Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-08-04
The Tariff Business Demands.

The leading articles Of the New York Biercan-
tile journal are clear, concise aud logical, and
we regard them Of near equal force with those
so extensively copied from Hrpcr's Weekly,
from the pen of GEORGE FRANCIS CURTIS.
Heretofore We have been led to bclive that this
PIPER favored a protective tariff In reccn
issue it recognizes that the tariff zoos one Of the
issues in the election OF the present Congress;
also that during the vacation both sides are
actively preparing for discussion Of the whole
subject during the session next Winter. With
view to avoid hasty Legislation upon this i'm
portant question it gives the following practical
advice:
Most Of those who will discuss IL are likely
to do so from the unscientiHc, impractical stand
p lint Of preconccived notions of the public good.
Instead Of inquiring into the facts, they will in
most cases take it for granted that they know
them and not knowing them oH they will rea-
son to wrong conclusions. Assuming their
knowledge to be sufficient, they will try to carry
measures which would be extremely hurtful to
the public welfare.
GAS practical journalists, utlering the views
Of large constituency of business men, it is
proper that we should reiterate our views on
this important subject, and should state what,
in our judgement, business men will unite in de-
manding ofCongress.
"we have heretofore indicated that we con.
slider that the world tends to ultimate free trade.
Satisfied OF this, we have not felt anxious to
advise haste toward that result, but have been
disposed to let 1t grow up without making a
| special movement to that end particularly as
too hasty action in this direction might seriously
compromise our prosperity. We do not belive
that, when free trade comes, it will do harm; for
it is one of the noblest Of Gods social laws, that
| unless fsrcibly resisted and delayed, great
| change is always preceded by n wide discuss
| ion, in the course of which every one has a
chance to be forewarued Of the difficulties that
it brings and to provide against them and thus
the innovation comes into full effect as gently as
night fades into day.
But say protectiouists IL is ueedful to guard
young industries against destructive competition.
Very we'll, we reply do this when practicable
but do it with judgement and reason. No one
can have any objection in this or any other con-
nectiOu to a judicious tariff.
To one prominent feature of the policy oi
both parties to this controversy, however, we dc
most strongly object. We are not prepared t.
recommend material changes in the existing
tariff, except such as tend to simplify the meth
DDS aud lower the cost Of collection, Could al
articles tnat yield less duty than $40 900 yearly
be put on the free list, much annoying inves,i
CATION aud expense might be spared. Coult
some arrangement whereby copies Of the need
full papers might be mailed by the consul at The
port whence vessel clears, to the collector o
customs at the port of destination. sn that the
D counts might be ready on her arrival instead o
taking weeks or months 20 adjust. still NOR,
money and time might be saved. Could dutie,
be laid wholly on articles that come ia bulk
, cargOes, and show their nature their face, 81
that merely taking account of land, perhap
samplingl packages would at once indicate tn,
duty payable, large majority Of the present i'm
mense staff of custom officials might be dis
: pensed with, and other evils be overcome.
The one point, however, on which we speal
. the united voice of legitimate business men, i
, the demand that II chonge' be made, they shall b
enacted for definite period, and shall take effect Il
a future date. and in such manner as not 10 Gdca
tute specHIdtion or entail undue losses; that what
ever policy prevails shall be allowed to hav
full sway for a decade at least. This bein
embodied in a law like the great comproms
tariff act of 1882, which put the subject at re:
for ten years, every business man can learn il
% exact bearing s, and make his arrangements aC
g cordingly thus he can be free from much cor
Is slant anxiety and embarrassment, such as hay
been experienced during the past decade. i
which dozen different tariffs have had fore
4, II is to this latter state OF things that we pos
N lively object.