H. OF R.] Tariff Bill. [MARCH 25, 1828 $6,556,738, of which I compute 2-5ths to be wool, of the on the English prices above the English wool; which is, value of $2,622,675, to which may be added to our pre- however, admitted for greater caution; that by consesent imports of wool to $408,527, making together $3, quence, the difference against the American manufactur031,202, or at most 11,673,133 lbs of wool; that we have er, in the greater price he must pay for his wool over that on hand, in many instances, one, two, and even three paid by the Englishman, expresses the quantity of protecshearings, amounting to at least 20 million pounds; that tion needed, and that, if the duty on the cloth is equal the above possible exclusion is probably 1-2 or 1-3d to that difference in wool, all the expenses incident to the greater than can be verified in practice, and is to create importation of goods-port charges, insurance, freight, a market for sixteen million pounds of wool, the increase importer's profit, and exchange, are so many advantages of the first year of encouragement; that the increase of to the American manufacturer, and will enable him to our wool market cannot exceed one tenth of our present undersell any foreigner in the home market. I endeavorsupply, while we can conveniently add one fourth to oured to show that the arguments of gentleman, and the stateflccks in a single year;-and that, under the circum-ments given by the three manufacturers, were wholly stances of the country, with the great number of our sheep, there is no cause for alarm, that there will be a dearth or scarcity of wool, or injurious increase in its price, and that our whole concern should be to find a mar. ket for the surplus. I endeavored to shew, that our coarse native fleeces, and the assortment of our wools, will furnish all the desired varieties, and especially of coarse wools, and at the cheapest rates. To those observations I beg leave to add, from a source entitled to the fullest credit, the following facts: erroneous, anti-tariff, and assumed that the duty on weal would operate as a tax to the consumer, which I deny to be true. I applied these opposing data to the first minimum in the amendment, and by them proved, that, if the bill be bad, the amendment, is altogether worse than the bill,-and certain destruction to the manufacturers of coarse wool. I applied these data to the bill of 1827, proving, if they are true, that that bill was altogether worse than the act of 1824. All this was intended to refute and expose the absurdity and injustice of the data As my object is to state facts that are within my own and statements adopted to defeat this bill. I then went knowledge, and not to found my arguments on this impor-into an examination of the new doctrine of "correspondtant subject on mere supposition or rumour, I have taken ing duties on wool and woollens ;" and proved, that, 8 pounds of Smyrna wool, of a fair quality, such as sells while the amendment doles out to the farmer one dollar's in Boston at from 10 to 12 cents, and such as I have never worth of duty for his protection, it furnishes to the mansold for less than 12 cents per lb. ; have cleansed it suffi.ufacturer protecting duties to $4, $7 and $10 at the succiently clean for the manufacturer's use; and there were cessive minimums but 3 15-16 lbs. left: making this wool, when clean, cost something more than 24 cents per lb. Our farmers need not be told that the native wool of this country, when washed on the sheep, sells from 17 to 25 cents per lb. the average of which would be 22 cents. This would, however, loose by cleansing as clean as the above mentioned Smyrna wool, about 1-5 which would add to the cost from 4 to 5 cents per lb. making the whole cost when cleansed, nearly 27 cents; I adduce this further, to shew, that the coarse imported wools, though in the direct value at 8 or 10 cents--are in fact worth 16, 18, 20 cents a pound, and which must in price come directly in competition with our own coarse wools. The inverted minimum, allowing these coarse wools to enter at 1 or 14 cents duty on a pound, is an invitation to fraud. I will here remark, sir, that, as the amendment proposes to give the American wool grower a two penny donative, at the coarse end of the wool market, so, at the fine end, it proposes an addition to the specific duty of 20 cents on a pound, a deferred increase of two and a half cents each year. As, in my arguments against the amendment, I have not urged any objection to this insult to the wool grower, so I have not considered these two and a half cents to be added each year, where they might be urged in its favor. Let me say, that it proposes an increase of duty so small, that the increase of our flocks and wool outruns it, and makes it useless. This year it reduces the duty on all wool over 60 cts. the pound-next year on all over 68 cents. The opponents of this bill object to the seven cents specific duty it imposes on imports of wool. I would be as well satisfied with four or five cents, as with seven, because I consider either