New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-27
T1Y REDTCTTON

The Senate has probably killed the Tax bill.
The Democrats have tried to talk 1t to death,
after agreement to that effect in caucus, and
have probably succeeded. Upon them Will
therefore rest responsibility for the failure OF
Congress to reduce taxation But some meas
ure of blame also attaches to those Republicans
who have put the bill into such shape thar
it was possible to talk it to death. For in
stance, those Republicans are especially re-
sponsible who voted for the reduction of the
tax on tobacco. In this they acted contrary
to the declared wish of great majority OF
Republican members, and joined the Democrats
in order to make their separate aston effective.
Thereby they made the success of the entire
bill practically depend on the temper of Dem
ocratic members, who were known to be
anxious to defeat it if they could. 1t will rest
with these Senators to explain their conduct to
constituents, but the whole Republican party,
if bad results follow, will have reason to GEN.
sure them for it.
Back of their responsibility, however, there
is another hardly less definite. The Repub-
licans who gave the bill the shape in which it
came from the Senate Committee did great deal
to insure its defeat. They knew that the bill
could have been passed substantially as it
came from the House. That they had no con-
scientious objection to the reduction of duties
therein proposed, these Republican Senators
have shown by their votes. But they were
willing TO insist that there should be other re-
auctions, or none at all that the duties on
sugar, steel rails, md knit goods should be
changed, or that every effort to cut Oft needless
and brrdensOme internal revenue should fail.
And this they did, Notwithstanding the fact
that they had recently voted TO create a tariff
commissions OH the ground that Congress
could not act intelligently or safely on a re-
vision of the tariff. 1t was seen by men OF
both parties, when these propositions were
Incorporated in the bill that the Republicans
had taken great risk of defeat of all legislation
on the subject. 1t was their duty to know that
the Democrats would make all the trouble they
could. They have done so, and the probable
result is that the Republicans have placed the
House bill in "a position to be killed, without
the power to pass any other or better measure.
1t was grave mistake to attempt to NEEDLE
with the tariff at all, after having empowered
a commission to investigate that subject. The
Republicans cannot say that the commission
was not trustworthy, because it represents
their party anu themselves. NOT can uncy say
thar any new circumstances had made itmore
necessary to change the tariff in July than it
was in May. The fact as everybody knows, is
that the Republicans suffered themselves to be
influenced by Democratic clamor, and by the
demands of persons to whom the reduction Of
certain duties and taxes would be a personal
benefit. But they had no right to extend the
sphere of proposed changes unless they were
satisfied that they could at least make sure of
accomplishing the reduction proposed by the
House.
1t is a pity that the Republicans have not
been able to meet this question more inteli-
gently. Their constituents know the crcum-
stances. and will hold them to share of re-
sponsibility, even while they condemn the
Democratic party for the course adopted by Its
caucus and its Senators.