Mr. WADE. I move to amend the bill on page 85, section 13, line 36, by striking out the words “unfinished,%. advalorem, ” and inserting “three dollars per ton of 13 cubic feet;” so as to read: Qn grindstones, 3 dollars per ton of cubic fect. 13 This article of grindstones was included with freestone and other stone when the subject was considered in the ComWhole before, and those stones have since been put up. They have been put at 4 dollars per ton; and now I propose to put grindstones under that, at 3 dollars per ton. I do not propose to argue the question over again; but I take leave barely to read the statement of one of the gentlemen engaged in this business. I do it with the more freedom because I know from what has been said here that the committee who arranged and settled upon these duties did in a great measureget their information from men who were interested, as they had to do, because those interested in a business are the ones generally, and, frequently they are the only ones, who really know all about the business, and if the are honest they must be trusted. All that can say is, that the gentleman whose statement I propose to read is a gentleman full acquainted with the business, who has worke at it for a long time, and a gentleman of veracity and truth, and whose word is taken and believed ordinarily in what he says. Here is what he says on this subject: “Nova Scotia grindstones can be imported into the eastern market at from 6 to 8 dollars per ton less than those of Qhio owing to the difference of freight and labor. They allow us to establish the market price, they selling just enough below us to take the trade, there being no other competition. A higher duty would not raise the price to the consumer as they, would lessen their profits to, keep the trade, which they can do, and then make a profit than we can. Advancing the duty wbeotutledr not advance the price in the western market as 9ur competition at home is too strong for that, it being always our only market, and the West is now floodedwith thesegrindstones. There are in northern Ohio 50 quarries that employ in all over 2,000men. In Michigan there are a number of quar ries working by a large number of men, and alsolarge quarries in ginia, Kentusocuky the arnnd OIhlliion, ois Pennsylvania, West Virginia. If we cannot have a proper protection, fully 1/3rd, and perhaps 1/2 of our men, will be compelled to ployment, seekother em as our market is being cut down by the foreign competition., The quality of for grindstonesand building purposoeusr, stone, both is not probably surpassed in this country, and we have enough to satisfy the markets of the world. The duty at 4 dollars per ton is selling price about 20%. of the of the Nova Scotia stone. The item of stone is a small matter in comparisonwith the other stock the manufactureruses, such as iron, steel, and coal. Small grindstones will cost the farmer about 3 dollars and will last over a year.” That I suppose will answer the argument that is made that this is going to burden the farmers very much. It appears that their grindstones cost almost nothing. The only competition is in the large article, used I understand in manufacturing, establishments, and they come in almost dressed and finished. The bill makes a distinction between finished and unfinished grindstones; but the trouble is that they come in under the head of unfinished grindstones with almost the entire work done upon them before they come here, as this gentleman states. But I do not wish to add anything to his statement of the case. I believe that he has stated the facts in relation to it. There are more workmen engaged in this business than I supposed there were. He says that there are 2,000 men employed in Ohio in this business of getting out these stones. It is a very heavy, large business. Some rey; enue would be derived from this duty should it be levied, and as they believe some protec.tion would be given to the business and it would continue these laborers in their employment,If it would have that effect I think it would be well to adopt it. I do not believe anybody will be hurt by it. I think the reasoning of this gentleman to show that it would not enhance the price of these stones, either in the eastern or western market, is. good. They can produce them in Nova Scotia very much cheaper than we can, and then they bring them in and gauge their prices just under the western prices so as to command the market. I believe the effect of this duty would be to decrease their profits but not to increase the cost of the article.