as sufficient; and though I cannot consider a motion to reduce it as evidence of any peculiar regard to the wool grower, I will not feel myself obliged to oppose it, unless it seeks to go below four cents. In the course of my remarks, I endeavored to prove from the evidence of the witnesses and the Harrisburg Convention, that labor in the United States is as cheap as in England; that on an average, cloths made of wool from 20 to 70 cents a pound, is half labor and half wool-the labor increasing as the cloths grow coarse; that the wools in the United States, though clean, are not 65 per cent. I come now, sir, to vindicate the bill, and shall endeavor to shew, that it grants more than was ever before asked or offered, great and most abundant PROTECTION to the manufacture of woollens. The "much abused" tariff of 1824, has done much good. If it did not enhance the price of articles to the consumer, it secured to American productions, a very considerable market. However gentleman may abuse and condemn that act, I am convinced that it has rendered essential service to the industry of the country; and in all our legislation we must have reference to its excellent provisions. On the subject of woollens, that act established duties ad valorem. It imposed a duty of 25 per cent. on worsted stuff goods. We have no manufactures of these in the United States, and therefore neither in the woollens bill of 1827, or the present national tariff, is there any proposal to increase this duty. By the act of 1824, the duty on blankets is 25 per cent; on flannels and baizes 33; on other woollens costing abroad not over 33 cents a square yard, a duty of 25 per cent. and on all other woollens the duty is 33 per cent. ad valorem. I state these duties as they now exist in operation. Like the tariff of 1824, the Bill before us, and for the same reason, excepts worsted stuff goods. In conformity with the opinion of the witnesses, the bill then proceeds to establish certain minimum prices on the actual value of the article in the country from whence imported, and to fix the duty on the square yard of the cloth. On all woollen cloths costing abroad, not exceeding fifty cents the square yard, it imposes a duty of sixteen cents. These cloths may range from 20 to 50 cents a yard; and even if they are as high as fifty cents a yard, (which I shall show cannot be the case under this act, ) is not this duty of sixteen cents sufficient to buy the wool for a yard of this cloth? When the gentleman from Pennsylvania] Mr. STEVENSON] Called the attention of this committee to this fact, it appeared to me so plain to common observation, that it must command our respect. The next minimum provides that all woollens costing over 50 cents, and not exceeding one dollar, shall pay a duty of 40 cents the square yard. Now I ask any man who is at all acquainted with the price of wool in the United States, will not this duty of forty cents purchase wool sufficient in quantity MARCH 25, 1828.] Tariff Bill. [H. of R. hibiting, at three different points on each minimum, the 11.10 cts. frac. 7.42 and value to enter into a square yard of milled cloth, cost-I must here again present a table to the committee, ex- u pe b Points in the Minimums in the Bill. Wool. Advance. Labor. $ cts. cts Frac. cts. frac. cts. frac. $ cts. 3.73 Sec'd Min-Lowest Point. 51 31.75 19.25 12.50 40 27.50 Medium. 75 46.70 28.30 18.39 40 21.61 Highest Point. 1.00 62.27 37.73 24.52 40 15.48 1.01 62.89 38.11 24.77 1.00 75.23 1.75 109.28 66.22 43.04 1.00 56.98 Highest Point. 2.50 155.67 94.33 61.32 1.00 38.67 2.51 156.29 94.71 61.56 1.76 114.43 Medium. 3.25 222.67 122.83 79.83 1.76 96.17 Highest Point. 4.00 249.06 150.94 98.11 1.76 77.89 Flannels will fall under the first minimum. Seventeen pounds of wool washed on the sheep will make, says the witness, a piece of 46 running yards, or 38 64-100 square yards. The wool for a square yard will, therefore, be 7 2-01 ounces, or less than a half a pound, and the duty of 16 cents will more than buy the wool. The farmers and household manufacturers sell their heavy, firm flannels, made of good wool, at from 25 to 31 cents a yard; and this duty of 16 cents is more than half the sale price, and a very great increase over a duty of 33 per cent. on the mere value of the article, which was the old duty. How can gentlemen say with truth, the duty is lessened by this minimum? I have been told by a member of this House, [Mr. MALLARY] conversant with the subject, and who had devoted much time to it; who had sought information of the manufacturers; I was told by him, last session, and believe it, that a square yard duty of 15 cents Thus, by the most strict calculation, on principles the was, in the opinion of all men, acquainted with the sub. least favorable that can be adopted, the least excess of ject, worth more as a protection to the manufacturer, than protecting duty over what is necessary to satisfy the dif an ad valorem duty which would, on the same goods, esti ference in the price of wool in the two countries, is 7 mate at 30 cents; and a gentleman from New Jersey, [Mr. | per cent; and in the 2d and 3d minimum is 15 per cent. CONDICT] now nods assent to the proposition. If this be and in the 4th minimum is 19 per cent. on the value of the so, and who doubts it?