New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-27
AN ABSURD RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY.
SEEKING WORTHLESS FREE-TRADE orINIoNs-sTA
TrsTIcs WHICH WILL BE MISLEADING OIL

AN ABSURD RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY.
SEEKING WORTHLESS FREE-TRADE oPINIoNs-SrA-
TrsTIcs WHICH WILL BE MISLEADING OR
WORSE.
WASHINGTON April 26 (Speciap. -Ten days ago,
Mr. Breckenridge, OF Kentucky, offered a reso-
luton which was reported to the House to-day
from the Ways and Means Committee, and adopted
without amendment debate. Premier Mills,
in Offering it, remarked that he hoped 1t would
not provoke discussion. The resolution Is adj
dressed to the Secretary OF the Treasury, and the
body OF it reads as follows:
What number OF persons in each OF the
ssnfu occupations professional and personal service
trade and transportation, manufactures mechanics and
mining and agrculture) were engaged In branches OF
which a product OF like kind could be imported RON
foreign country. other than Canada. in any measure or
quantity sufficient call for the attention OF legsiatorsf
what additional number could be in part or wholly SUD-
jected TO competition from Canadaf
Second What number in each category might be con-
sdered wholly FREQ from such competitionl
Third What number OF persons might DO consiuereo In
some small subject to foreign competitonf
Fourth The number Of persons represented by the ex
port OF the products OF agrcture, MANUFACTURES ana
mining be estimated upon the relation OF the value or
quantity OF such exports TO the value or quantity OF the
total product other words the number occupied In pro-
ducton for export
A more remarkable, not to say absurd resolu-
ton Of inquiry never was sent to the head OF
an Executive Department Of the Government
To say nothing of The fact that the reply, so
Gar as it can be based ON official or other trust
worthy statistics, must refer to figures which
are nine years old, the Secretary is asked, first
for his opinion as to what measure or quantity
of foreign competition in any branch Of American
industry is sufficient to call for the attention
of legislators or what worth is the opinion
of Mr.. Fairchild or any Of his subordinates on
that subject? Second; how is Mr.. Fairchild
to ascertain how many might be considered
wholly free from such competition? Might
be SO considered by whom? This inquiry can
result at most in the expression of a mere opinion
by an officer whose OF lnion Of that subject will
be worthless if for no other reason than That he
has no trustworthy data on which TO base it.
Third Mr. Fairchild is asked What number
of persons might be considered.' in his opinion
to be " in some small measure subject to foreign
competition Pr Probably he would be glad to have
Mr.. breckenridge define the phrase :" some small
measure"
The fourth question no statstician can answer,
even with the data afforded by the last census
with respect the manufactures of the year ended
June 30, 1880. But why is this resolution
brought in at this late day, month after
tariff bill was framed and nearly six months
after the beginning of the session. Why, simply
in order that Mr. Breckenridge can insert in his
great speech on the Dark Lantern" bill, two
or three weeks hence, startling array of de-
ceptive and worthless figures styled official sta
tistics," and some conclusions, estimates and
opinions Of free trade Secretary Of the Treasury,
plIrporting to be predcated on ofllcaP data.