, 1870-03-29
THE LEATHER TRADE AND THE
TARIFF,
considerations fur tho ways sastu
Means Committee, 7Ir. Greeley.
2AMl I,roteCtlon[Atsfs Generally.

EHai~isac Futl0nH Fur tho WAYS ssstu
Means Committee, 7Ir. Greeley.
and 1'rotrctionist~ Generally.
7aLe Eiinr< ef The .sAet and Leathrr Reporter.
] want to have short talk with the tom
Eittee Of Ways anu Means, now having under
confederation \ modification of car rre-,nt
tariff, and, as I have no time to 60 to Wash
iugtuI-Seltalnly no ti1ue to wait arouu,i the
1obbics ard committee roome--I wisl, to com
lauuicate to them through you: and this
co1lrso has this further advAutaSe-1our raprr
in read by all whose interests are affected by
the suggestions l lave to offer. SO that. il I
mako erroneous statements, they can be cor
rcctc1.
There IL proposition before this committee
to repeal the dnties on hilx and skins, i. e.,
the raw msterial of which leather is m.1e
Tho objections to this measure are: Firrt.
that II il rally It measure Of protection, .in-
der the guiss Of J,r trade :" il onls tho leatl,-
or manufacturers would acknowledge that t1lce
required protection, and would pfelge them
s..lscs politically to favor the protective policy,
Why, then. Mr: Greeley and Others would favor
rcpealirs the duty On hides; otherwise these
tEct, i hHtrs arr atl7ttAx1 firt, leather sAou!I
be frte also" Tltie is understood to 10 the DO
hition Of General Schenck, tho Chairman OF
tho committee
from improperly classifying the trade. Tho
-olc leather tanner and tho morocco manufa:-
turcr arc classified u belonging to tLe sam,
general t14do-whcn in fact their trades and
interests are widely different, al may be seen
when We consider that all leather made from
bark, such AZ role. belt, harness. and tho like,
Obtain their tanning material from our own
forests, while the morocco and light leather
tanccra obtain their tanning material from
Sicily, and pay 10 per cent duty to the govern
ment. beside paying the cost Of transportation,
which, from it. fn1lky nature, is very consider
ah1 In I'd i, e71c T.
imported drugs aud dvestutfs, some of the
most important Of which pay one aud two
hundred per cent dntv. Under these circutu-
stances We can understand whv the bark tan.
nsrs will be best served by free trade, while
the sun1ac tanners muat be protected, or they
must stop.
This ts the short way OF stating the case,
but there are certain Consequences and reilec-
tions which gTow out of these facts. to which
attention should be called.
It is truo th1t bark tanners do no! require
protection to enabIe them 10 supply this coun-
fer the effect o. falsc protective systcm they
could extend this tInde almtet indefinitely with
other countries The machinery which enters
60 largely into the cost Of their tanue1ies Is
made Of iron. steel, brass, and copper. al Of
which arc 80 enhanced in price by the opera
compete with tanners in England, who not
only get these important articles at about one
half our cost, but in addition, and from Tie
same general cause, get their labor for 25
peg cent less than re do. Eotviths.and-
ing Al these disadvantages. when the late
rebellion broke out ~s had commenced to
supply England with ous heavy 4ala leather il,
very considerable quantities, and it Is nov be-
heved: il We can get cur raw material Chidesl
Tree Of duty, go soon as the currency sIlaH be-
come stable and produce its legitimate effect
upon the price Of labor. VIC shall ag.in make
sole leather one OF TIC chief articles Of export
from this country.
Our policy is by no means go clcar with re-
gard TO goat and shcepekip manufactures.
They obtain not only their raw goods but their
tanning material from abroad. and as they
would, under free system, hare to con1pets
with rot only Ens.anI With: its cheap machine
r.. but with France ard the German States
with their closer proximity 10 The source Of
ket, tho result could not be doubtful; ~ be
fore su4gested-they must discontinue. Would
this be 31.t to this class Of manufacturers
Ihn drEt impulse world eey, theac gentle
men have enGAsed n a.. - a. napsoatshls snd m
inirced them thus to embark their fortunes ?
Las it not bean the policy OF cur government:
Who is responsible for this policy? II viii
notdo for Us to throw this responsibility on
faction or party for the action Of the govern
il binding On the whole people, and IL, in
both moral and legal sense, their action, aad
binds us al.
When, however, General schenek OF Nr,
Greeley, Or others, attempt, By a general
trade classification, to make bark tanners re-
Fponslble fo1 the uaisfoItunes Of The goat and
sheepskia manufacturers, they do N injustice.
There i this further consideration which
should and must ultimately influence 1egisla-
hon on this general subject Ne can maxi
ne tdrE-fonned leather for he rorH cheaper |
h0n II can be ohdincd etse7chere, aud ns This |
Is very large proportion Of tho aggregate |
consumption, it is both our policy and duty to |
secure this portion Of the leather mauu- |
factutc.
England, France, and the German States
can supply the demand fos al Light goods, |
srch as morocco, hattars' 1ininss, the finer |
calf, ETC., to better Advantsge thau we can. !
Why should We not ultimately be permitted TO
make this exchange, and thus employ and ap-
prpprate what nature has given III 10 p.ofuse-
fy to the beet zdvartage2
II it is eaid thAt Franco and the German States
ehut out our heavy bark-tanned leather bv
discriminating duties, their reply il: ttTou
discriminate against us, and We only retali-
atc."
When the policy Of our government shall be
to extend and promote trade with all custo-
mers, whether foreign or domestic, nothing
will 10 easier than TO bring about such an All.
justknent Is will n71ka our country The hart
tannera Of the world.
do not speak On this subject thus hooe,u.-
y without eause; forI know that, Wills III.
Golden Wa In France negotiating {hn rar;n-o.
cal faa ttade far3N With Rnr{,,I tL;c