—do not the manufacturers swear cloth. At the medium points of each minimum, this exit?--if this be so, then this square yard duty of 16 cents, cess of protection is much greater-for the 1st minimum is as great protection to the mannufacturer, as an ad valo- about 21 per cent. the 2d say 28 per cent. the 3d at 32 rem duty which would estimate 32 cents, and this would per cent. and the 4th by 29 per cent. on the value of the be 60 per cent. on 50 cent cloth; and who will say, that cloth. This is not the protection, but the excess over 60 per cent. is not abundant protection' Venetian and In- protection. These estimates suppose, that the imports grain carpets now pay 25 cents, and other inferior carpets can be made up to the minimum points, and that our wool 20 ets, the square yard. I have already said, that most which is certainly not true of the coarse, is dearer than of these will fall within the second minimum, and pay a the English by 65 per cent. on the latter. Our coarse duty of 40 cents: and by the amendment which the com- wools are now no dearer than in England: we import mitee propose to present, all these carpetings will be sub- them from the same countries; and if this 65 per cent. on ject to this duty, which is a rise that nearly doubles them. them is needed, it must be to meet a future rise. The The rise in the duty on blankets, from 25 to 35 per cent. bill provides for it; and the committee have been careful is very great, when it is recollected, that the witness tes- that the duty on the cloth should be,not only a protection, tified, that they may be manufactured for 6 cents a pound. but more, to meet unforeseen contingencies and unavoid To this excess of duty should be added If we suppose these cloths to consist within cost, equal-able charges. ly one-half of wool, and the residue in the expense of the profits which the foreign manufacturer seeks to ob manufacture, that labor is as cheap here as in Great Britain, sell where he may, the port charges he must pay on tain, and that to their wool must be added 65 per cent. to shipping his goods, the insurance, the freight, the exmake the price of ours; how then will the proposed du- change in remitting the proceeds of his sales, and the proties stand to balance this excess in the cost of our wool' fit which the importer must have for his capital employ. ed some months in the importation. From all these, our own manufacturer is exempt. They are his profits in the competition, which his residence here heaps upon him; and this bill, in the just liberality of Government, gives to him the excess of protection which I have stated. But, sir, I have stated, that coarse wool is not dearer in the United States, than in England, and the coarse cloths do not cost as much in wool as in manufacture, and are about two of labor to one of wool. To place this beyond the reach of contradiction, I exhibit the results of a table, made at the Steubenville factory, Ohio. In the table, all the items of expense for manufacture are giv The wool is stated to have cost 75 cents per lb. and to have been assorted into seven parcels,-thus: en. 2 101 501 13 181 05 68 56 45 33 [H. OF R. If this charge be intended as an assertion, that the bill does not furnish as great protection as it professes to do, I venture to say, that the assertion is utterly untrue, and that, if any charge can be brought against the bill, it is, that it furnishes more and greater protection than readily meets the eye. Not half the protection afforded by the bill on this sub. ject of woollens, is found in the second section; and in that section the minimums in the bill will add a protec tion equal to that furnished by the mere rate of duty. Let us examine the subject. By the second section of the bill, a specific square yard duty is imposed on certain values of these woollens, according to their actual value in the foreign marke. These goods, the actual value of which abroad does not 50, and not exceeding 100, pay 40 cents duty; over 100, and not exceeding 250, pay 100 cents duty; over 250, and not exceeding $4 00, pay 176 cents duty, or 40 per cent. ad valorem. And all such goods, the actual value of which exceeds $4 the square yard, shall pay a duty of 45 per cent. ad valorem, or more than 49 cents on every dollar of the value. Cost of the Fabric. $3 342 6812 181 651 431 281 19 exceed 50 cents the square yard, pay 16 cents duty; over Value of the pound of wool, All other expenses including blue, 1 24 1 181 By this table, it is seen, that when the cloth costs $119,-the wool is estimated at 38 cents, and the labor, &c., at 81 cts. When the fabric is $1 28, the labor will be $0 83, and the wool 45 cents. Hence, it is evident, Gentlemen who oppose the bill, advocate the project that the coarse cloths, which fall within the 1st and 2d, of the Harrisburg Conventionion, the ground that it will