National Republican., 1883-02-16


treaty, the power of tho house TO increase or
diminish the specified duties agreed upon in
the treaty, so far as each treaty country would
be concerned.
After pursuing tho argument at considerable
length, and showing that his views were Gu
tertained by the trainers of the constitution,
MIR. Mason continued: Within the purview
Of my argument the Hawaiian treaty is also
unconstitutional, for on coyenanting that GER
tain articles from these islands shall
be admitted free of duty into the United
States, 1t invadcs province of action
assigned expressly, entirely exclusively to
poi gress. Authority to lay q duty inplies
authority to exempt from duty hence rs
congress is clothed with sole authority TO lay
duties, it is clothed with authority to exempt
from duties and since the treaty making
power has no authority to do the former il
has no authority to do the latter; otherwise
the SANG prerOgativc would be vested in rad
ically different branches of our government
which would be contrary to the plain design
of its founders.
Finally, it is questionable whether the
Hawaiian treaty does not violate in spirit if
not in letter that provision of the constitu-
tion which declares (art. /, sec. 81 that no
preference shall be given by any regulation
of commerce or revenue to the ports of one
state over those of another. Nearly all the
importations undcr the treaty from its begin
ming until now have been entered mt the
single port of San Francisco, so that in prac-
toal effect II preference is given to that port
over all the other ports in the union, the kinds
of articles landed in the one port free of
duty having to pay duty in almost every
other.
Considering that we already have one un-
constitutional treaty in force, that another is
impending with Mexico that the Montreal
Corn exchange has memoralized tho Do
,s,,s.
treaty with the United States, that persistent
efforts were made only q few years ago to ar
range conventional duties between this coun-
try and France, and that other similar at
tonpts may be set on foot, think my views
on the subject are both timely and important,
The logic of this paper carried weight, and
in the discussion upon 1t its sentiments were
indorscd by the association.
The next paper was read by Mr. William
II. Armstrong of the internal revenue bu-
reau. He read q paper on the spirit Tax
and Temperance" and began by saying that
lin the last twenty years ended June, 30,
1882 the internal revenue from spirits has
aggregated S90i,S63, 7S6, from fermented liq-
ors $l63,l l30o2S, and from tobacco S595,392,-
2i2 making grand total of $l663, 1856 1856"
My main purpose" he said, however, in
preparing this paper is to correct popular
error, that the government by taxing the
manufacture and sale of Intoxicating liquors
becomes partner with making and selling
such liquors, and becomes morally RESPONSE
bic for the evils resulting therefrom. The
facts of the case are, however, that no license
in these excise eases is ever issued by United
States collectors, but only receipts for the
amount of tax paid. Not only does the gov
ernment not license this business, but
it goes further, and selects for its
most onerous taxation this very business OF
making and selling distilled spirits"
Mr.. Armstrong continued at great length,
showing that the government, instead OF
licensing or iavoring this business, actually
retards and restricts it as far as it legally can.
The paper was discussed by Messrs Ely,
Metcalf, Judge Lawrence, and Mr.. Draper, ,thc
latter of whom said, as temperance man OF
fifty years, that we had been without tax
on liquors, and didn't think we had improved
much during the period that the tax has been
imposed.
Mr.. George b, Dixwell was the last essayist
choosing the theme, who is Oppressed by
tho Tariff?'
"The free trade press" said he, "has been
very persevering in its efforts to persuade the
people that they are oppressed by the grinding
taxation of the tariff; but il has not been al
all precise in pointing out the classes who are
oppressed--if, indeed, there are any such
classes. Fine cottons and woolens, silks, the
costlier wines, and innumerable other objects
of ostentation come in from abroad and pay
to the government vast aggre'
gate of duties, but the classes who
nse these things are hardly numerou:
enough TO be called the "people !" they arc
not those who earn one, two, or three dollars
day, but those who can spend ten, twenty
thirty, or more dollars, and would spend thu
same amount in luXuries and ostcntation ever
If these things come in free. The cottCns ant
woplens used by the great mass of the people
made N a
free trade writers, nearly as cheaply at homt
rs abroad, and must therefore be sold nearly
as cheaply, for every investor knows thert
would be little chance of getting more thar
| Z per cent. out of new mills. s,
Mr.. DiSwell continued at length, showing tina
the protection given the iron aud steel indus
tries, instead of depressing, had vastly bone
| fitted the people, especially in the matter o
that prime necessity of civilization, railroads
He said in reference to the duty on sugar
1--WE produce only small proportion of wha
we consume. Upon this proportion we saw
about two-thirds the selling price by keeping
| ut home values we should otherwise he com
PEELED to send abroad. Tho duty upon th,
balance which is imported goes to support tn,
government, and thus obviates tho neces
sity of other taxation, As tho domes
tic production increases under stead.
| tariff policy the saving to tho couptry woul'
! increase, and the ultimate and not distant re
suit will be that the nation will obtain tn
whole of its sugar by means of its own in
dustry at no greater cost in labor, and per
| haps ut no greater cost in money than it coul,
| be obtained for by importation. If it coul
not be produced from the cane, or from sor
ghum or maize, 1t could be from the beet, am
and at a price not exceeding that O
tropical sugar imported duty free. If it b
asked why this is not done, If it be reall
possible, the answer Is that it cannot be don
because of the instability of our tariff legisla
tion. Beet root sugar can only be produces
by the aid of very great capital, and this viii
! hardly venture into an industry which is liza
bic to be ruined before it Is established. 1t i,
however, an industry which extends from tn
Atlantic ocean to the Caspian sea, an
there appears to be few save legislu
tive obstacles TO its introduction into tn
United States with an annual saving @
S100,000,O00 now sent abroad" Not alon
sugar, but salt, and the textile and iron in
dustries were advanced, and the people consC
quGntly benefited by protective tariff.
conclusion, he said at is tho direct take
and only these, that the people feel to b
oppressive"
Dr. Young then stated that Senator Plat
would not on Friday evening deliver a
eulogy on the late Marshall Jewell, one of tn
first vice presidents of the association, bu
would make some remarks on his memory
A committee, composed of Hon. John O. New
DIR. Young, and Mr. pixwell, were apponte
q committee to draft suitable resolutions upo
his death,
The association then adjourned until th
evening.
-o---
Mig Sales OF Wool,
BosTnN, Feb, l5,-Tho sale of nearly $500