Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-06-11
From the N, Y. Herald, June 5th.]
The Importers Protest.

So long as commerce is not a statutabie
crime, 30 long we suppose persons engaged
in this pursuit are entitled to respectful
hearing when they see an attempt made to
destroy their business. 1t is on this theory
that a large body of gentlemen engaged IN
lawful commerce with foreign countries
Yesterday made their protest to the Senate
Finance Committee against the Mckinney
bill. What they had to say is reported else
where in the Herald this morning. we
propose to say something about the Dill
ourselves. 49,,
This Mckinley bill, passed by the all but
unanimous republican vote of the House, Is
not bill for the "protection" OF American
industries. 1t is bill to lay an embargo
on our own ports and prohibit commerce
with foreign nations. 1t is bill to create
monopolies in many important branches OF
manufacture and by preventing lmporta'
tions to give these monopolles absolute con-
troll of the market of this country. mat ID
not protection-it is prohibition. For IN
stance
In the woollen schedule the rates on goods
worn by the mass of the people are mace
absolutely prohibitive.
In this as in all the rates of the bill, it is
fact that the highest duties are laid on the
goods worn or used by tho poorer people,
those worn or used by the rich having a
lower rate put on them. Thus in coat lin
ings. astrakhans and pushes, the present
duties range between fifty and eighty per
cent. The Mckinley duties range between
ninety-two and two hundred and twenty
five per cent, and the heaviest increase is on
the lower grades of goods.
In dress goods the present duties range
between fifty-nine and eighty per cent
surely high enough. But the Mckinley
duties range between seventy-three and one
hundred and three per cent. On all wool
dress goods the present duties range De-
tween fifty-six and seventy-three per cent !;
the Mckinley duties between seventy-tWo
and ninety-fou per cent. On black and
colored cotton velvets the present duty is
forty per cent. The Mckinley duty ranges
between fifty and eighty-one per cent. This
kind of goods is worn almost entirely by
the wage workers and their families.
In linen goods the heaviest increase of
duties is laid on the cheaper grades, such
as cheap tablecloths and handkerchief, on
which the rate is almost doubled, While,-on
the finer grades the duty is s nsooI increased.
On silk plush f fof upholstery and box and
q bum coverings the present duty is fifty
per 1.-THE Mckinley duty ranges betwassn
eighty and one hundred and thiffteen-the
duty on the lower grades being increased
two hundred per cent from the present rate.
On certain kinds of buttons the present
duty is twenty-five per cent; the cKinley
duties range from one hundred and forty
eight to two hundred and ten per cent.
or certain range of china and glass
I ware the present duties are between thirty
| Ave and sixty per cent; the Mckinley duties
range between sixty.six and two hundred
and five per cent.
On pocket knives and table cutlery the
duty on the lower grades is doubled; on the
more costly kinds the increase is much less,
though still great.
1t is useless to 60 on-the whole McKin.
ley bill is made up on this basis OF prohibi.
tive duties, especially upon the products
used by the mass of the people.
If the bill should become a law it would
not only needlessly Cypress and impoverlsh
the great mass of the people by raising
greatly the prices of all they wear, cover
and shelter themselves with and use al
tools, but it would strike a disastrous blow
at this city and at all other cities. like Bos
ton, Baltimore, Chicago,St. Louis and New
Orleans, whose people are largely engaged
in commerce and depend upon this employ.
ment for their livelihood. The people OF
this and other cities ought to hold public
meehpgs and protest against measure
which directly and wickedly strikes at theil
living.