The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-17

THE TARIFF QUESTION DISCUSSED BEFORE THE
NEW YORK FREE TRADE CLuB-INrEREsTINa
STATISTICS.
very large assemblage OF merchants, manufac.
turers and importers assembled at the Free Trade
Club No Fl West Twenty fourth street. last evening.
.o.listen to address by J. 8 Moore and to hear
the explanations OF N. Leon Cho,teau, the French
pubiclst, in regard to French reciprocity.
Mr. Moore's remarks were as foliows:-"I think It
advisable to speak generally on our commerce with
foreign countries and aiterward the commerce
with France. which ewmi involve an explanation
OF French tariff laws" The speaker then gave
data In regard to our trade in 1877. and SAID
The balance Of trade in that year slso,OoO, 900
In our favor II would be dfcuit group four years
that were commercially more disastrous, II seems
the balance of trade in It's favor Is mot the requ
site TO MAKE country happy. viii show the coun-
tries that trade with us:-GreAt Britain and her
pendenoies took from $685. 470 0OO in 1871; more
than nall OF our foreign trade The balance
/ oil trade in our favor from Great Britain was
$2aO,530,4 72. The second country in Importance
Is France. She took from as $95. $50 $685. The next
country Is Germany, and she took SOL, 27,9y6. The
next Is Cuba, and the balance OF trade against US
there $50 900. 00O Tho balance OF trade
favor 50 100000 IN Canada, anu against n Brazil
|
means trade; so tnst, II we should have difficulty
with England We would only 10 left with about one-
third OF our present commerce.
THE TRADE WITH FRANCE.
O the $50 0vO, U0U worth VI goods which we import
from Francs ABOUT g. 200 900 Is Tree OF duythat ls
the list, leaving about S43 0O0 00O oi
dutiubc articles, among when The Duik IL fancy
goods ana crocKery, fruits, diamonds kid gloves,
dress iurs, glassware silks, pig iron, Jewery musical
INSTRUMENTS olive oil, paintings ana nnromos, per-
umery, straw goods watches ana cabinet ware II il
important that the public should know the
prove an eyesore France Silk, $4,000, 900
pay duty OF 90 per cent; Dress goods,
eaner % per cert; dauonos 10 cent, and cabinet
ware, 20 per cen, Our total exports TO France
amount TO over $40, 600 oOo raw cotton alone amount
leaf tobacco Is exported; raw hides, $3.50 900; whale
bone, $lob, 600; hops, $4,000 anu otner articles
making total OF about $40 UOO0OO or wituin COO OO0
OF imports. Not one oi our exports may Ve con-
sidered manufactured urticle.
Why should not France buy u US tho articles we
sell TO the err counlres2 tho is the French
tarir, which 10 q relic oil Darbprism. Unuer the TaTV
Convennonelte, or tho Treaty tariff, among different
countries the tariT IS moderate tut thore Is
levied on articles from those countries having no
treaty that makes Importation almost pronibtory.
1t IL remark able 10 me that country Ike France,
which stands ~ tns nead oil the worid as Anancier
and political economist, should punish herself mus
There Is no reason because We PUNISH ourselves mere
by taxing silks SIXTY per cent that France should de-
prive herself Of getting our woolien goods. II we
did not charge heavy lar,u GU articles which come
from France where would we get our revenue trout
Now tho Wood Tafln bill proposes 10 reduce
the duty silk goods from sixty TO iorty
per cent. This 10 very good beginning. II took sir
Robert Peel fourteen long years before he could
pete the English tariff bi perfected under Golden.
The best thing France can do Is 10 throw the old
,arlf away ana lie. every nation come IN under the
IarU C01sventoneAc. On our part reduction OF our
larin Law necessary as well rs smplincation OF II.
KETALIAToRY REvENUR LAWS.
Section q OF the Wood bill retaliates upon France.
