New-York tribune., 1870-01-12

Naval Affairs. reported b FOR Che transfer X IN.
Philadelphia Navy.Yord to League Island and moved
MesSrs. DAWES tRep. Mass1 and wAsHBURN CRer,
Ws demonstrated against the attempt 10 pass snch p
under the previous question Pending the oOloquy tho
morning hour at o'clock expired and the bill went
till the next morning hour.
MIR. sCHENCK Rep Ohlo) offered a resolution chang
ing some Of the Committee Rooms OF the House giving
the Post Onic rooms 20 the Committee OF Ways and
now occupied by the Ways and Means COMMITTEE
The House then went into Committee OF the Whole
the State Of the Union, Mr. KELSEY rep, n " IN the
Chair, for general debate.
COMMISSIONER WELLS CRITICISED.
Mr. KELLEY (Rep, Pa addressed the Committee In
criticism Of the recent report of Mr. Wells Special Com
missioner Of the Revenue, which report he declared
abounded in propositions inmical to the best interests OF
tho country. AS expression OF the opinion or Mr..
Wells this paper could do but little harm. but its cireua-
on IN Europe under the sanction of Congress would i'm
par the credit Of the country aud arrest the tide OF emit
grafton. 1t in the nature OF notice to the capitalists
uptcy and TO the oppressed of other lands that
working people were becoming not only relatively,
fore this not the country whuh poor but aspiring
men should emgrate IL demonstrated to the sasiac-
national wealth had increased during the last decade 1876
per cent utmost increase during this decade could be
showing. as 1t universally conceded 1t would.
over Si3OooOO0OOO, the grand total conld by
the processes by which Mr.. Wells sustained his theory
though not wanting in ingenuity was very simple pie IL
to 80 cent less than was at the time with which ne
hOur and cotton and wooen goods, were cheaper now
than they 15G0 but Mr. Weiss theory that
s there was difference in the market value Of gold and
greenbacks commodities OF domestic production oughttO
IN IN he assumed that they were dearer and
so established the melancholy warning to all persons pro-
posng 60 emigrate, that this not the country 10
Which tey should come No demonstration of tie fasty
0f ms theory or OF its absurdity induced him halt but
spite OF these he pressed onward ana applied his cO
~ IN every The prominent characteristics OF Mr.
Weiss report audaCity and advocacy OF the inter
ests of England and Of her American Colonies Ihat
was plausible could not be denied but did
not In his Judgment furnish proof OF Mr. Wess posses
sion of wegrOunded convictions on industrial questions
had doubtless avaed himself OF the ability Of the largo
array Of able aud wepad counsel in the service Of our
transatlantic rivals Whether he had been also retained
by them was for the present the subject of cOuecure
but that lie enforced the wishes OF the English manuac
audacous OF Mr. Weiss assertions and one that
peryaded the whole report was that customs duties were
always tax on the consumer incTeaslng the price o e
imported article and enabling the home producer 70 real
ize undue profit by keeping production steadily below
the current command iOr the commonly MT hetey
proceeded TO critcIse ana olclute TINS assertion ny refer
ence the history Of the iron and steel trade In THIS
country and In England In reference TO the coal ale
Mr.. Kelley undertook 10 show that tneic was papaDle
Interests OF the English North American Colonies,
which lie designated as the asylum of our foes In war,
tem i'm peace He described the present discomfort and
Impoverished condition of the British North American
the recprocty treaty Tnat treaty, he SAID had been
forced upon the country by Southern politicians ana
be cost Of the Northern states Of the Union It had
been specially designed as blow at the prosperity otthe
been admirably adapted TO accomplish Its purpose ana
the periods of us duration had been that Of the greatest
That treaty had been rescnded Did Mr.. Wells popose
to renew ii No; that would De lSnh ana not III Td aS
his sinister objects. lie protective reerader-a
freeTade protectionis-a disciple OF Henry Clay, but
an advocate of the free-rade dogmas Of John c;
Calhoun. He did not propose renewal reneyoi
Of the Provinces separately he submitted speclous but
false reasons the removal Of all duties from each OF
them lie would give the people of the Provinces the
benefits which thoy had derived from the reciprocity
treaty without stpuatng for any OF the Few dement's
which it had brought TO his own countrymen To adopt
these recommendations in that behalf would be to pay
from the Treasury of the United states annually TO the
coonists from six 70 ten million dosis as
for their continued submission 10 British legislation aud
Colonial policy. They tending toward the Union
If item now desired to be friends and fclow-country
men, The way 10 promote that contamination " so de-
voutly be wished was to let them kno" that he ave
uue TO free trade with the United states was through
annexation. Then they would shaIe our prosperity ana
a case Of hostility 1t now was in peace and in war
Mr. Kelley then pr0ceede9 at e0nside @ ape !e1gtn 20
statements Of Mr. Wells that that duty was urged and
ySa IST s fG eSed That neither Of hcso
allegations was true The proectonists of this country
did not regard the question Of the duty on coal as point
icO-economical question, and TIE NEwYogK TRIBgNE
advocated ITS repeal means OF prQYipg the 0Dsudy
Of the trade argument They did not urge II as
protective bus measure, and in view OF the
present condition Of the Provinces, as ennenty po
coal would reduce the price of that article in New
England one cent per ia9 M or gPPreaDy nfease % de
from the treasury average of from 100000 to S5OOO0
in gold annually and give 1t TO the ColOniss ward
FOR remaining cOntcnted subjects OF Her Britannia
HIaesty-a proposition AT which his patriotism revoed
though IL was ever earnestly recommended by Mr..
Commissioner Wells The necessities In which the war
involved the country had gwen rise TO system of inter
nal taxes, with its commissioner assessors, collectors
Supervisors detectives and thousands of suOOrdnates
and sound policy required that those duties which while
they protected tho wages OF the abonng man and deye
oped the Of the country supplied the treasury
with large amounts Of revenue should be retained and
that direct and nquisitOTal taxes which so op
pressed and annoyed the people should be removed as
cuson, would animate all our industries; but
the repeal OF the duties recommended by the
Commissioner would flood country with the produc'
tons of the underpad aborers OF Europe silence count
less looms and spndles close factories, eXnguish
the fires in our furnaces and rolling mills and leave the
grain Of husbandmen QOr which there Is now no
market in EurUpej to rot III the field or ganary while
their cOuntrymen and former customers starVe. How
ever ardenty Mr.. Commissioner Wells may desire tlls
COnsummatiOn, trust that Congress by protecting the
wages Of the American aborer, Will forever avert H.
- ILL II lilnIr-nn nnl