Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-02-23
THE TARIFF.



the House Of Uepresentntives, on
"wednesday, Feb. IA, 1ss3.
Mr.. Chairman, il is noticeable in this de.
bate that gentlemen who represent states hav-
ing small manufacturing Industries advocate
low rates of duties upon imports. This is a
purblind policy. 1t looks only at the prices
that must be paid for goods and fails to per
ceive the importance of the general employ
ment of labor and of the creation of markets
for productions that are for sale. Practical.
ly this is the doctrine that "frpm him that
hath not shall be taken away that which he
hath"
Gentlemen from the southern states want
no duties or low duties on cotton-tes, because
three -fourths of the amount annually used
in their section of the country is imported.
Were the South, instead of the North, manu-
featuring the remaining one-f fourth and striv-
ing to increase her product, her representa-
tives would be asking protection for her in
FAINT industry. When we reach the sugar
schedule it is to be anticipated that the sugar
raising districts will oppose any material re-
duction of the duty on sugar. In this discus
sion we are governed too much on both sides
by local interests and too little by the require
ments of the whole country
One of the most encouraging things in this
dreary debate was the eloquent speech made
few days since by the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr Speer), who has the clear Wis
ion to see that the hope of the South is in
the development of her own resources in the
adoption of policy that will build up her
young industries and bring new ones into
existence. Could such sentiments rs his pre-
vail, the southern states would soon take
rank in prosperity and progress with their
sister states of the North. The fruits of such
sentiments have already been exhibited in
Georgia, as the honorable gentleman declar-
ed, by ranking her as the ninth state in the
production of iron, when in 1870 the census
did not record her as being an iron state at
all.
The doctrine of tariff for revenue only,
with such incidental protection as that af-
fords, is we'll as far as it goes, but we should
go further and advocate tariff for protec-
tion wherever that is required by the manu-
featuring interests of our country. What
would that government be worth that would
permit the manufactures of other countries
to destroy or prevent the development of
those Of its own?
Free-traders say that our people should
have the right to purchase goods from abroad
at the low prices for which they can be there
made This is plausible, but it leaves out of
the consideration the fact that people can
not prosper or even subsist upon one indus
try, and that without manufactures we should
have no market for our agricultural products
and no money to pay for foreign goods were
the prices ever SO low.
Vermont is an agricultural state, and yet
has =, S7l manufacturing establishments, EN-
ploying a capital of S23, 2Gj 900 and the la
Dor of 1900 persons. They distribute an
nually as wages 81, lG4, 600 and make an an.
nual product of goods of the value of S3l,
3j4, 600. This employment Of capital and
labor andthis distribution of wages are "a great
assistance to all the other business interests
of the state But the great want to-day is
more manufacturing, in order to give en-
ployment to our own people and our own cap
ital and keep them from going out into new
fields of enterprise l add paragraph from
a Democratic journal
FARMERs AND THE TARiTF.
Their parrot cry Of taxing the farmers for the ben
cht Of munup lies s hollow. There is not factory
in the country, and they are springiug up IN every
section that does not bring $40 to the pockets Of tn,
farmers in the vicinity To every dollar expended by
the farmers on account Of revenue taxation. Yet
there are newspapers and Congressmeu pratiug day
by day about the robberies Of tue agricuurists by
the protection Of manufacturer Could one Of these
parrots tell us how much the farmers would realize
from their produce in case the manufacturing inter
ests broken down and all their operatives wer,
turned into agriculturists We trust there is yet
good sense enough among the members Of Congress
to pass a revenue bill that will afford protection
enough to our industrial interests to sustain them
while afiording seady employment and fair wages &c
hundreds Of thousands Of workingmen.-Hdrf0rt
Tunes.
Mr.. Chairman, | have taken none OF the
valuable time Of the committee while this
bill has been under consideration because
have been sensible of the fact that the coun
try and our duty require Of US votes and moi
speeches | was rejoiced that general de-
:. I -. ~ i Al -.
this side of the House has contented itsel!
with concise explanations of the paragraphs
while the bill has been under consideration by
sections
Every industry waits upon the action of
Congress. Every mail brings to US a flood Of
petitions aud memorials from the people urg
ing a speedy settlement of this important
question. In many places factories have
stopped, and operatives 10y tens Of thousands
are out of employment because theil
employers are afraid to proceed under the un
settled condition Of the tariff. They deem il
unsafe to attempt TO compete with for
eign manufacturers until a tariff upon i'm
portatious is fixed and settled. And, sir
American industries are so allied with oacE
other, are so interviewer, that whatever af
fects one Affects all
The people demand large reduction Oh
and they demand it at the hands of this Con
gress. As there are but twenty days of thii
session remaining this bill or the Senate bill
ought speedily to become law.
had hoped for larger reduction of th,
revenue than this bill proposes. Nearly one
fourth part of our entire customs revenue il
derived from sugar an article of necessity
for all classes of our people. 1t seems tc
me the time has come when, without endan
gering the sugar industries of this country
we can reduce this tax at least one half, anC
thus relieve the people from what amounts
to a direct tax, and, as to the poorer classes
is a heavy burden.
Mr.. Chairman, internal taxation can b,
justly imposed for the purpose only Of rails
ing revenue for the support of the govern
ment. Customs duties are levied for tn
same purpose and for the additional one o
protecting domestic industries against the
importation of commodities that can be pro
duced or manufactured in foreign countrie
more cheaply than in our own. The frs
purpose concerns the national existence, tn
latter is a matter of national policy, and look
to the protection and fostering of the agri
cultural, manufacturing, and other interest
of our country.
The revenues of the government for tn
fiscal year ended June 80, 1881, were as fol
lows:
From customs .Sl9S l59,6l
From internal revenue. .lSb ,264 80
From other 2',Soo2d
Total. $50, ~
The expenses of the government for tn
same period, including $S2, sos, 74l paid a
interest on the public debt, were $500, 0G1,
40t, leaving surplus in the treasury of 800,
0G9, 404.
In his report of December 8, 1881, the sec
retary of the treasury complained of this grea
excess of public revenue, declared that h
was embarrassed in disposing of so large
surplus in lawful manner, and that tn
seeming affiuence of the treasury had ten
denoY 70 proyoke a larger expendIture {