreign countries, where they come
in competition with beef and pork packed
elsewhere, with salt that pays no tribute 1t
all, free salt. Yet the farmers interests are
protected
Mr.. President, another effect Of this bill
will be to completely destroy the commerce
of this country. Ihold that no nation can be
great and powerful and occupy prominent
and respectable position in the family Of ma
tons, without commerce. When | said this
to one Of the gentlemen outside of the Senate,
who we're advocating the passage Of this bill.
he denied my proposition, and referred me to
Austria - great nation without commerce
priest ridden, bankrupt, despotic, disinte-
grating Austria-as an example to the coun-
try!
Sir, you have already by your hostile legis-
lation nearly destroyed your commerce. You
have destroyed your business with Mexico and
with Central America; your carrying trade
is now to great extent done in foreign bot.
TOMS am told by those upon whom rely,
that where ten years ago there wers ten yes
sells of this country in the South American
ports there is not one nov. This change has
not been wrought by the Alabamas and Flor
idas, but by u.s. You have little commerce
With Calcut4a and the East Indies but be-
fore this bill passes, if / am not mistaken ~
to where the strength Of the body lies on
these questions, you will 80 amend it a. to
destroy that commerce also. This bill will
eifectually destroy your trade with the coun.