The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-08-05
Tariff Legislation.

United States, and the ln11nence ana Opln-
ons of the various sections of the country
as they have affected and been affected
by such legislation. Almost without ex-
eeption every important tariff act passed
by Congress has originated and been fos-
tered by the peoples representatives in
definite sections of the land. Tariff is
not, as is often thought, exclusively
theoretical system of any one specified di-
vision of the country, but, on the con-
trary. different bills have found sponsors
in different sections--N orth, South, East
and West.
Prior to Mr.. Dingley's bill, which
has become law, there have been
eighteen important tariff acts, beginning
even with the inception of the independ-
ent government of the country For the
first few years of national life all legisla-
ton was enacted with the sole fundament-
al object of making the wheels OF the
government run smoothly and easily. To
accomplish this end certain revenue was
necessary; and primarily for this purpose,
although the protective theory had al
ready been advanced by Fisher Ames and
his disciples. the first tariff act was pass
ed i'll l7S9. This act was based on tine
per cent. import duty which the confed-
Grafton had unsuccessfuily tried to inn
pose. In general the rate of duty impos
ed by this act was per cent. ad valorem
But luXuries We're subject to higher rates.
the highest being per cent. on carriages,
The principle of protection was involved
in certain specific duties on nails and
other iron manufactures, glass, cordage
and hemp, which were then among the
incipient American productions. Prof
T. w. Taussig thinks it not unlikely that
a concession to protective demands was
made by those who had at heart the sue
cess of the new government, in order to
secure the passage of the indispensable
revenue act.
For nearly twenty years after the act OF
1889 the new government was engaged III
settling too many serious questions to
take any important steps regarding tariff
legislation. During this period, however,
the protective principle had grown slow
" and quietly, but steadily. AS early as
1892 Alexander Hamilton, the greatest
and most able tinancier the infant govern
ment had developed, wrote a document
StipbSls fsiNC tdtluS pIOleCliOd W -AihCii-
can industries. In 1908 trouble began be-
tween the United States on the one hand
and England and France on the other.
y great advance in native industries was
necessitated by the embargo, 1907, and
the non-intercourse act, 1909 Exchange
was stopped and great impetus was
given to industries of which the products
had previously been imported. Cotton
goods, woolens, glass, pottery and iron
articles We're manufactured in America.
In lS15 an era of peace set in, with
the end of the war of 1872. Almost i'm
mediately Congress turned its attention
70 the tariff. The promoters OF the young
industries were clam0rous for high pro-
tective tariff. Calhoun, the great South
elner was this time the most ardent de
fender OF protection. In 1916 the second
important tariff act was passed; and this
act marks the beginning of vigorous pro-
tectiye policy. Textile fabrics were at
the time in the greatest danger and ac-
tordingly they were protected by duty
If . per cent, to be reduced IN three
years to 20 per cent. which was the aver
age rate Of duty imposed by this act.
For eight years after the second tariff
act was passed various attempts We're
Hl'.ie III ''uD 10 increase the 5ate Oh ou1y
ol III - IN loI9 occurred d business
4'"I ,. ~ ''ii "I'i'H recovery was veg SLOW
~ - d ne" aim 1ct vas passed. ull''er
yie eiiel :'iSliiP Vi LAY tHe oIlSih"tol Oh
liie -1illeiicdn system y, ne 7ouJh VIgol
oa.SiS otP9 ". inns olH' VINE lile West-
q q an" lIuI'le statues cHdhlpi0heu H.
Ne" E"9idnu was NlVlae'' All outles
"eie lllcIcase''' tllose Oh coltoli ana WOOL
I'll sVopS going up 10 % 10 per cent
tl"' ~ piotectlo }e proved 'oVahtase-
~ I"i Ille VI 1'ie n"'loli N"e
~ II! .5, i'0l ln"l io"i Se'le i'1ei a
On plli s"s pSSeT'i l'lsin ssll5
l,loie 'iIe late u GUY: ne act Vi 100
vas ploiiiol5'. oS zig lolloNels " 9"chson'
w. Tlaieu ~ hll lii9 teslioii VI llsiI
e. 'n0 10y ~ III N - lli" mo.
cson INC Piou0Ntiol eoh III "pui'' no
uaIe ~ 'Gte loi II. ING 'ooutn Vote',
''llsu H. otl 'iioe iil9ie 'ile h1e'lie all(1
};1, 'e"'es ueSi'ie1 'lie queStlon 'n''
49, nv "i'I "s'' t,'Sseu' ne general a'' va
o1eii ~ ave " u"'S ili1lose,' W tnls OIL
""3 ~ l10i Uen'' ooiens' however were
~ NC 9e'oJe y. ~ d late " - per cent. a!teI
my - 81 I"ip Specli l uutles were lih-
PoseU put tiie late oi ~ per ce1t' ao va
loleIn vas 0ioSeis lollo"eu. LUIS dct IS
-,. W 40 oeiiiS INC liie' ~ WHICH eiie