and part of those in the 3d minimum, will consist only of operate as an exclusion of those goods. Some gentlemen one third wool. I will exhibit a table on these principles, [Mr. BARNARD and Mr. MARTINDALE] avow that a mor.ostating the value of the cloth, the cost of the labor, &c., poly is their eventual object; and others, [Messrs. Mallathe cost of the wool, the amount of the duty, and its ex-RY, DAVIS, WOODCOCK, BARNEY, and JOHNS,] do in effect cess over the present cost of the wool, necessary to make these coarse cloths, under the 1st and 2d minimums. Excessof du ty, over cost of wool. Cts. 6 44 2 131 1123 declare it, by their support of an amendment which looks to a monopoly. It is now said that the minimums are of no use unless the duty at the minimum points is PROHIBI TORY; and I infer from all I see and hear of the friends of the amendment, that, in their judgment, and in that of the Harrisburg Convention, a progressive ad valorem duty rising from 40 to 45, and to 50 per cent. is prohibitory, and attains the avowed object of some, and the desired object of the friends of the amendment-a monopoly. From all these circumstances, I feel myself justified in 9 saying that, in the judgment of that Convention, and of 72-3 the monopolists, a duty of fifty per cent. is, in the present condition of our country, and in regard to milled cloths-an exclusion and a PROHIBITION, as far as the country can produce them. I am forced to concur in this opinion-if cloth in England, of the actual value of two dollars, must, to get here, pay port charges, insurance, freight, importer's profit, and the rate of exchange-and when here, must pay one dollar duty at our custom-house, sure I am, that its price in our market must be so great, that the American manufacturer can well afford to sell the same cloth cheaper, if he is at all in a condition to manufacture it. Such a duty is fifty dollars on one hundred dollars worth of cloth-and a prohibition. When you cannot produce the goods, no duty will prohibit them. The duty, then, on these principles, on each of the minimums of the bill, must be tantamount to an exclusion and prohibition of all foreign goods, if this country can produce them, from the lowest point up so far as the duty is equal to one half the value of the cloth. Under the first minimum, when the duty is 16 cents, there could be no importations of cloths below 33 cents the square yard. The 40 cents duty would exclude all cloths from 50 up to 80 cents the square yard. The one dollar duty would prohibit all cloths from one dollar to two dollars the square yard. And the duty of $1 76 cents on cloths over $250, would exclude all up to $3 53 the square yard. For, up to these points in each case, the duty would be one half the actual foreign value of the article, or $50 duty to $100 of the value. Are these exclusions and prohibitions of imports for more than two-thirds of the best, I had almost said, the total, range of our importations, nothing? This may be doing too much, and the bill may go too far; but are we to be told that this is doing nothing? Under 10 81 61 The result exhibited by this table, may vary at times, from changes in the wool market, but these changes will as often favor, as oppose the manufacturer. The increasing abundance of our wool, and the assortment of it into parcels, will furnish the wool for these coarse cloths, at, or nearly at the price of wool in England. The rise must be great indeed, if the duty on the cloth will not furnish the desired protection. Though the table may not be technically correct, it is sufficiently so to prove, that the protection afforded to the manufacturer of these coarse cloths is abundant, and as to the fine cloths, no one complains that the duty on them does not furnish the protection desired. Such, sir, is the protection furnished without reference to the minimum principle incorporated in the bill, or its other numerous provisions.-Gentlemen in debate, say, that it is not what it professes to be;-but they are un. able to support this allegation even by a shadow of proof. MARCH 25, 1828.} Tariff Bill. [H. of R. such regulations, either the purchaser must buy American | direction of the President, to make rules and regulations, cloths, or he must take cloths of a greater value and not contrary to law, to secure a fair appraisal, and to reprice than he desires. The necessities and convenience port such rules to Congress. One of these rules may and of society will require cloths of every possible variety, should be, that the appraisers shall in all cases, set against quality, and value, at every point of these ranges; and if the appraised actual foreign value-the value of the same they are not imported, purchasers will take them of the goods in the American market. If they are unskilful or American manufacturer, even at a very considerable ad fraudulent, their errors will appear, and they may be revance in price. The American manufacturer will, in all moved. The law makes abundant provisions to secure a times, be secured these large ranges in the market, and fair