Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-06-09
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FRIDAY EVENING. JUNE 9. 1881.
The Tariff Commission.

TAe Tar1H Commission.
1t is very doubtful whether the tariff
commission will be of any real use to the
country. If they should happen to be
men pre- eminently fitted for the work
their .abors would have fruitful result
but the chance of getting such men on
the commission is exceedingly small.
The presidents appointees possibly may
be'such men but the chance that they are
is quite infinitesimal. About the Gtness
of most Of them the general public have
little knowledge. One of the best known,
Mr.. Phelps of Missouri, has resigned.
The chairman ex-Vice President Wheel
er has been sufficiently before the coun
try to satisfy it that he is not peculiarly
adapted for this new duty. All or nearly
all the members are said to favor high
tariff. This is probably an error, due to
the fact that free traders consider every
one who favors any protective duty to
be high tariff man. But several men,
bers are said to be in the employ of pro-
tective tariff associations which, of
course, is not fair to the other side, whose
special attorneys, such as David A. Wells,
find no place on the commission.
1t was undoubtedly difficult body to
select. If tariff specialists had been
selected from the two sides the conse-
quence would have been a lively antagon-
ism on the commission from the start,
but it would have had the good result of
getting before the public everything
that is in the tariff question. The re.
suit might have been to have left the
public mind in 4 more muddled state
than ever /; it would hardly have settled
public sentiment. But no tariff COM
mission. even of angels, would ever do
that. We are not permitted to deny that
it is beyond Almighty power to achieve
this thing, but nothing short of it will
work the miracle. And yet it is very
simple matter apparently about which
we should all agree. And we all
would agree if our interests were alike.
But the Almighty has made us SO that
we cannot help looking after number one.
The nation looks after It's own interests
and levies a duty to protect its indus
tries. The merchant, however, cannot
see that his interest is the same rs that
of the manufacturer free trade suits
him best, and he strikes for it.
What is the use of any set of seven or
seventy men attempting to instruct the
public mind upon the real truth of the
tariff issue when the true inwardneSs
of the matter lies in the different ways
in which it affects each citizens pocket
They may do 4 little good skirmishing
work i'm tie way of regulating the tariff,
but 4 tariff the mining and manufacture
ing industries of the country are strong
enough to command and will have, and
% the commercial people must be con-
tent to make the best of the situation.
The Senate Democrats are said to be
nearly unanimous in their disposition
to refuse to confirm the presidents ap-
pointments on the commission. If they
consider them unfit they should do so,
though they are not likely to get men to
suit them better. Congress had it in its
power to select the men to whom it was
willing to trust the matter of tariff re-
vision and was not wise in confiding
their selection to Mr.. Arthur. A good
commission could have been selected
from the congressman themselves, who
ought to be well posted in the economic
considerations involved in the issue. A
better one might have been taken from
the whole body Of the people, but such
an ignOramuS in state craft as Arthur
was not the best man to make. the deli
cate selection.