Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-20

1T is no less n narrow ana shOtt-Slsnteu
view that supposes that removal of the
tariff duties on such necessaries OF In
dustry VIII infict any real loss upon those
who produce them In our own country.
The enlargement Of markets for our pro-
ducts in other countries the Increase In
the Internal commerce and In the carry
ing trade of our own country viii insure
a growing home market for all these
things that will quickly outstrip anything
they could have under the protective sys-
TEN.
IRON-ORE AND COAL.
Iron and coal are the basis Of modern
Industry. The abundance and cheapness
Of their supply offers VA In many lines
OF production the manufacturing SUI
premacy of the world. While the mines
Of other countries are becoming exhausted
and the cost Of mining In consequence
ia increasing. we are constantly discover
Ing and developing new sources OF sup
ply. The discovery Of the immense oeds
OF Bessemer ores In the lake region and
Of foundry ores In several OF the southern
States. their convenience for transporta-
tion. and for the assemblage Of materials,
the use o. the steam shovel IN mining
all these have so cheapened the cost OF
producing pig-iron and steel as TO take
away all possibility and danger OF for-
eign competition in almost every part
OF the country. Not less rapid has been
the growth OF our coal production. The
coal area OF the United States, as stated
by Mr.. Seward, I'm the Coal Trade for
1898. is estimated at $4,000 square miles,
Of which l2OG0O can be comfortably work
ed al present.
"This coal are is over three times larger
than that OF the rest Of the world conf
bined The existing duty Of 20 cents a
f,f fftFFf nNf
cannot be justified either as a protective
or 4 revenue duty. The importatlons into
this country are too small 10 add mate
rally to our revenue while no one con-
tends that the cost OF mining Il higher
I'm the United States than in the countries
that might seek our market. IL could
never have been intended that consu-
tuition which establishes perfect freedom
OF internal trade among the states should
countenance laws that hold one stcnlon
Of the Union, however remote, triOu-
tsrv To other sections for the supplies
Of those necessary materials whose loca-
ton is ordained by natural law and not
ov human choice.
I'm adjusting duties upon what
NAV be called the finished products we
have tried 10 impose such rates as VIII not
destroy or distress any OF our hoine-lh-
dustrics on the one hand. nor on the
ofner secure 10 lilrll an 'bt'i Nf'lF' i'''
noDoly OF the home market
1T IS neither necessary nor practicable
I'm this report 10 specify the particular
reductions we have made upon the long
llet Of articles that still remain on the
dutlable list. The tables which have been
pr.pared for the use Of members Of the
| House give full and minute Information
as TO these changes. A few only OF the
most important need be- here enumerated.
In the earthenWare schedule we nave
made substantial reductions. still leaV-
| inc rates as high as were deemed neccs-
| sarv I'm the war-tariff. In common win
| dow-glass. whore close combinations have
| kept up the prices 10 consumers under
n scale OF duties averaging more than 100
per cent. we have made a reduction or
| about one half.
IRON AND STEEL.
In the iron and steel schedules. begin
| ming with free ore and a duty Of Il -
| per cent ON pig-irOn, We have reporter
| a scale Of duties considerably below those
of The existing law. graduated according
| to tn" degree of manufacture Whlch
! should bring benefit to the consumer
| without calling for any halt In the I'M
uerial progress Of that great industry in
| our country The duty upon steel-rails
| has been put at y per centum, which,
according to the reports of our Depart
ment Of Labor quite compensates for all
| difference in the cost OF production ~
| this country and abroad.
There seems 10 b. an authentic report
that the pool Of American rail-makers
which. under the shelter Of the presen
duty Of sl34 per ton, has kept up prices
| 10 the American consumer far beyond IN
| cost OF production and legitimate profits
has been reorganized to continue the reGu
~ "a
| ket rates As all shippers. and especially
| I'm cheapening the cost of transportation
| American farmers, are vitality intereste
| rates Of duty upon steel rails should be al
| fusted 50 as TO protect them from mono
| poly-prices and monopoly combinations
Upon tn-plate the duty has been gauge'
| with reference to the revenue 1t VIII brlNi
| into the treasury and the difference b
tween this duty and that upon the black
plate has been lessened with view T.
discourage what may not uuJustly %
called the bogus industry of maxim
American tln-plate by the mere dippin
In this country Of the imported black
plate.
SUGAR AND TOBACCO.
"T7 tho sugar-schedule We should hay
preferred TO wipe out at single legisla
tive stroke the existing bounty system
| We b. ltPNe " 10 Dc contrary u lu' Sp4l
OF our institutions, and can conceive OF II
| circumstances under which we shout
have advocated or approved its introduC
ton into our laws. We have found II -
isting there. as We find it virtually exist
ing in every other schedule OF the tarin
! and dealing with 1t in this more open an
offensive form as we have dealt Wit
other schedules where large property III
fercsts are at stake we have reported
provision for it's repeal by such stages a
| shall gradually obliterate It from ou
laws. while permitting those who hav
| invested large means under the eNpectd
tion OF its continuance reasonable time
which they may prepare to take thei
! stand with the other Industries or th
country
The duties upon imported tobacco-lea
suitable for cigar-wrapper-. which wer
enormously advanced By the act Of lSs
have been placed at such figures as, aftt
careful investigation. were deemed Ike!
10 produce most revenue TO the treasury
but this object has alone decided the rates
their amount Is SO high that no domestl
producer need claim that there is ne
abundant protection and TO spare for hi
product in them
FOR THE FARMERS.
| "Of the staple agricultural prOductS, IN
cludins meats and provisions, we ar
such large exporters. and must continu
10 be such large exporters that any du
ties uDon them are useless for protectio
and fruitless for revenue. and general
can only be- imposed for the purpose q
deuding the farmers into the belief tha
they axe receiving some considfratio
and benefit under the tariff. althOug
the prices of their products are fixed /
the worlds market In competition wit
like products produced by the cheapes
labor of the world. For the producer
of our great export staples, which. havin
| fully supplied the home market, mus
overflow and seek larger purchasers else
where. the only effect Of a protectiy
tariff Is to take away from them fToI
one fourth TO one half of the product
for which they could exchange their SUI
plus in the open market, should the
venture to buy in the market wheI
they are obliged TO sell, or to comp'
them 10 give a like portion Of the avail
| of their labor. when turned into monel
| by increasing the cost of what the
buy I'm the home market. Recognizin
that the American farmer has bee
through many years the patient Victii
OF the protective system; that he ha
been induced to support IL under tf
delusive promise that by immense preser
sacrifices ne was buying for himself
home market, and that this promise
home market is farther from him L
dav than ever before, We have aime