The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-06

rleint has ever hecn made about our
revenue tariffs: but there Inns been no
end OF controversy concerning protccuve
duties The long list OF dutiahle articles
in the Mckinley, Wilson and DlnEley
bills. including cotton, iron. wool, chen,i-
calls, oils. glass, earthenwnro, paper silk,
tobacco, wood, metals ana nuinberless
sundries uncnumerated. would make It
appear that the United states Is never
to attain that independent stage In Its
development when Its manufacturing
classes can produce anything OF Them
selves: but that Its industries must needs
have ms Infants. continual nourishment
from the treasury OF the government
Since the support Of tho protective III
6ustries Is derived from the whole people
ana is n tax on all for the beneftt OF
a few, II Is natural that demand should
be constantly made for the reason of
the creation, continuance and increh6e,
OF numerous duties.
Many pleas. other than that of infant
industries, will be found to have been
offered in vindicaton OF our long history
or tariff legislation. In brief that his
tory has been as follows: a.
Previous to 1916 only tariffs for reve-$
! nue.; In this year tho system OF protec-5
tive legislation was begun. and was inain-
tnined until 1872 though no high duties
| were laid until 1924. Steady increase fol-
lowed from this last date until, IN 1852
the imports had reached the high f,s-
ure OF an average rate of SO per cent, a
gradual reduction Of lilo per cent II,
every six months was then effected by
the Compromise Act Of 1888 which was to
continue until 1872; at which time the
uniform rate of 90 per cent. was reached
on all articles. The next four years Wit
messed the strong application of protec-
ton again; but in 1Si6 an era OF very
moderate duties began. which was fol-
lowed IN 1857 BY still further reductions.
making the fourteen years preceding the
Civil War approximate closely an interval
OF free trade. IN 1861, however, the rates
of 1916 were restored, with higher duties
stll on certain imports. and in the years
1S62-64 the average rate was Increased
to the high figures of 81 per cent and
Al per cent, respectively These excess
swe tariffs continued until 1872. when
by reason Of the surplus revenue IN the
/ United States treasury, n horizontal re-
auction Of 10 per cent. on all imports was
gained. In 1876, however, this law being
repealed, the same high duties were re-
stored. and these form the basis OF our
| present system. The Mckinley bill Of
1890, and the Dingley bill of 1897 have
| fully offset all reforms made by the laws
! Of 1883 and 1884,.
] That the tariffs before 1905 were laid
! for revenue rather than for protection is
revealed by the fact that exportatlon,
commerce and agriculture formed the
business interests of this country at that
time, and not manufacturing. For sew
!, eral years these occupations had proved
more profitable than the establishment Of
| manufactures, by reason Of the French
! and English wars, which had sustained
at high figure the prices on all asri-
cultural products At least twenty years
after the Revolutionary War. the fathers
of our republic had not realized the inns
portance OF manufactures and the taxes
they imposed were mainly for the
strengthening Of the newly founded gov
ernment and not for the nourishment of
Infant factories ,sla4
The early growth OF American manu-.
fnctures took place In the restrictive PEE
Rod OF seven years, following 1908. when
the Berlin and Milan DEGREES of Napoleon.
the Non-intercourse Act of 1900. the War
| Of 1872 and the Embargo Act Of Jeffer-,
| son, imposed such unusual limitations
upon the worlds trade and commerce. In
| these years we had to live within our-y
| selves, and numerous manufactures,
! springng up found solid footing In sup
plying the home market The iron, cot