New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-12
THE JCOOD TfRIFF.

II is the rare fortune of Mr.. Fernando Wood
TO have submitted Tariff bill which nobody
favOTs. Not MANY men arrive at that dis
tnctiOn. Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, CON
sidels it most absurd bill, but so does that
well-known Free Trader, MIR. MintuIn, of New
York. Great meetings are held in manufac-
turing cities to protest against IT but 1t is
safe to say that if Free Trade asScmblagc
should be anywhere convened, nine tcnths Of
the persons present would regard the Wood
bill as an abomination. At Washington, last
week. many Of the most conspicuous oppo-
nents of the protective system were at Wash
ington, but it is said that not one could be
found who was in favor of the Wood tariff.
That people OF the opposite opinion as to the
general question are unanimously hostile TO
this bill. it is not necessary to say.
But if nobody else wants the bill, why
does Mr.. Wood want it True. 1T must be
known in history as 'the Wood tariff" IL IS
so fearfully and wonderfully made that ii can
not be mistaken for any other that has ever
been framed, or, probably, for any other that
will be framed while time cndures. a certain
sort of Immortality has been earned by Mr..
Wood in the production of this wonderful
thing. But his reputation could not be en-
HANGED by the passage of the bill on the con-
trary, whereas lie is now regarded as the one
individual who stands responsible for this cx-
traordinary product of the human intellect if
the bill should by any possibility pass either
house, that responsibility would he divided
among many Would it not be much more to
the reputation Of Mr.. WOOd-such reputation
AS this performance can give-that the bill
should remain for all time the rare, unique
and singular product which nobody liked cx-
cepting its producer
There would be waste of time i'll treating
too seriously a measure which is not at all
likely to pass either house. But 1t is worth
while to suggest some reasons, which can be
appreciated as well by opponents as by
friends of the protective system, for refusing
TO make any important change Whatever lii
the tariff at present. This is decidedly not
the time for a reconstruction of duties upon
imports for, first, il is peculiarly important
that the Government and that business men
should be able to count, with some degree Of
confidence, upon balance of exports and i'm
ports not too widely changed during the com
ing year. The country is in Il critical posi-
ton, and must either make great gam III
reputation and prosperity, OF suffer great dis
grace and loss, within the year that is before
it, If its tariff remains unchanged, the prob
able balance of exports and imports can be
quite closely calculated; the Government and
business men can adjust their preparations for
resumption with reasonable confidence. Re-
construct the tariff, just at this time, and no.
body can guess how largely the change may
affect imports or exports, receipts from GUS
toms or from internal revenue. Ii is not an
intelligent thing to attempt this experiment.
which must affect tho prices, the imports, and
tho cost of production of many thousand arti-
cles, just at time when the country needs
more than ever stability and confidence rs TO
its basis for business, and as to the resources
and expenditures of the Government.
This objection ought to be enough, but
there is another. One OF the ablcst Free
Traders in the country recently made the
shrewd remark that no tariff involving mate
rial reduction of duties could ever be intclli-
gently framed at time when prices were abb