Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-02-19
MR. MORRISONlS MEASURE.

provoke antagOnisms on every
hand, as we'll from the free traders
as the protectiOnists. He could,
had he possessed any aptitude for
his occupation, have undertaken to
tinker in accordance with some
definite plan and under the guild
ance of fixed principles. He could
have made his tinkering tend di-
rectly and consistently towards "a
tariff for revenue only" and there
by challenged the support OF the
majority of his party-thc free
trade wing.
AS q sample Of the medley OF
inconsistencies which this bill pro.
poses, we find that rice is left I'M
touched, still bearing its protective
duty OF abou; so per cent, while
salt, hay, and pOtatoeS-food pro
ducts like rice-are laid wide open
to competition.
The removal of duties from me-
tallic ores, lumber, and salt would
ruin some CT our great and flourish
ing industries. The bill proposes
the absolute humiliation of hemp
culture, and IL threatens mischief
in many other directions, while it
meets no requirement of the free
trade creed and fulfills no pledge
of the Democratic party.
The advocates of this bill claim
that they will confer a great bless
ing on the toiling millions if they
give them "free SALT" but the re
verse is true. 1t is shown by Mr..
Porter-proven in fact by official
fgures-that our salt industry, like
all other industries, has increased
and flourished under protection,
while the price to the consumers
has steadily declined. Mr.. Porter
shows that in 1880 We produced but
1850, 900 bushels, and the average
price was 81 cents per bushel; In
1910 the production had increased
to over 100000 bushels, and the
price was 20 cents per bushel; IN
1850 it had increased to nearly TO-,
600, 900 bushels, and the price ad-
vanced to 22 cents per bushel; in
1860 the product reached l3,OOO,oOO
bushels, and the price receded to
Is cents per buShel; in 1870 the
home production was 1S,OOO,OOO
bushels, and the price nearly -
cents, the price advancing with the
general advance of all commodities
caused by the war. In 1850 the
production was 30,000,000 bushels,
and the price 16 cents per bushel.
Further and permanent cheapness
in salt must, therefore. he concludes,
be lOOl cd for with greater dcvel-
opment of home manufacture and
not by turning the industry over to
foreigners, as the ways and means
committee proposes to do. The
growth of the Michigan salt indus
try during the last twenty-five
years-cited by Mr.. POrter-of a
high protective tariff has been re-
markable and has had much to do
with the cheapening Of the product
to the consumer. In 1860 the total
product Of that State was only 2O,-
600 bushels. Since then it has
steadily grown, receding but once,
and in 1881 the product had reach
ed In round figures If, 100000 bush
els, or seven hundred fold.
AS to the magnitude Of the lum-
Der industry which Mr.. Morrison
proposes to assail, it is stated by
competent authorities that there
are about 10000 men working in
the mills and 10000 in forests,
with yearly wages aggregatlng
close on $1OO,OOO,OOO The capital
invested in this industry must lie
close on S2OO,000,000, the value of
the annual products not far from
! $3.50, 100000, while the farmers of
the lumber regions receive from
! S3O,OOO,OOO to $50, 900, 900 annually
for food of men and animals.
We have not the space required
to show all the devastation for
which this bill provides, but there
is no real danger, for it cannot pos
sibly become a law.
Ii will be hacked in committee
and killed in the House. The SEN
ate will not be permitted the pleas
ure of strangling the life out of it.
But it is due to Mr.. Morrison to
cOncede that, but for the compul.
sion of circumstances beyond his
control, he might have produced a
straightout revenue tariff bill.
What he has done is simply a hope
less effort to reconcile conflicting
views and interests. 1t IS not so
much Morrison bill as piece OF
party patchwork. And it is a
wretched bOtch. Mr.. Morrison is
a candid man. This bill is a hypo-
critic.
On Monday last, Attorney Cen
eral Ayres, in response to an in
curry from Auditor Marye, gave
his construction Of the effect Of the
recent decision Of tho Supreme
Court of the United States in the
Virginia coupon cases. This con.
structiOn is likely to be of impOr