Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-10-12
so. What was the result when the

~. NHdJ WIS tue result WHEN t0e
tariff was further reduced in 1857?
"a. There was a panic in 1S57-not in
any way due to the influence of the tariff
which lasted for a very brief period.
With this exception, the whole period of
low duties from 1916 to 1860 was a time
of great material prosperity and the law
authorizing the tariff reductions in 1857
was supported by almost all the repre-
sentatives in Congress from the New
England States. In the Senate the vote
for reduction of duties was 80 to II; and
in the House 124 to II. BY this measure
the average rate of duty on all imports
into the United States was reduced to
less than 10 per cent.
so. Had not the civil war interviewed
and ar imperative necessity for enormous
revenues been thus created, what would
have probably been the fiscal policy of
the United States?
ga. There can be but little doubt that
the United States would very soon have
rivalled Great Britain in freeing its for
eign trade from all restrictions save for
revenue and sanitary purposes, and have
been led by its interest to have become
the leading free-trade nation of the
world.
''Q. Were there any strikes during the
low-tariff period from 1910 to 1860?
"a. There never were so few strikes
and so little discomfort on the part of la
Dor AS during this period.
80. What testimony respecting the
national prosperity of this period of low
tariffs has been given by Mr.. Blaine?
"a. In his book Twenty Years in
Congress-, he says: ''The tariff of 1916
business of the country was in a flour
ishing condition. Money became very
abundant after the year 1919; large en-
terprises were undertaken, speculation
was prevalent. and for a considerable pc
Rod the prosperity of the country was
general and apparently genuine. After
1852 the Democrats had almost undisput,
ed control of the government, and had
gradually become a free-trade party. The
principles involved in the tariff of 1Slt
seemed for the time to be so entirely win.
dicated and approved that resistance tt
it ceased, not only among the people, bu'
among the protective economists and evel
among the manufacturers to a large ex
tent. So general was this acquiesenc'
that in 1856, a protective tariff was no
suggested or eyen limited at by any on,
of the three parties which presented pres
dental candidates. 1t was not surprising
therefore, that in 1857 the duties wer,
placed lower than they had been sine,
1872. The act was well received by tn
people and was indeed concurred in b.,
a considerable portion of the Republican
party
SO. What, on the other hand, ha
been the effect on wages of the variou
high tariffs hat have at different period
, been enacted in the United States?
2 "a. Every advance in the tariff frol
| the formation of the constitution dow.
to the present time, which has been suff
cient to reduce the amount of importa
) tons, has been followed by IA period O
reduced wages, or, at the very least, b
a period in which they were stationary
This was the case in 1924, in 1925, and i
1913. Wages in both agriculture an
! manufactures were as low in 1915, afte
: the high tariff of 1912 had attained il
4. full effect, as they were in 1924. The
l began to rise under the tariff of 1916, an
: steadily advanced until 1860. Under tn
higher tariff of 1861, wages declined I'll
l til the immense demand for labor cause
: by the wal started them again upward
; After the enactment of the high tariff c
> 1864, the amount paid for wages in gol
, was for a considerable period less than i
1850, Notwithstanding the great deman
caused by the war. The advance whic
seemed to take place in 1864 and 1866 wa
purely nominal, being in irredeemabl
paper, worth only half its face.
SO. Is there any instance on recor
where a removal of taxes on crude mater
!, ials has reduced wages, restricted tn
sphere of employment to the laborer, c
failed to increase the prosperity of
country?
! "a. The records of civilization will b
u searched in vain TO find one instance i
: which an abatement of taxation or a r.
{ moval of restrictions on trade and con
> merce have failed to augment the trad
and industry of the country adoptiD
. such & policy. Business depression a
. ways fees away before the growth {
Il freedom.
SO. What remarkable single result
recent years, in the way of extending ii
business of the country, has followed ii
removal of duties from the importatio
> of a raw material?
"A. Previous to 1872 there was a dut
of 10 per cent on the importation of hide
, and skins. In 1873 the importation {