Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-04-11

have given the whole subject careful and
painstaking examination, and in the revis.
ion of the schedules have endeavored to act
in spirit of fairness to all interests
They have carefully kept in view at all
times the interests Of the manufacturer, the
laborer, the producer and the consumer.
The bill herewith reported to the House
is not offered as perfect bill. Many arti-
cles are left subject to duty which might
we'll be transferred to the free list. Many
articles are left subject to rates of duty
which might we'll be lessened. In both re-
spects the bill could be improved; but in its
preparation the committee have not under
taken or felt authorized to construct new
and consistent system of tariff taxation.
They have dealt with the existing system,
seeking to free it Of much of its injustice, to
simplify its provisions, to dininigh its COM
plexity and as far as practicable to tighten
its pressure on the taxpayer and make it
more contributory to our industrial pros
perity and progress.
Furthermore, we have felt constrained
to consult the opinions and give weight as
far as possible to the views of our associ-
ates from different parts Of the United
States, always subordinate, however, to the
paramount consideration of the welfare of
the entire country. From the beginning of
our government, tariff legislation has been
based on the principles Of mutual conces-
sion. The present bill does not depart
from this precedent.
NO MORE s'INFANT INDUSTRIES"
In the progressive growth of our manu-
features we have reached the point where
our capacity to produce is far in excess Of
the requirements of our home consumption.
As consequence many of our mills are
closed, and many of those still iu operation
are running on short time. This condition
is hurtful to the manufacturer. to the labor
er and producer of the materials consumed
in manufacture. The manufacturer loses
the profit on his capital, the laborer loses
his wages and the producer of the materials
consumed in manufacture loses the market
for his products. Manufacturers in many
instances, to guard against losses by low
prices caused by an oversupply 10 the
home market, are organizing trusts, COM
binations and pools to limit production and
keep up prices. This vicious condition OF
business could not exist with low duties,
but is the legitimate outgrowth OF prohibit
tory duties en- imports.
Prohibitory tariffs surround the country
with lines of investment and prevent all re-
lief from without, while trusts, combiDa-
tions and pools plumber the people within.
HOW LABOR Is HOODWINKED.
In country like ours, prolific in its re-
sources, where the rewards of labor are
large, the capitalist may by such methods
keep his investments secure and still make
profits, but what is to become of the labor
ers who are thrown out Of employment by
stopping the wheels of N achinery and limit
ing the amount of product? Aud what is
to become Of the producer of the materials
to be consumed by the manufacturer?
When the fires are shut off the laborer and
the materials are shut off at the same time
and the market for both is gone. Whether
they labor in the factory or the field;
whether they produce cotton, wool, hemp,
flax, coal or ore; whether the product Of
their daily labor is cloth, iron, steel, boots
or shoes, they must have constant employ
ment to obtain for themselves and families
the necessaries and comforts of life.
When out of employment-with earnings
cut thort, with low prices for their prod
ucts, caused by the closing of the market
they still must pay for whatever their
daily wants require the prices which the
trusts have fixed.
REMEDY FOR THE WRONG.
What: is the remedy for this wrongf 1t
is move extended markets for the sale of
our ,.pzsSsNs and constant and active
comYsf essUn in business. With active COM
petitit,p combinations and pools are impos-
sible. With the markets of the world open
to US, our manufacturers may run their
mills on full time, give constant employ
ment to their laborers, with steadily in
creasing rate of wages. With the markets
of the world open to the sale of their prod
ucts they will create an active aud con-
slant demand for all the raw materials re-
quired in manufactures which will stimu-
late, promote and reward the wool-grower
and the producer Of cotton, hemp, fax,
hides, ores and other materials of manu-.
facture.
We are the largest producers of cotton in
the world. ae are second in the production
of wool, we put On the market annually
quantities of hemp and fax, and our coun-
try is full of ores and coal. What we need
is manufactures enough to consume all the
annual product of these materials and
create an active demand for them, 80 that
all our workmen may be constantly en-
ployed and receive high prices for their
labor.
To accomplish this our manufacturers
must have markets for the sale of their
wares, and these markets are to be found in
foreign countries as well as at home. To
take the foreign market from the foreign
manufacturer we must produce our goods
at lower cost than he can.
The principal elements of cost are labor
and material. In many of our manufact-
ures the labor cost is lower than in a1y
country in the world and if the cost of
materials were as low here as in foreign
countries we could produce cur goods
more cheaply than they and largely in-
crease our exports to foreign markets.
ADVANTAGE OF FREE RAW MATERIALS.
The annual product of our manufactures
is now estimated at $1,000, 000, 900, of which
amount we export only about $136, 900, 900,
or less than 2 per cent.
If we could obtain free of duty such raw
materials as we do not produce, and can
only be procured in foreign countries, and
mix with our home product in the various
branches of manufacture, we could soon
increase our exports several hundred mil
lions. With untaxed raw materials we
could keep our mills running on full time,
our operatives in constant employment and
have an active demand for our raw materi-
ais in our own factories.
If there should be no duty on any mater
ials entering into manufactures, many arti-
Giles now made abroad would be made at
home, which, while it would give more en-
ploymeut to our own labor, would give
better market to many articles which we
produce and which enter into manufac.
lures. such as cotton, wool, hemp, fax and
others.
with this end in view we have gone as
far as we could, and done what we could in