New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-18
PROGRESS ON THE TARTFE

The WAYS and Means Committee is making
fair progress with the Tariff bill. out oil
twenty-five pages covered by the proposed
tariff. exclusive of the free list, ms 1t appears
in the printed report OF the Commission, seven
napes h we been passed upon by the Commit
tee. Nor has any vital change been made
fins far. though it was thought by many that
The metals schedule, and particularly the re-
dY,ction of duties on steel rails and some
other articles, would give great difficulty.
According to present appearances, the Commit
fee seems disposed to accept the work OF the
Commission so far as lt can consistently Win
lis own information, anu III the cases where IL
thinks the Commission may have been mis-
taken the matter has been referred for special
examination without negative action. All
this is quite encouraging. Nor do the intelh-
cent Democrats seem blind TO the fact that
their nar,v is on trial. and that its OIt-repeated
professions of anxiety for reform of taxation
will be accounted very shallow and SHABBY
trickery if it refuses now to welcome and ap-
nrove a measure of reduction so well guarded
and so reasonable.
In nearly all past discussions on this sub
iect it has been assumed that there were two
parties separated by radical differences OF
theory. of which one must necessarily desire
HIGHER and the other lower duties. Because their
differences in theory were radical and irreconcil-
able if has peen assumed that their sincere adhe-
rents conld never act together. Whether there
was or was not ground for such antagonlsm
in the mast, this is certain, that many of the
most sincere and able Protectlonists are now
urplng a general reduction OF duties. They do
not want so great re iuction as many hasty
Reformers would venture to make. nor
would they consent under any circumstances
IN the sort of reduction that many Free Traders
wonld propose-a change especially intended
tn remove the defensive features of the tariff
and to leave home industry as much as
possible at tie mercy of foreign competition.
Rutthe sincere Protectonist and the sensible Re-
former or Free Trader can at present meet upon
common ground in desiring moderate ana
cautious reduction of duties. The position OF
intelligent Protectionists at this stage is apt to
he much misunderstood, and 1t deserves
the more attention because 1t is the consistent
continuation of the course adopted soon alter
the war.
Climbing a mountain is often less dangerous
and difficult than the getting down on the
other side. The work of imposing taxes by
which the development of particular industry
shall be encouraged is comparatively easy.
But the subsequent modification of those taxes,
little by little, as that indds ny becomes
strong enough to quire some stimulus
and restraint from competition, rather
than absolute immunity az INST it, is always a
far more dlficalt matter, and calls for the
highest statesmanship: During the war very
high duties were levied upon nearly all i'm
norts. Some of these dutlesproved unavailing
Others rarity and some wholly accomplished
their purpose. The work OF lowering or re-
moving duties began soon after the war. In adj
vocating the bill OF 1S70.b which the estimated
reduction was over $29,00000O, and great
| number of articles were added to the free list
| General Garfield SAID: "After studying tht
"whoe subject as carefully as | am able,
cam firmly OF the opinion that th'
"wisest thing that the Proectonists IN thi'
House can do is 10 unite In moder'
ate reduction of duties upon imported
"articles He is not faithful representative