Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-22
Tho pingley nllI pu,y on alae..


Tho DingIey Bill Duty on Hides.
In connection with the duty on i'm
ported hides aud skins proposed by the
Dingley bill, the New York World
uneartbs an interesting letter written
by the late James G. Blaine to William
Mckinley, at the time the Mckinley
bill was under consideration. Mr..
Blaine had keen appreciation of the
real situation, as was evidenced by his
letter, which was as follows:
Washington, April 10. 1880. Dear
Mr.. Mckinley: 1t is great mistake
to take hides from the free list, where
thsy have been for so many years. 1t
Americans with whom We are trying
to enlarge our trade. II will benefit
the farmer by adding 8 to s per cent
TO the price Of his children's Shoes 1t
will yield profit to the butcher only
the last man that needs it. The
movement is injudicious from begin
ming to end-in every form and phase.
Pray stop it before it sees light. Such
movements as this for protection will
project tina Republican party into
speedy retirement Yours hastily,
James G. Blaine.
Hon. William Mckinley, Chairman
Ways and Means.
dear Mr.. Mckinley was not par
ticulsrly impressed with Mr.. Blaine's
views, however, and wanted TO retain
tho tax on hides In his bill, but the
New England Senators and Congress-
men revolted and threatened to defeat
the entire bill unless their wishes were
. complied with. So hides and skins
were restored to the free list.
Now New England is in state OF
alarm ngain over the proposition for
the taxation Of hides and skins con-
tanned in the Dingley bill, but it hap
/ pens that at this time the father Of
the measure, Mr.. Dingley, is New
England representative, from the State
of Maine. In 1890 he agreed with Mr..
Blaine as to the inexpediency OF tax
on hides, and expressed himself in the
following terms:
Hides are by-product and duty
would not increase the production.
The price of hides here are made
by conditions prevailing in our own
country, and not elsewhere.
"Thore are goatskins aid large
number OF other skins used for the
purpose OF tanning in this country
which we do not produce here, and
which are all imported.
~ 1.-The heavy hides imported, except
few kinds, come largely from South
America, and are used in making
fbar far It.,
hides. with our cheap tanning ma
terials, We can reach, to some extent,
the foreign markets.
lowing to the conditions of this
Industry there can be noiadvautage to
the farmer growing out of the duty on
hides, and it would deprive US of ex-
port trade. 1t would transfer the
business to Canada, where bounty
is paid ON the export of leathsr."
New England protests. however, are
likely to be weakened by their incon,
sistency. That section of the country
is hot bed Of seifish protection in
forests. 1t demands protection or
ever, thing but the raw materials o.
5 manufacture. Now tho cattle raissri
of the West are insisting upon pro
tectire duty on hides. actuated soel,
by the New England idea of pro
lection that may put money in thei
pockets.
But, aside from all selfish interests
the expansion of trade in leather manu-
features since hides were put on tn
free list, in 1871, effectually overcome
all arguments in favor OF making then
dutiable again. In 1886 the total valu,
of American leather exported was abou
81, 600. Ten years later the tota
value of our lethaer exports amounte
to nearly $4,000, 900. Within th
same period of ten years the value G
American-mads boots and shoes, har
ness and other manufactures OF leatbe
had increased from about 81, 800. 900 t
50, 500, 600. In fine, our exports {
leather and of manufactured leathe
goods have been growing, with fire
hides as basis, at tho rate OF abuu
100 per cent every ten years. At th
same time the United States has itse
become large exporter of certai
glasses of raw hides aad skins. |
1886 the total value of our exports {
hides was but 1878, 925. For the yet
1885 they ware valued at 50, $40, 1928.
Here in Wilmington We have pal
ticulpr interest in this matter, as
tax on skins, such as is proposed /
tue Dingley bill, would seriously aife
the operations of our large moroct
manufacturing concerns. We want nor
Of our industrial establishments ruin,
by tariff taxation. Free raw materia
are the life of our manufacturing i
terestH, aud taxes will cripple ther
And il these restrictive taxes ara aga
imposed there is no doubt they W
prove protection that, as Blaine b
fore predicted, Twill protect the r
publican party into speedy retIr
ment.
The Philadelphia Evening Telegra,
is Republican paper, but it has slig
patience with McKinley's Information
Bimstallic Commission. 1t lesignat
that most peculiar concern as IAN i