New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-17
RUTGERS LEAGUE MEETING
ELOQUENT ADDRESS OF G. G. SHAYNE ON
IAN AMERICAN CITIZENS DUTY"


meeting yesterday afternoon al the institute. No.
70 West Fifty -hfth-st. The spacious parlors
filed TO overlooking with the members Of the
league. which now numbers nearly hundred.
and their friends Or. Jennie de la NJ. Lozier pre-
sided After the regular business a programme
81 more than usual interest followed. Miss Jean
Nesmth gave piano solo. and Mrs. Ella Joceyn
Horne sang two numbers" Dreams" by J. {.
Bartlett. and Little Boy Blue by F. Bucking-
ham Joyce. A musical lecture. with illustrations,
by Mrs Marie Merrick followed. c. c. Shayne.
president of the Merchants and Manufacturers
Board Of Trade OF New-York. then introduced
by Mrs. Lozer 10 speak upon An American CHI
zens Duty" Mr. shsyne was welcomed by APP
plause He said
MIR. President Ladies and Gentlemen: BY in
wing me to address It's members and friends upon
an honor for which ] am grateful can prove
that gratitude In no better way than by utterng
with entire frankness my honest convictions on
most important subject. and explain certain mat
ters connected herewith which under
stood by the public AT large.
ours is Government Of the people. by the people
and FOR The people. and the majority OF the people
should govern. Honest intelligent men who nave
the best interests OF the country at heart do not
always agree on question OF policy. one may
believe that free trade is the best policy. while an
other. just sincere. believes that protection is
the correct idea. Whatever our individual pref
the tribunal Of last resort and the people have in
dorsed protection the best policy. II II an Amer
ican citizens duty 10 accept the will Of the ma
The reports in last Sundays newspapers of the
great prosperity OF the country. the contentment
Of our people and the bright prospects for the
future are a sufficient Endorsement OF the policy
or protection 10 American industries. put amer
Industries were never fully protected until the
passage Of the Dingley law, which contained the
800 personal baggage clause
Prior to the enactment of the Dingley law there
value Of wearing apparel and personal effects which
tourists could bring into this country duty free
citizens (who could best afford to pay the tax TO
bring IN their trunks millions OF dollars OF project
yaCIe Of IA 0 tE mot
which protects. and yet that was the condition Oh
affairs for more than half century until the pres
ent tariff law went into effect
EFFECTS OF THE DINGLEY LAW
We are all agreed that prior to the enactment of
the present tariff law this country was in de-
porable condition. The mills and factories were
closed. thousands Of wage-earners were unem-
poyed and their families suffered for the necessa-
ries of life Merchants failed banks suffered loss;
transportation and travel decreased; securities OF
all kinds deprecated, every branch OF industry
paralyzed; confidence was lost and one OF me
chief causes of these conditions was that Anerl--
cans who had money spent II aDrcac instead Oh
spending # at home. Under such CONDITIONS no
country can pc prosperous Dut since tne Liza
ment OF the Dingey law the industrial policy OF
the result? Millions Of dollars which each year
wore spent by American tourists IN Europe nave
been spent at home The demand for nome prod
ucts has Increased: Work mas oeen les uned III .le
mills: factories have been built; transport
increased confidence has been restored, ana
verify believe that the wave OF prosperity when Is
mcnse amount of money spent al home BY Amer1-
cans who formerly spent it abroad
the clause in the Dngley law restricting the i'm
portaton OF goods in trunks without paying duty
that the Merchants and Manufacturers Board or
Trade took such an active interest, and; with me
assistance OF commercial ORGANIZATIONS thr9ughout
the United States. IL succeeded In securing me
enactment OF the clause. The members OF the
Board are among the leading merchants ana ma manu- manu-
toe Of the Government permitting class or people
who are best able to pay the 10 bring in duty
free thousands of dollars worth OF wearing aT-
parel and personal effects when the Importing mer
class Glass; Of goods Millions Of our people who
able visit Europe have been compelled 70 pay
the tax goods which they purchase through the
importing merchant. ,s
Since the passage Of the Dingley law thousands
sOnal effects abroad, rather than pay the tax nave
bought their goods at home ana an ., rs cortry
Zcns have shared in the prosperity OF the County,.
which has been materially assisted by the money
The millions Of dollars received at the Custom
House during the last two months Tor imports Is
their trunks merchants will import them In TINS
way the Government is sure TO gel me rfnehu rft
which enables them to pay the tax which supports
The Steamship companies have combatted the
Personal Baggage law. forgetting that tneE can
not make money out OF the exclusive rev VINO ar, are
LEA The III" nolcv Of The Government is such that
the American people are prosperous. they nave
money TO spend and there are thousands VINO VIII
co N ri,rone This wear who were able 70 go
before. and those who do go If they buy foreign
goods should be compelled to pay the same duty
when they bring them home In their trunks as
they were compelled TO pay before they were able
owing 10 the active part which the members OF
the Merchants and Manufactu Board Of Trade
took in securing he passage or ne $lw perSouta
baggage clause. many people really believed that
its members were actually running the customs
department ~ the Government Last spring many
ofirdre and complained Of the harsh treatment
received AZ the hands OF inspectors az the uochs
Recosqd ong |ne lq they could 70 make the
regulations for the enforcement Of the law ob-
roxious 7 decided after consultation with the
Executive Committee. to appoint a Customs CON-
mittee Of wel-known merchants Tor ne PURPOSE !
and 10 observe the manner in which the inspectors
examined the baggage and the trealmemt de-
corded to passengers. In order that recommenoa..
lions could he made 10 the Treasury Department |
for the Improvement OF the customs Sacrata-v
Howell symE TO o. me- Per 90 VISIT
ne dock fo~ the purnose referred TO. and APP
point ted the Customs Committee
securing the passage OF this equitable law. and |
we hope that after the recommendaauqns WIZ" L !
adop-ed nv the Government and more comfortable /
olaces are secured for the examination or bag.
portion Of which respects the law Of the land VIII
our efforts --..... Aoa
enioved since the Dngley law went into effect; the
merchants Of Europe. who have for years oeeh
suppv.ne Americans with goods. have become en-
lions Of us and arc doins everything IN their pow
o. through their agents here to have the law
The recent attacks made upon the organization
NJ which ! have the honor 70 be president are IN
Wealthy mon VINO ouEht 20 DC ahoNe
such things have resorted 20 means unoecomlng
their unidentified actions In going
round among storekeepers TO intimdate them,
stating that they will withdraw their patronage
from them unless they withdraw from an organiZa-
fou which has rendered such splendid service for
ne benefit of the country. and the attacks of some
II tho free-trade papers which derive their main
.ilnrort from the merchants 81 this city, using
heir columns IN the interest Of foreign merchants
10 The detriment % American merchants amusing
IN rials Of the organization because they stand UP
'or what .hey believe he rights unparalleled
N the history Of this any other country whore
mir play should be recognized by all fair-minded
men hut thr Merchants and Manufacturers Board
" Trade and commercial organizations throughout |
no country which working In conjunction with
r viii not relax their efforts In sustaining laws
which are for the best interests Of our country
IMMENSE CONVENTION NALL ~ CHICAGO