The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-08
How the Democratic Tariff Bill
Would Affect Vermont Interests.

No little excitement and almost con-
steTnatlon has been manifested in this
locality over the publication of the
Democratic tariff bill, reported by the
ways and means committee of the
House, This bill puts marble and wool
on the free list: and, as Rutland is the
centre of the marble industry of the
country, it is but natural that the pro-
ducers here should be stirred up. New
erlheIess the feeling is strong that the
Senate will "sit down" upon the sched-
ue adopted by Mr.. Mills and his pa ty.
A Herald reporter saw Mr.. E, P. Gibson,
a prominent marble producer in Rutland
and asked of him his views on the sub
ject, Mr.. Gibson said:
1T is not certain Just what effect the
passage OF the Democratic tariff bill
would have on our American marble IN
terests. II the amount of duty is alb
sorbed by the Italian producers at Car
rara. of course it would not affect us so
much. In the case of coffee, when the
duty on 1t was removed, the United
States Treasury lost revenue TO the
amount of millions of dollars, and the
consumers received no benefits what
ever If. on the other hand, Italian pr, =
ducers will be satisfied to import this
marble at the prices OF the last five years
our marble interests must suffer, and
most seriously
Labor at the quarries in Italy receiv g
less than one-half the wages pal here.
The present duty on marble does not
cover this difference in labor, so, you
see. our American product has for some
aH 1,tth M fnrni,rF, La
on its own merits. The duty, therefore,
I is not protection, except to the Ameri-
can labOrer The laborers, then, must
suffer if the tariff is removed.
The average rate of freight on mar.
BILE from the Vermont quarrie5 to Bos.
ton, New York, Philadelphia and Chi.
cago is about the same as from Carrara
Italy, while to some Southern points il
is more.
mot only does American labor require
the present duty on marble, but it is a
pro per subject on which to raise rev.
enue, for it is "A luxury. and not a neces
sity, to life. There is no one in this
world, probably but that could get along
well enough without marble.
1.-The Italian producers have their eye,
constantly on this matter, and are anX-
ious to have the duty removed, as you
can see from this letter to me, dated al
Carrara, Italy, Dec. 90, 1884:
How does the prospect Of the new
| administration suit you? | see from the
statement of the Secretary of the Treas
ury and the Presidents m ssage thai
| both recommend reduction of the
tariff. Do you think that Italian mar
| bic is touched? OF course, | should be
| glad to have the ideas of the Vernon
| interests. should like to see the effec
| Of Democratic Presidency
The letter from which this is taker
was written by member of one Of tn,
/ oldest and largest producers of Italian
marble in Italy. | had the pleasure of 1
visit from him last year, in May, and il
was very evident that he was auXiOu,
| about this matter of tariff
so, you see that a Democratic ad
ministration is Influenced far more tC
satisfy foreign producers and labor
| than American producers and American
labor. No doubt, my friend is so ia,
perfectly satisfied with what he has seer
| of Democratic Presidency"
Gen. w. Y. w. Ripley said that il
case marble should be put on the free
| list, ii would mean one of two things
! Either the laborer would receive lest
| here. or else the amount Of the present
tariff would go into the pocket of the
Italian producer. He felt confident thai
the bill would not pass the Senate; but
if it did, it would be direct blow at the
marble industries here. The present
| tariff Is certainly low enough. and if re-
| duce1, there can be but one tffeCt-low
er wages to the workingmen.
The reduction on wool, Gen. Ripley
| said, will affect this state not, perhaps
| in the production of wool. but in the
breeding of fine sheep. When the WOO
raising counties like Australia and
| South America can enter the United
States free of duty, then the price of oul
sheep will proportionately diminish
| We don't raise rs much wool as in the
days before the Western plains were
opened for grazing purposes; but Yer
mont supplies largely the fine strains OF
| sheep that are sent West to mingle with
| the herds there, the union OF which pro
| duces tine best results We cannot com
pete successfully with Western growers
owing to the geographical situation OF
the STATE; but we can furnish them the
stock to grow from, If the tariff on WOO
is taken off, we can't do even that
/ Rutland Herald.