The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-14

imported material consumed therein.
During the last fiscal rear there WIS
refunded TO exporters OF manufactured
produces In whole or in part from i'm
ported dutiable material approximately
Sc, 060, 900. The refund OF duty averages
5 per cent. of the value of the exported
merchandise. This drawback provision,
therefore, justifies the sale abroad Of
1920, DOC, 900 worth Of American manu-
featured merchandise 5 per oen beow
the domestic price Il similar articles.
Both these provisions Of the Dinghy
tariff law were enacted for the ayowed
and sole purpose Of enabling the Amer
lean employer OF labor TO put his pro
duct on the foreign market al reduced
prices. In this way only is he able
successfully TO compete with rivals
who always have the benefit Of cheap
labor and frequently OF nondut.ab.s
and untaxed material.
The articles on which drawbacks are
allowed are numerous and varied. Last
veal dra wbackS were allowed on =
articles in which dutiable iron or Steel
was consumed, 9 articles in which duEi-
able imported lead ore or lead balloon
was Incorporated, 3 articles in which
dutiable tin plate form q part, 9 articles
in which dutiable sugar Or molasses
vas used. II different articles in which
imported dutiabie alcohol was oSed
several in which imported dutiabie
hides or leather was used. and no end
OF articles in which dutiable import'a
wool was used. Drawbacks were al
lowed on over 1870 manufactured ar
ticles, in the production Of which 81
different kinds Of du.iable imported
materials were consumed.
The policy of allowing drawbacks.
upon the expectation of manufacturers.
into which dutiable raw material his
entered is in strict harmony with the
principle Of protection The protective
principle avowedly and in fact gives
the American producer IN advantage
within the American market, but no
economic policy can give the American
producer an advantage over his for
eign competitor in the foreign market.
The republican party from b timeI
OF it's birth until now has protected
the 1aborer who produces for the Amer
icarf market in every way possible for
mari % conceive. Republican legisla-l
ton excludes Chinese labor primarily
because the Chinaman refuses to live
the American standard h cooI.e'
labOrer is unpopular, largely becauS9
Of his, inexpensive habits He neither
feeds himself, clothes himself, nor
houses his family as do Americans
on a lower plane, he can OF
course afford 10 work cheaper than
Americans, and his presence is a men,
ace, not 50 much to American morals
to American labor. To the extent
that he secures his pro rata share OF
American wages and fails tOecOntribute
propOrtiOnately' 10 the consHmptlVe
capacity Ut the country his presence IS
undesirable. The republican party
therefore says to him: Unless yOuI
consent to be an American consumer
YOU shall aUC be an AmericareproduceT.
You must be an American liz both res
poets or II neither.
Republican laws against contract
labor are of the same class But fCrl
these lavB manufacturers would col
abroad, hire labOrerS at the European.
scale of ages, and bring than TO thlsl
cOuntry under contract to work below
the American scale. This was CnGel
the practice TO- the prejudice not 3n'yj
Of labor bur the prejudice Of the An2r-l
lean farmeg" as well. Low wa Ps compel
poor livinEx and poor living harms lhel
anf the manufacturer also, fOrl
It restricts tiia c~onsumptive capacity Of
the country.
The republican party gives tire Amer-I
.can manufacturer for the foreign mari
ket, however, every possible advant2gel
except that of cheap labor: Nc lawI
protecG the American producer inl
he foreig market, hence THE exported
the product of American Labor isl
given the cheapest possible raw maj
terial. If IT be said that thdS is to thel
of the exporter, [ reply thatl
aids aLafe as much those whom thel
exporter employs, while those who sup-i
,ly the ordinary needs of these enptoy-
I'd artisa ls< ara benefited .ttsso- 4
We exported during the last fiscali
approximately $3.50, 100000 of
manufactured products exclusive OF
prepared and partially prepared foods.
IF this total probably $z0,G0o, 900 was
bonded smeltaries and fact
cries. ard m1 duty was collected upon
he material consumed On approXi-Y
nately Sf2v, GOO. 900 a drawback OIL
about ) per cent was recovered. IhusI
t will De seen that nearly s5 per cent
If our exported manufactures leave
his c,anty costing the exporter lessI
nan corresponding articles. which BE
,lace=: un the American market.
Very frequently the drawback thust
though small. has made pcssi-l
Die the expectation Of American pro-
1ucts5 To what extent our export
in manufactures is DEPENDENT
On this wise provision Of law u1dert
which American labor, while workingl
&c 1eraIfy for Americans, is enabled tol
perform some service for other coun-
-ries, no one can tell. | am con sincedl
much more. can be accomplished
siong this line by liberaliZing our
laws. This phase Of thel
question. however, l will not discuss
&c this time. |
SunrOco CcnSSnr sStm1taf