1t says that any country that dscr,mnatss against
the United States shall be charged ten per add
lona duty ana this would bring about endless con.
plicatioDs. 1t might be That Eoous would be sent 10
England 70 be shipped ~, mere; eas TINS would bring
laws ana all the litigation win which We IRE SO ia
miar.
In q conversation had with Mr. Evarts last Wcdncy-
day that gentleman said, ~ am not protec, ionist
nor a Tree ader bat want 10 see fuller trade"
did not know exactly what he meant, except by the
making Of Separate treaties, but am satisfied that
the iuer trade must coue about through hberalIty.
Two hundred and thirty million dollars Daance Of
trade iHv0r with Great Britain does not como
about through any love Tor u.s. but because she nnds
II 10 her II Lcrcst to trade with US
Mr. Chotteau, The French publicst. said: III have
been deputed TO address me American people ON this
SUBJECT hope many Americans Interested will COME
to Paris and DISCUSS the subject win The French au-
tnorftes IL tue duty Of both governments 10
ainue into this matter IN the modern light We do
not avow ourselves free Traders or protectionists;
what want to do 10 TO consult the interests OF
both countries Whom l left France l Was told
by the gentlemen connected with the iurlherance
vi THIS com mercal union that ust have Amer
ican COMMITTEE to represent these matters there.
have letters 10 your chiefs oi State your dignaies
ia The different States shall 90 to Boston, Philade
rally such powerful delegation that the effect
tile government must be 70 induce It 10 make or TO
General questions were then asked NJ. Chotteau in
regard TO the ten per ceut ADDITIONAL tafi charged
articles coming INTO France. He explained 10 the
meeting that there Was wide misspprehensiSn.
Tue letter published In the HERALD yes.sfduy from
NJ Arpe, Director General 0; The Customs, explained
this July anu tha there Was no Decentralization against
America other than against othcr nations not bers
Of the tdrV conrentionelLe.
Mr. Chantsl next spoke, and asserted his belief that
French
together 10 discuss the great question, and that
mutual concessions would take place. "No such OBJ
poriunity." he said, "as the Exposition occur.
IL is woDderiu indeed that two such nations, full Of
sympathy, should not better commercially under
take with him gentlemen Of capital well known
the different cities, and introduce them to our
mittee, and the government will lsten."
LEATHER TRADE IN FRANCE.
Mr. jackson D. Sbuitz SAID MS attention brought
10 this matter ia 1878 Venus, especially in regard
leaIher The trade with France IN leather he SAID,
has sprung up to the amount OF $6,0 900 or
S. 0u0, 100 The only reason WY such m portation
has sprung up has been because we have become
acquainted. Imet my own TRADE In France and have
no the leather dres,ers OF France
sslher with us aud agree upon common tariff OF ABOUT
ten per cent; now II 10 twenty-five per cent The
German people are taking American leather to-day,
are the English, aud dressing II up In French
styles and the French are buying IL AZ high prices.
have understood that France would Oe wiling, u we
gave her duty OF my cents square yard on silk and
twenty cents gallon on Sill wines, 10 let US have all
The about our own way.
Tue following resolution was presented by Mr..
Nathan Appleton, Of Boston, anu Adopted
Resolved That the gentlemen present this evening at
the New York Free Trade CLUB
differ. cities and States OF Union and
tries and interests cesire TO extend hearty
Nj. L. Chotteau. the delegate OF the French Com
mis,iouers, who has just arrived in country.
Tney wish to express to MIN the sympathy and good
feeling our peoplc have Tor those Of the KepubIic
% for the sH 81 tie
t sess thu to n VIII T ss WITH
him IN the hope and 4eief that good results will
secured this will their utmost that
prop national comnttee shall DO formed as soon
possible in the United tatcs to recprocay with that
Of which NJ Chotteau comes as the delegate
Alter interch ange OF opinions the subject the
meeting adjourned, previously arranging, however,
iect OF rec prOcity.