appraisal; and it is to be presumed, that the Treasury even advanced prices, until the domestic competition shall Department and the President, will see that the revenue on these cloths, as it has done in sattinets, reduce the pri- is not defrauded, or the manufacturer robbed of his proces. Can any man, with a due regard to fairness, say, tection. then, that this bill furnishes no protection. But strong as these are, they are not the only protecting provisions in the bill. There is another of a still stronger character. The 13th section of the act of March 1, 1823, regulating the collection of duties, provides that in cases where, in the opinion of the collector, there should be just grounds, (and the courts hold that they must be provable,) to suspect that goods are invoiced too low, he may cause them to be appraised, and if their appraised true value and other charges allowed by law, there shall be added 50 per cent. of the aggregate, and on this duti able value the ad valorem duty shall be estimated. This provision, in practice, is nearly nugatory, because the frauds must, as against the invoice and oath, be proved, which is almost impossible-and because, any such fraud, if proved, when no less than 25 per cent is attended with no penalty. By the present bill, the invoice and oath can no longer stand to cover these frauds. In every case, suspected or not, fraudulent or fair, appraisers must ascertain the true and actual value of the goods-and the Department is compelled to make the rules necessary to secure the due execution of this law: and the 8th section of the bill declares, that in every case where such actual value shall exceed the invoice by ten per cent., unless the variance is occasioned because the goods are produced in one country and invoiced in another, there shall be levied the duty, as if the goods were invoiced at their actual value, and fifty per cent. on that duty. The error in the invoice is narrowed down from 25 to 10 per cent. of the invoiced value of the article; and the importer is limited and These are the provisions in the bill which add greatly to the protection of the American manufacturer. Under the 13th section of the act of March 1, 1823, the courts, in the case of goods imported by the purchaser, have held that the invoice, proved on oath, should be deemed true, unless proof of fraud were furnished. In practice this rule has been, I believe, uniformly extended to that class of cases, when the goods are imported by the grow-value shall exceed the invoice, by 25 per cent, then to the er or manufacturer of them. Now, under such regulations various frauds may take place in the valuation of the goods, and on which the duty depends. If the goods are invoiced, and therefore appraised too low, in fraud of the revenue, these frauds cannot be proved at the distance of more than three thousand miles. Against these frauds the bill has provided a remedy. The 7th section provides, that the collector shall cause all those goods on which a square yard or ad valorem duty is levied, to be appraised at their actual value at the time and place whence imported. And it enacts: "And it shall, in every such case, be the duty of the appraisers of the United States, and of every of them, and of every other per son who shall act as such appraiser, by all reasonable ways and means in his or their power, to ascertain, estimate, and appraise the true and actual value, any invoice or affidavit thereto to the contrary notwithstanding, of the said goods, wares, and merchandise at the time and place from whence the same shall have been imported into the United States, and the number of such yards, parcels, or quantities, and such actual value of every of them, as the case may require; and all such goods, wares, and mer-straitened on his invoice. He must always invoice his chandises, being manufactures of wool, or whereof wool shall be a component part, which shall be imported into the United States in an unfinished condition, shall, in every such appraisal, be taken, deemed and estimated, by the said appraisers, and every of them, and every person who shall act as such appraiser, to have been, at the time and place from whence the same were imported in to the United States, of as great actual value as if the same had been entirely finished." The appraisers will be bound by their oath to ascertain "the true and actual value" of the goods, and that, too, by all the ways and means in their power. goods, not only near their actual value, so as to avoid the penalty of 50 per cent. of the duty for this 10 per cent. error in his invoice, but he must invoice so far from the minimum, that an error of 10 per cent. in his invoice shall not carry his goods beyond the next minimum value, for by such an error, he will be compelled to pay not only the duty, on the next minimum, but also 50 per cent. on that duty. If the importer shall invoice his cloths at 45 cents the square yard, and if the appraisers, exercising their best judgment, shall value the goods at the small sum of six cents a yard above the invoice-what