Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-12-08

On live animals the proposed duty is ~
per cent ad valorem. Under the existing
law, horses are $50 a head; 80 per cent if
valued at $50 or over. Cattle more than
one year old, SO per head; one year or
less, - per head. Hogs, S1.j0 per head.
Sheep, one year old or more, S1.j0 per
head; less than one year old, - cents
per head
A comparison of the above rates will
show that the foundations of Nermont's
prosperity are attacked at every point by
the tariff reformers. Her leading industry
is agriculture, and there is not an article
of farm products upon which the duty is
not either very largely reduced or wiped
out entirely. Had this bill been framed
10y committee Of the Dominion parlia-
ment, its rates could hardly have been ar
ranged so well to conserve the interest of
the Canadian farmer or more decisively to
the disadvantage of the Vermont farmer.
In other schedules a sharp discrimination
against Vermont products is also made.
Nermonts minerals, in particular. are
placed at the mercy of foreign competition
In this section of Vermont, disaster to an
important industry turks in the proposed
rate OF duty on imported granite. Scotch
granite, even under existing duties, has
been a close competitor with the American.
The pay Of a granite-Cutter in Scotland
for a week is hardly greater than the daily
wages OF his brother in America. Granite
is brought from Scotland as ballast, and
the freight is merely nominal. Ii prob
ably costs less 10 land foreign granite at
any Of the leading seaport towns OF the
United States than TO freight il from any
of the inland American Quarres. Granite
in the rough is on the free list in the bill
proposed by Chairman Wilson. The eX-
istng duty of 40 per cent on dressed gran
lite is reduced to 20 per cent. The bare
statement OF these simple facts and consd-
eratiOns is enough TO show that the new
tariff bill levels death blow To one of the
most important branches of Vermont in
dustry. a branch which, under the fostering
care OF tariffs enacted under Republican
administrations, is now in mid career OF a
marvellous development. The tariff re-
former has dealt somewhat more leniently
with marble and slate. Granite seems To
be the object OF his special malevolence.
In this connection the casual observer
might raise the query, why is a large duty
on marble in the rough retained. while
granite in the same condition is sent TO the
free list?
Lumber is another article in the produc-
q
an active competitor. Here again the Dem
ocratic tariff reformer discriminates in IA
yor of the Canuck against the Yankee.
All the old duties in this branch OF indus
try are aunuled, and lumber. including
clapbOards. shingles, railway ties, etc. etc,
all the peculiar products Of Vermont for
ests, are placed in the free list. The lum-
herman is a prospective companion in mis-
cry OF the farmer the quarryman and the
manufacturer
Disaster TO all her material interests must
inevitably result TO Vermont if the Wilson
report, or anything similar to it, ultimately
becomes law. Had Nermont's old-time
Republicanism ever shown any signs of
waning, this attack upon her interests
would suffice to reinspire her devotion to
Republican principles. In the next con-
tlict with organized Democracy, this state
will lead the attack with a vigor and unan-
unity that will eclipse any OF her former
achievements in the way Of political war
fare.