The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-01
SECRETARY MANNING'S CIRCULAR.
Remarks of Senator Chase Before Meeting
of Rhode Island Manufacturers.

PROVIDENCE, r. l., Aug. 31.-About one hun
dred manufacturers of this State met here to-day
to consult ON the question of making q joint
reply to the late circular of Secretary Manning
asking for information and suggestions in regard
to the tariff, with a view to having the matter
laid before Congress at its next session. A pre-
amble and resolution was offered, setting forth
that as the manufacturing interests of the State
were just beginning to show signs of recovery
from long period of depression, but were still
in condition of extreme sensitiveness the
meeting believed that ANY such attempted re-
vision of the tariff las that contemplated in Sec
retary Manning's circular) would be exceedingly
disastrous to the entire industrial interests of
the country" and therefore
Resolved, That this meeting hereby enters it's re-
spectful protest against any reopening of the tariff
agitation at the coming session of Congress-.
Senator Chase spoke in support of the resolu-
ton. He wanted it understood that he spoke as
manufacturer not as a senator. Among other
things he said: "Why did not the Secretary
address himself to the repeal of the act of 1874,
and why not seek to throw the burden of proof
upon the fraudulent importers? This Nation is
doing something that no other nation in the
world has offering premium upon fraud
and that is the reason why we Americans are
importing goods to this country to-day The
circular of the Secretary is not an
imputation or accusation, but di-
rect charge. I was surprised that
in such simple matter he found 1t necessary to
go so far / don't like, myself, the idea of an
executive branch of the government assuming
legislative functions" Senator Chase then
alluded to the action of Secretary Bayard with
reference to the South American commission
and of the Postmaster general with reference to
the So called mail subsidy scheme and proceeded
to say that the reply framed to be forwarded to
Washington must be handled with care, so that
it might not "be distorted or misused to our det-
riment" He could not see why, in the matter
of labor, the question should not be answered
honestly and intelligently and for the good of
the country, but the Secretary could not expect
every Individual manufacturer to open his books
to the gaze of the world. The Secretary of the
Treasury might take measures to acquaint
himself with the cost of labor, in this country
aud in Europe, and the speaker suggested that
the report of Abram s. Hewitt, and the consul
lar reports contained information of that char
acter There were some matters worthy to be
thought of in this connection, and added: 'It
is curious that the WOODEN business, which suf-
fers the most from the tax on the raw material
should be the very first to revive from the de-
preston. l believe that the woolen manufacture
ing business and the market is better to-day
than any other manufacturing industry in the
country. On the other hand, the cotton in
dustry, the raw material of which is manu-
factured here, and is largely exported abroad, is
most depressed, although the raw material is
not taxed at ALL"
The preamble and resolution were adopted,
and coifkniStee of fifteen appointed to reply to
the questions in Secretary Mannines circular.
Senator Aldrich after referring to o similar
circular issued by Secretary Robert j. Walker
in 1915. and the subsequent action thereon, and
deprecating the reopening of the tariff agitation
said: But whatever may be your opinion as to
the agitation, it is to continue, and you must
meet it. In 187S when the Wood
tariff bill was before the House, the
cotton manufacturers of Boston prepared
schedule which they placed in the hands of
General Banks, of the House of Representa-
tives. They prepared a schedule which would
have destroyed one third of the cotton industries
of New England 1t was prepared by manu-
facturers of coarse goods, who had no know odge
Of the requirements of the manufacture of fine
yarns and fine goods. l want to caution you
against repeating their mistakes"