will be the consequence of such an error? Why, the true value Under the present law unfinished goods are appraised of the goods will be 51 cents the square yard, and they as they are invoiced, and they are invoiced as they appear must pay a duty of 40 cents, and the error will exceed 10 rough and unfinished and of little value. By the bill, per cent of the invoice, and 50 per cent. must be added they must be appraised as if finished. These provisions, to this duty, making together, a duty of 60 cents on a for a fair appraisal and to secure a full valuation of un-square yard of cloth worth only 51 cents-a duty of 120 finished goods, are a great protection against all the frauds so long and loudly complained of by the manufacturer, committed on the revenue, and whereby the foreigner has defeated the provisions of the law intended for the defence of our home industry. I ask, gentlemen, whether these excellent provisions are nothing? Are all that we have heard with complaints of the manufacturer and in arguments about these frauds, false, and a fiction to deceive? No; unfortunately they were and are too true, at least to a considerable extent. This bill provides a remedy for these evils, and is, in all respects, better for protection than the tariff of 1824. The 9th section of the bill makes it the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury, under the Vol. IV.-125. per cent. and greatly exceeding the value of the cloth-the only safety of the importer will be to invoice his goods so low, as not, by an error of 10 per cent. to run them beyond the next minimum. If his oath and his invoice were allowed as a practical defence, as heretofore,such a regulation of those minimums might not be so terrible. But now his oath will be no shield-he is exposed to the judgment of the appraisers and in danger from the unavoidable diversity in the opinions of men. An invoice perfectly honest and perfectly fair, can alone save him; and a single cargo condemned to error and the duty consequent upon it may ruin the ablest importer. The same remarks apply to the other minimums. If H. or R.] Tariff Bill. [MARCH 25, 1828. be made exactly at the 44 cents, but will unavoidably be a medium and average between these two points: that is, the average of the cloths which can be imported here, will be, and must be, of the value of 383 cents the square yard. All these, by the bill, must pay a duty of 16 cents a square yard, that is, 41 per cent. of the foreign value, which is equal to an ad valorem duty of 38 2-10 per cent. the importer puts his invoice at 91 cents and the appraisers value the goods at 10 cents more on the square yard -the duty will be $150 the square yard: by a like error in the invoice, which should carry the actual value beyond the next minimum of $2 50—the duty would be $2 64 the square yard, and 297 cents on the square yard, when the error of 10 per cent. should make the actual value pass the four dollars minimum. No importer, therefore, would dare to bring his goods within ten per cent of the minimum The greatest duty assessed on any part of the goods by points, especially when the articles are coarse and low law now is 33,which shews an increase of about 5 per cent. priced, and when an error of a few cents will be attended ad valorem, and the greater part of these goods, amountwith the heavy penalties provided by this bill. Goods ing in the imports of 1827 to more than one quarter of a may, when coarse, rough and of little value, be consider. million, now pay 25 per cent, ad valorem; so that here is ed as in a degree unfinished, and the increase to cover an increase of 13 2-10 per cent, or more than one half of their finish, may cause the actual value to exceed the the duty. Is this not protection, even if these cloths are invoice by 10 per cent. and then to pass the minimums. half labour and half wool? But they are not. Labour is This source of danger will compel the importer to be fair as cheap, say all, here as in England, and these cloths in his invoices, and to keep at a respectful distance from consist of about two parts labour to one of wool. In this the minimum. Near or about 10 per cent. immediately way, these 38 cent cloths would in their manufacture, preceding each of these, will be a range of our present require 25 cents worth of labour and 13 cents worth of imports, from which commerce will be deterred by this low assorted wool, taken from the coarsest and cheapest bill. In securing a fair and honest invoice, and in this part of the fleeces. Willinot the duty of 16 cents purchase exclusion, near and before each minimum, is there no this wool? Certainly it will, and pay for one-eighth of protection? All these provisions, I affirin, make this bill the labour of working it up, These cloths are now imafford great and adequate protection to our manufacturers. ported as low as 20 cents the yard; they will be practically Nor do we stand alone in this case. One of my col-excluded up to 33, a range of 13 cents-and from 44 cents leagues has read from one of the witnesses, [Mr. PHILLIPS to 50, a