Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-14

The members OF the tariff commission
whose arrival in ST Paul was noted in the
GLoGE yesterday morning, met in the
ladies' parior of the Metropolitan hotel
at 10. q, N. yesterday and were called to
order by Hon Jno, L. Hays of Massachusetts
chairman OF the committee. All the mem
bers Of the committee, as they were men
toned IN the GLoBE yesterday. were pre-
sent, and most of the attaches in the way
of secretaries, clerks, reporters, etc
There was very little formality connect
ed with the meeting, and so far as could
be seen and heard by the GLoBE reporter,
there was very little OF interest displayed
either on the part of members of the
commission OF those who appeared before
them. The members of the commission
acted as though they considered the whole
thing farce, and vent through the
routine formahties as though they were
fulfilling penance. 1t affords the mem
bers an opportunity, however, to i'm
prove their knowledge of the country for
which they legislate by actual observation,
and to this extent the country may be ben
flied.
The meeting was called to order by
Chairman Hays, who stated that the COM
mission was ready to hear any statements
or remarks from those present bearing
upon tee subject Of the revision of the
tariff.
REMAREe Or ". =. DOYLE, ESQ.
The first gentleman introduced was Mr..
w. Il. Doyle of this city, wlo addressed
the commission nearly as follows:
l do not appear here as the -onrescnta-
live Of any particular inteEes! 1i,css il be
the interest of those Who believe that there
should not be an import duty on anything
which aids the general diffusion of useful
knowledge and who width this end in wiev
asks that all strictly moral books be put
on the free list.
An argument ID favor of cheap books
would be answered fifty years ago by
that race of philosophers who claim that
the sole object of a protective tariff was
to lower prices and that consequently
books were cheaper with tariff duty
than they would be without it.
A protective tariff first established to
encourage O few industries is gradually
enlarged, and many industries are protect
ed which DO not need protection, and
among these is the book trade.
Some of our manufacturers are
getting SO that they do not ask protection
as privilege, but demand it as a right
claiming that they are public benefactors,
and that instead of our grumbling about
their being protected we ought rather
thank them for sacrificing themselves to
the public good by engaging in industries
which are so Improbable that the people
of the United States must contribute to the
support of the industries through the in
strumentality of protective tariff.
1t seems to me that so far rs relates to
the necessity of having protection, Amer
lean books and American newspapers
stand on the same footing. Nobody claims
that our newspapers want protection.
Considering the tariff on books as a
revenue measure there are plenty other
articles that can be taxed with more
beneficial effect on the country. Good
literature at least, ought to be allowed to
enter our country free.
/: In conclusion, L think. /
may say without any impropriety that
> the people of the United States expect
g., that at least you will recommend thet some
articles be put on the free list. 1 can
think CT no article that more deserves to be
put on the free list, or can be put there
with less danger to the commercial inter
ests OF the country than books. and re-
specially ask that you make such rec
concentration.
Mr.. Underwood "Your argument is that
all books be placed On the free list This
would allow the works of Huxley, Darwin
and other scientists of that class to be i'm
ported free. DO you wish to encourage
the importation of such books?''
AIR. Doyle (emphatically )-S'I do
Mr.. POrter-"Does not the works of
Darwin and others sell as cheap here as in
EnglanG?"
Mr.. Doyle-"I think they do. because
they are republished here. But how will q
protective tariff lessen the cost of foreign
books not published here, and what pro
lection Is given the American publisher by
imposing q duty on such books?"
GENERAL. sANBORN's STATEMENT
Gen. john 3. SanbOrn, president of the
chamber OF commerce, being introduced,
said he would simply present copy of the
report OF the state commissioners of
statistics, showing the extent and character
OF our Industries and productions as a
state, and also q copy of the report of the
chamber OF commerce of the CITY OF ST.
Paul for the same year.
Ho said that the general sentiment of the
people of the state, without distinction of
party, 1s that the present tariff is higher
than necessary to raise the revenues re-
quired by the government, and higher than
required to give adequate protection to
such industries as need protection, and all
feel that the tariff should be reduced
Chairman Hays-Gen. Sanborn, what is
the present population of st. Paul?
Gen. Sanborn-Seventy-f five thousand as
estimated by the publishers of the
city directory for 18S1-1S82 which con-
tains over 10000 names.
Chairman Hays What proportion are
engaged IN manufactured
Gen. SIN 1881 there was 5000 and
there IS fully 10000 in 1883. The growth
ofSt. Paul for the last ten years has been
unprecedented and scarcely eaualed in
the growth of any city in the country.
By Mr. Oliver-Gen. Sanborn, how are
the farmers of your state effected and how
do they feel in regard to the tariff rpon