The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-04
CORBINs SCHEME.

| NVhDsAS
Senator Chandler introduced peculia
bill in the Senate the other day, in be
half of Austin Corbin and his associates
which, in the humble estimation of Mr.
Corbin, would make millions for tha
gentleman, If Uncle Sam can only b,
persuaded to grant him the extraordin
airy privileges he so modestly asks foI
through New Hampshire's senior Sen
ator.
The bill provides for the establish
lnent of free port at Fort Pond Bay OF
elsewhere in the waters of Long Island
Sound, and for the maintenance and
operation of factories within the port by
Austin Corbin and his associates of the
Long Island Railroad Company.
The New York Herald in explaining
he bfiE makes the rnistuke of saving
that 'its passage would make Mr. Corbin
the only man living who could bring
into this country all kinds of raw ma
terials absolutely free of duty and man
ufacture them on his own premises
ana export them on his own ships
to other ports throughout the world.
Ii this result really is hoped for by Mr..
Chandler and Mr.. Corbin, the effect NAV
be imagined upon the great mapufac-
turers of New York, New England, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Mr..
Corbin's scheme, 80 far as known, does
aot make any provision for them.
they will continue to pay such duties
ON raw material not unlike that
IT Hamburg in many respects.
while Mr.. Corbin would thus be
able to dominate an immense amount
of the export trade of such American
manufactures as he might engage in.
vet so far us the domestic market is con-
cerncd he would have no advantage
over other manufacturers. He might
3ring into his free port 81 900, 900 worth
OF foreign wool without paying a cent
OF duty thereon, and after handling it
in his mills export Ii to foreign markets.
Yet he could not send dollars worth
beyond the confines of the free port into
the American market unless the regular
tariff were paid"
The Herald is wrong, for, SO far as the
right to import all kinds of raw material
Tree for manufacture for purposes of
export, the Mckinley bill grants this
permission virtually without duty.
Section 20 Of the Mckinley bill pro.
yides:
THAT where imported materials on
which duties have been paid are used in
the manufacture of articles manufac-
tured or produced in the United States
there shall be allowed on the expectation
of such articles drawback equal in
amount to duties paid on the materials
used, less one per centum Of such duties"
Thus, under the Mckinley bill, and
also under the Wilson bill as il stands
today as well, Mr.. Corbin can secure
all he asks for so far as free raw mate.
rial to be used in goods for export.
This provision has been in force since
the passage of the Mckinley bill and if
The NEWS is not seriously mistaken, not
single manufacturer has cared to take
advantage of it.
Mr.. Corbin while he is reticent in his |
plan admits that such free port RS he |
hopes to establish would be not unlike |
tnat OF Hamburg in many respects.
La connection with this plan are sew
eral other features of importance. The
free port, If established, will be open for
all vessels without the payment of ton.
mage dues, entrance and clearance fees
and harbor masters fees. Within IL
merchandise may be transhipped from
one vessel to another, or entered for i'm
mediate admission or warehoused.
Perhaps Mr.. Corbn really imagines
That Uncle Sam has given up legislating
Tor the VIII le people and Is now running
the Government for the benefit of Aus
TIN Corbin et ais. but such priyil-
eyes as those just quoted are too
ridiculous for serious consideration.
Uncle Sam hasn't any immediate need
OF free ports, and when he does have
they will not be granted 10 boom any
proposed steamship line owned by specu-
lators, the establishments OF which de-