New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-26
A MANUFACTURERS COMPLAINTS OF THE
T1RIPE


While the Tariff is under consideration at
Washington let us give attention to a few
candid complaints
tn the EditOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: As you have always been strong Pro-
tectonst land particularly for skilled labor and as am
suffering my business by OrerProecon and desiring
relief apply you with the confidence, knowing
you TO be posted in this matter of Protection.
lam Wooden and Cotton Manufacturer and
nually large amount OF Coal for producing motive
power, and am otherwise employing quite large num-
Der Of persons skilled labor have, and now
Duminous coal from the British POSSESSIONS but am
met with a duty 81 2j in gold per tun, which is equal
in currency 81 so per There is no escaping this
tax; and 1t being hgh can use but very little OF
this coal; consequently. am obliged to purchase my
coal from the Pennsylvania mines and pay not only such
a price as the miners may charge. but also in addition
such price who transport the coal to may
charges which sums added together make it very high
you that far as the item of coal con-
cerned-whch IS a very heavy one-I cannot compete
with those establishments situated near the cOafelds
Thus very heavy burden is egsated not only upon me-
but upon a vast and varied interest. comprising large
section OF country and giving employment to humid
Sreds OF thousands Of cur citizens.
And for whose benefit is this duty mposedl Not for
the poor men who work in the mines; for demand and
supply fix their wages, and those who work the mines
are importing aborers daily at small expense, and
without paying a duty the hands 80 imported And
even for argument II it did give these poor laborers
little payt is nothing in comparison TO the deri-
of the many who benefited by the use Of the
have only alluded to the use of coal for producing
motive power Think OF the thousands OF poor families
which suffer for the want OF fuel to Keep soul and body
together The reasons Tor repeal Of TINS DUTY are
numerous and the dement's OF continuing the uuty are
without fear OF contradiction, that fine nap goods
cannot be made TO advantage in this country without
| WnnIg pha oh nan In ad IN
advantage with American Woods and produce
an article which will fayorably compare with foreign
goods. But / met with duty OF over 100 per
cent on this article. prove TO you by the Liver
pool prices quote from one published by John
Buenos Ayres No wool, shrnkage 20 To "a per
cent sad per pound Call this reduced 10 gold IL cents
per pound. The duty this wool Is SPECIFIC, ten cents
per pound and IL per cent making little over 100 per
cent duty whereas the duty fine wooden goods will
balance OF least cent against the American man
ufacurer far the wool is concerned which is much
| The heaviest item in tho cost OF the goods.
TO simplify the matter is 20 per centWorse than Free
| Trade to the manufacturer.
Woods receive any advantage whatever from such a
Tariff when instead Of the Fine Woods being brought 10
this country, receive the fine goods sInuggled ana
brought into this country in every direction
This Tariff has shut us out OF the foreign markets ior
20 the foreign manufacturer and has given Increased &C
tvty 10 their business and enabled them TO raise inc
smuggling and. II continued wilere ngtransier the
manufacture OF fine goods from this country TO foreign
countes entirely instance of the bad effects OF this
Tariff upon the fine wool growers Of this country we see
| their sheen disappearing In every direction.
believe II tho duty taken of from Fine Wool, that
the price OF that article would advance In Europe to such
an extent that the manufacturers there would not be
able 10 produce goods such extreme low prices
10 enable them send the into this country and
destroy our business spite Of any Tariff which can be
enforced
II our woog growers by this unjust Tariff on secured
wool OF 81 cents per pound per In gold
coed In keeping fine foreign wool out OF this country
they keep out the fine goods OF foreign manuac
ture and no American manufacturer can AFFORD 70 pay
them any higher price for their Wool than these fine Tor
elgn goods will warrant they will govern the price Of
| American goods ..,,.-,,
will only add am OF the opinion that The best minds
| OF New.E gland are coming 20 these conclusions.
| With great respect, remain your friend
| EDWARD HARRIS.
| uoooeoeleI II Ian 10. 1870