Year: 1866

1t is hard for hand labor to compete with


machine labor, and to the former some ad-


vantage should be given. Without this great


establishments crush out and destroy the


lesser OIL es, as great fish are said to swallow


up small ones. A combination of capital


and machinery, if put on equality in the tax
laws with muscle, soon wear it out and drive


its owner from the market There is not q
village in all the land whose mechanics do


not feel how inexorably true this rule is. The
great manufactures in the East play havoc


with the mechanic shops of the West And


when this Is done our workmen have not the
advantage OF resorting othe great workshops
and manufactures for employment, as the
mechanic of the East may. Our estern-
mechanics when crushed out by the competi-
ton resulting from a combination of capital
and machinery must change their pursuits and
seek in some field new to them support for
themselves and their families.


| We extend to the eastern manufacturer
protection against the manufactures of the
Old World through our tariff laws. OF this
do not complain; but at the same time,
must insist that our internal revenue laws
shall be SO framed as to protect, in some de-
gree, the mechanics and small manufacturers
of this country against the encroachments of
those great establishments which have grown
up under the fostering care of our tariff laws
1t is true that the protection which the eastern
manufacturer enjoys under our tariff laws
would extend the same advantage to him in
any other part Of the United States; but in
the West our manufacturing interests are in
their infancy, and therefore it is that | say
the tariff laws protect and foster the eastern
manufacturers. In the course of time hope
the West, by the development of nj anufac
turing establishments, will share equally with
nth - tha al
vantages springing from the tariff laws of the
Government: and as one means looking to
this end, desire the adoption of this amend.
ment as protection TO those who are to con-
stltute our western manufacturers in the ftl-
ture.


The West must resort to manufacturing
Everything used and consumed in the West
ought to be there manufactured While it is
the greatest food producing region in the
world, it should be one Of the greatest manu-
featuring sections also. Cheap food and the
comparatively low price of raw material are
advantages which will some day tell in favor
of the West. But to reach that day we must
take present care of our workmen and me-
ehancs.


The amendment which have offered does
not 60 as far and accomplish as much as |
should like, but it seems to be the best that
can he done at this time, and will afford some
measure of relief. When | cannot get all |
want 1t would not be wise to refuse part.


Mr.. Morrill,. hope this amendment will
not be adopted. There were in 1854 above
sixty three thousand manufacturers in the
country who were taxed for licenses. | sup
pose that at least one half of that number
manufactured not less than $4,000. There
fore, if the amendment proposed by the gen
tleman should be carried, it would create q
large deficiency IN the revenue. 1t is giving
an absolute bonus TO every manufacturer
whose annual products exceed 81 Wtl. They
all sell in the same market, and if not sub.
jected to the same tax those who are excepted
have the advantage in the market ] am very
well content living in New England as do,
where of course We shall receive the benefits
of the amendment proposed by the gentleman
from Iowa in a much larger degree than those
who reside in his own region. But think it
Is more than we ought TO concede at the pres
ent time. 1t would be making too large a re-
duction of the revenue. | do not see why
we should pay these men. for it is nothing
more than paying them bonus of twenty
dollars out of the Treasury. Therefore hope
the amendment will be rejected.


The Chairman. Debate is exhausted on
the amendment.


| Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa. move to amend
the amendment by striking out the last word
The argument ofthe chairman of the commit
tee, that this is going to greatly reduce the rev.
enue of the Government, is an entire fallacy.
lfyou allow the exemption Of 81 900 to every
manufacturer in the United States it only
amounts TO about three million dollars. But
this proposition Is to allow it only to mama
facturers whose products do not exceed in
value the sum of $1,000 per annum. There
| fore it will not exceed 81, 600, 900. But that.
the gentleman says, is bonus to the small
manufacturers Sir, that objection was not
thought fwhen the committee voted in favor
of retaining in the bill the section which al
| lows drawback of five cents pound on all
| exported cotton goods, which is bonus to
| the great manufacturers of the country. those
who are receiving protection under the tariff
! laws In addition to that of the drawback of
/ five cents a pound on cotton goods exported,
taking out OF the Treasury, as was shown at
the time by my colleague, Mr.. Allison who
| is a member of the Committee of WAYS and
Means, more than three times the amount of
money which this amendment would do in the
way of reducing the aggregate amount of tax
to be derived from the bill as reported BY the
| committee.


| Now, sir, think it is time for US to estab-
lish the principle that our laboring men, our
small manufacturers, shall be relieved from





point beyond that which is required for the
support of themselves and their families.
| After you have passed the limit of $4,000
provided for by myamendment, then let your
manufacturers be called upon But send not
the tax x-gatherer into all your workshops
where no machines are found, where only
hand labor is performed. Let them have
this protection. 1t is nothing but equal, fair,
and just and | hope the committee will en-
dorse it.


The question was taken on the amendment
offered by Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, and it was
agreed to.


| Again in the interests of the farmers Mr..
Wilson secured the adoption of another
amendment.


Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa. now move to strike
ont ''reapers, mowers, and threshing ma
chimes


| see that the object which aimed at is
partially accomplished by the provision on
page 1876, where the committee place in the
free list "plows, cultivators, harrows, straw
and hay cutters, planters, seed drills, horse
rakes, and winnowing mills Now, / can
see no greater propriety in exempting these
articles from the tax imposed by the bill than
those which propose to strike out in the
paragraph under consideration. 1t is simply
relief to the great food-producing portion
of our population, the agriculturists, and that


is the sole object have in offering the amend
ment. There is no class Of our people so
poorly remunerated for the amount of capi.
tai and labor invested in their pursuit as the
agriculturists; and it is for the purpose of
granting them the partial relief that may be
derived from the removal of this tax that |