range of 5 cents, the 8th section will deter imports. a letter in which he expresses himself well satisfied with This minimum, with its duty, will then exclude imports the protection which the bill affords, and Mr. PHILLIPS from a range of 18 cents; and permit importation in a range has long been in this business, is a practical manufacturer, of 11 cents, at an advance of duty of 38 2-10 per cent. ad and proves his good judgment by the prudent manage- valorem, by which every dollar's worth of these cloths will ment of his own affairs. pay a duty of more than 41 cents. Are not these excluI have received a letter from one of my own constitu- sions and this increase of the duty protection? The Amer ents, a manufacturer [Mr. Hiram Holcom, Litchfield, Newican manufacturer, who consumes American material, York,] distinguished for his intelligence, industry, skill, expresses himself satisfied with the provisions of the bill. and economy, a personal, though not a political friend; a man, sober, temperate, and judicious, distinguished for his worth-alike in business and in private life. In this letter, after noticing many things in the testimony of the witnesses, and the various provisions of the bill, proving that he had examined, reflected, and considered of the subjects, he writes: I believe the proposed rates of duty in the bill now before your honorable body, will, if carried into effect, afford all the protection that the manufacturers or wool growers can reasonably ask. I believe a square duty is the only mode that will reach the point." Such, sir, I find are the opinions of manufacturers who are too intelligent and too independent to permit their interest to be dragged into the arena of politics. Will the manufacturer who consumes not American, but who imports foreign Turkish, Spanish, or British, wool, cruel as a Turk, insatiate as the grave, say we will despoil the rich and devour the poor, and say, "It is not enough." In the same manner, under the second minimum, cloths costing over 50 cents, and not exceeding one dollar the square yard, must pay a duty of 40 cents, which will operate as an exclusion from 50 up to 80 cents, arange of 30 cents; for, so far, the duty is equal to half the value of the article; and the fair appraisal now provided for, and the severe penalty or the 8th section, will deter any imports above 90 cents the square yard, lest an error in the invoice of 10 per cent. or a difference in the judgment of the appraisers to that small amount, should charge I will now call the attention of the committee to the them with a duty of $1 50 the square yard. Here then practical operation of all the provisions of this bill; its will be an exclusion in a range of 10 cents from 90 to one duty, its minimums, its appraisal, its penalty for errors. hundred cents, inaking with the exclusion effected by By the first minimum all cloths, the actual foreign value the duty of forty cents, an exclusion of these cloths through of which does not exceed 50 cents the square yard, will a range of 40 cents under the second minimum; while pay a duty of 16 cents. On the principles, which I have the imports can in practice take place, only in the narrow endeavored to illustrate and support, this duty will be a range of 10 cents from cloths costing from 80 to 90 cents prohibition to all cloths under 35 cents. So far, the the square yard. On these cloths, costing 81 cents, the present duty is 25 per cent. ad valorem, and the propos- lowest point in the importing range of this minimum, the ed duty will be 50 per cent. The lowest point then, at duty of 40 cents on the square yard will be a duty of 44 8. which any imports can, in practice, be made, under the 10 per cent, ad valorem. At the 90 cent cloth, the highest first minimum, will be, at cloths costing 33 cents the point of the importing range, it will be a duty of 40 4-10 square yard, on which the duty will be only a fraction per cent. ad valorem. This importing range is so very short of 50 per cent. The highest point, at which, in narrow, that no one will pretend that the imports can be practice, any imports can be made, under this minimum, made at the highest point. They must cover the whole of will be at cloths costing 44 cents the square yard. As I that narrow range of ten cents, and will fairly average or have shewn that the appraisal and penalty for a mistake exceed 85 cents the square yard, on which the 40 cents of five cents, at that place, will deter all importations near-square yardduty will be equal to 42 7-10 per cent. ad vaer to that minimum. Under this minimum the importing range will be in cloths from 33 to 44 cents the square yard, a range of only 11 cents in the value of these cloths; and I appeal to all men of sense, that the importations in a range so narrow, must and will cover the whole and cannot lorem. Under this minimum, the exclusions will be in two ranges amounting to 40 cents, and the imports narrowed to a range of 10 cents, paying a duty of 42 1-10th ad valorem, or more than 44 cents on every dollar's worth of the imported article, |