The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-05-05

which affects the prlee oi cloth from 70 TO 70
per cent, will influence the price of the fleece,
and cannot be changed by any import duty.
Mr.. Bakewell has shown that the degree Of
softness depends principally on the nature of
the soil from which the sheep are fed-the
chalk or light calcarous soils producing hard
wool, while loamy argillaceous soils grow a
wool distinguished by its softness. The in.
fiuence of climate and soil on the fibre is as
marked in the United States as in England.
Mr.. Schoenhof has shown that the alluvial
soils produce a wool which he SAYS sis i'll
adapted to compete with the soft, elastic
staples of other climes," and Consul Griffith
says that the
Modification of the present duties on Australasian
woods would undoubtedly give great impetus to
the commerce of both countries. The United States
would then draw more largely than ever on the col
ones for all woods suitable for fine and superfine
cloths and ladies' dress goods . 8 In the event
of the reduction of the duties Australasian woos
or OF the admission of the class of woods peculiar
TO that country and not grown in the United States
the American mill-owner would soon be in posi-
ton not only TO undersell in his own market all
woolen fabrics of foreign make, but to compete
successfully with other wooden manufacturing
countries in the various markets of the world. At
the same time the American fock-master would not
experience any loss by the change in the tariff
the woods imported would be of different quality
from those which he is able to produce.
Our manufacturers need the finer fibre of
imported woods to work into and with the
operates to some extent to lessen the con-
sumption of domestic wool. Therefore it will
be to the interest of those engaged in sheep
husbandry to place raw wool on the free list,
and thus open a way to increased manufacture
of woolen goods at cheaper prices, thereby
encouraging and increasing larger consump-
ton of American wool. Schoenhof says
Free wool and an average tariff duty of 25 per
cent on imported woolen fabrics would be far
/ effective dQnpar nF far
eign wooden inundation than our present 75 per
cent tariff and taxed wool,
Tinplate is another article upon which tariff
duties are levied that are in no sense "pro-
tective" to any American industry, and serve
no other purpose than TO increase the annual
surplus in the Treasury and TO further impov-
erish the people. The preservation of fruits,
vegetables, fish, oysters and meats in tin cans
is an industry which is annually increasing in
volume and value. This industry multiplies
the comforts of life by supplying food out of
season, and provides market for agricultural
products, some of which would otherwise rot
and waste; and also affords employment to
hundreds of men, women and children at
profitable wages. Not only so, but it encour-
ages and stimulates the growing of small fruits
and vegetables, which greatly aids the farmer
in these days of agricultural depression. His
interest in this connection should be eonsid-
cred, for in the last two decades immense
areas of new land have been opened to cult
vation, and the production Of the cereals
largely increased, so as to make necessary a
more extended market for our products, but
prohibitory tariff partially excludes us from
foreign markets until our supply so far ex-
ceeds the home demand as to render the staple
farm products no longer profitable. Once
American wheat was heavily exported at
prices that were remunerative, but other coun.
tries, particularly England, failing to trade
with US upon equal or satisfactory terms, have
encouraged wheat growing in India and else
where, where they can dispose of their own
commodities, and are drawing supplies from
these sources which they formerly purchased
in the United States.
Therefore in the name of the American
farmer appeal to this House to ratify the
action of the Committee on Ways and Means
in placing tinplate on the free list. No good
reason can be assigned why this should not be
done. Everybody in America uses tinplate,
and nobody here produces it. Everybody
pays the tax upon it, and nobody reaps the
benefit oft. The Government does not need
it and has no legitimate use for it. Why,
then, should this tax be continued?
In single county of the district have the
honor to represent in this House there were
puChSu III tue year iOCAY anu Tile business is
much larger at present, 80, 400, 600 cans of
Theoretically sealed goods. This was the out
put of 800 factories, which gave employment
to 10000 persons, The product packed in
that one county required 10000 acres for
tomatoes and 5000 acres for corn, involving
an outlay for agricultural labor of $500, 900.
One hundred and thirty thousand boxes of tin
were used in making the cans, and Sl35, 200
expended for labor, while further expendi-
ture of $780, 900 was required for the other
processes of preparation. Tinplate is the only
material yet discovered that is fitted for the
purpose of hermetically sealing products
for transportation over long distances. Its
lightness, cleanliness, non-corrosiveness and
strength combine to make it essential to the
business. As tinplate is not manufactured in
this country, there is no just reason for re-
tanning tariff tax upon its importation. The
effort to produce tin from the cassiterite of the
Black Hills of Dakota will hardly Justify a
tax on imported tin; that of Ashland county,
Alabama, has been shown to contain no trace
of tin, but to be merely iron pyrites; the tin
deposit in Virginia is no longer worked, so
that all the American tin which can be s'pro-
tected' is "a small piece received by the
United States Geological Survey, said to have
been obtained from cassiterite in the great
American lode located near Rosita, Custer
county, Colorado" To "protect" that small
piece OF American tin costs the people who
use canned goods an enormus sum of money.
The 10000 boxes of tin before mentioned
cost my people in tariff taxes in a single year
SI7l, 900. 1t is estimated that there is more
than $50, 900, 900 invested capital in this in.
dustry.
In addition to the enormous home con-
sumption there we're exported last year 49,
050,5 pounds of beef in cans, Ii, 229, 16S
pounds of canned salmon, canned fruit valued
at S506, 794, and canned vegetables valued at
S22S, ,567. A trade in canned oysters is be-
ginning, which promises to become in time
very extensive and ofgreat value. Petroleum
Is also exported in tin cans. This metal, of
such universal use, is burdened with heavy
and unnecessary tax, which aggregated last
year S5, FOG, ,434 on an import value of $l6,.
88S, ,Sl4, or over "a per cent.-a tax which is
not only hurtful To an interest intimately re-
lated to the profitable development of many
branches ofagriculture and to labor, but which
adds to the cost of the builders tin roof and
the utensils of every household in the laad.
The Government no longer needs the revenue
from this tax; there is no tin found in the
country to "protect," and the continuance of
this needless and hurtful impost is violation
Of every principal of political economy.
The platforms of both political parties in
the last two Presidential canvasses, the whole
press of the country, and the universal SEN
timent of the people adult the necessity for
and demand prompt reduction of the rev.
enqe. The only obstacle that hinders this
reasonable demand is thealleged protection
Of established and prosperous manufacturing
interests. This form of avoritism should
cease, and the revenue reform demanded by
the best consideration for the welfare Of the
whole country should be no longer delayed.
The bill now under consideration proposes to
bring about this reform by a fair distribution
Of duties without diseriminat ing against any
industry.
The recommendation ofthe Secretary of the
Treasury ''to add to the free list as many
articles as possible" and to ''reduce duties
upon every dutiable article to the lowest
point possible" fairly and distinctly states the
scope of the popular demand for revenue re.
form. This wise suggestion is guarded, how
ever, by the caution that "the present si.uation
of labor and business mpst always be kept in
mind" | respectfully submit that neither
lebpF nor business will be injured or embar-
rassed by the proposed reduction of $50, ,OOO,-
900 or more from customs duties. If from
the $228, 600, 900 of estimated annual customs
dut;as fhara he fakan S5O n0n o00 tbo.o Iii