The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-01
protective poHcy-

Ohio. town twenty miles west oil
ClGvcIond, in April, 1869, go that he is
now in hiq Lwenty-fourth year. Till he
was fourteen he went to tho village
school, then after m inLerregnum Of
two yrara, divided between leisuro'apd
work in his fathers store. he entered
tho preparatory department OF 0berlin,
and three years later entered 0berlin
college, from which he was graduated
last June. In college he especially dis.
tinguished himself in literature and
oratory, having been selected by his
classmates OIL several occasions 10 rep
resent them in oratoriCal contests and
public debates. His greatest triumph
is, Of course, this latest one-thc capture
off prize eagerly sought by the brightest
students in the principal American coll
leges and universities. The first prize
essay is entitled "Has tho New Tariff
Proved Renefcinl?"
Mr.. Damon discusses at great length
the theory OF tariff and defines ably the
terms Of "froe trade" and protection"
He then goes into an extended treat
ment OF the various phases OF the tariff,
its relation to industries and labor and
proceeds to show the benefits OF the
Mckinley bill as follows:
THE N'KINLEY BILL.
In the application OF the general
principle OF protection to the several
provisions OF the Mckinley bill, we
must bear in mind that q protective
tariff, satisfactory in most respects, al
ready existed. Our main work, there
fore, will be TO criticlse the changes
authorized by this measure.
The distinguishing features Of the
Mckinley bill may be grouped under
seven heads: (ll an increase in certain
duties (3) a reduction in others; (3) an
extension OF the free-llst; (4) provision
for drawbacks; (5) system OF bountiea;
(6) reciprocity clause, and ~ certain
changes in the internal revenue regu-
lations.
Under the first division the changes
been those in the duties upon wool and
tin.
In tho year 1890 We imported wool
and manufactures OF wool to the value
of $7l.S4B.5l about per cent OF all
imports. Only two other classes oil i'm
ports exceeded this sum in value-su-
gar and coffee, neither OF which falls
in the palo OF protective operations.
Now, why should wo import oil these
goods? You have heard it said
that tho finest grades Of woods cannot
be raised in tho United States. Perhaps
not in New York, or Ohio, or Michigan;
but the fact needs TO be pretty carefully
demonstrated before We conclude that
nowhere in our vast country, with its
great variety OF soils and climates, can
ns tino wool be grown rs chcnply as any
where in the world. 1 doubt Ii such
proof is as vet forthcoming. How
ever, the Mckinley bill mado worry little
change upon the higher grades Of un-
manufactured WOOL so that the most
that can be- charged against it hero is
negative attitude. On the very cheap
grades OF wool, valued at - cents u
pound lmore or lcss), tho duty was
nearly doubled. But these certainly
cannot include the fine grades that caa'
not be raised in this country.
The rates on wooden goods weIc ma.
terially raised. No one, however, can
show why our wooden fabrics should
not DO manufactured at home. The
critic can only recite tho general free
trade argument, applicable to the great
ar part Of our industries, that our SUI
poriorityis lesa pronounced in this fold
than in agriculture.
in the case OF tin plate, similar con-
alterations might be urged. The bulk
OF such plato is steel, which We can as
we'll prepare Mt home as to import it,
while the timing Is also process for
which we arc entirely competent.
Tho tariff on the ore lcassilerlte) and
on pig tin will not go into elect until
July /, 1893; and il, after two years
tiial, the total output has not reached
5,OO6tons, the duty will be discontinued
Such M addition to the comparatively
limited tin supply OF the wcrld may be
confidently expected 10 reduce its price.
Tho Temescal mines in California are
already on paying basis, in spite OF
she high running expenses and numer-
ous inconvenience that will constantly
decrease. The orc is moro than twice
az rich as that of the Cornwall mines in
England, and tin is now being sent to
market at tho rate OF 200 tons per year.
When tho tariff COOS into effect, we may
expect our Dakota brethren to wheel
into line, while every land owner in tho
country will probably dig dcop iuto his
fertile acres to SEQ il he cannot R1t 4
little moro "tin." Ii the yield doas not
reach the required amount, thcn 30
shall simply have the Inconvenience OF
living two years undor IN essentially
revenue tariff. So Ii the provision is
successful as an industrial Stimulus. We