New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-29
TIE TARIFF BILL IN THE HOUSE.
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W.guISGTOS March 2S--Debate on the Tarih
Commission bill in the House Of Representatives has
at last begun. Only two members took part IN the
discussion to-day and one of them did not conclude
his remarks.
Mr. Kasson opened the debate IN favor Of the bill,
md urged various reasons why the preliminary in
yestigations should be confided to commission like
that proposed IN preference TO mixed comi0ission
of Senators. Representatives and civilians, or
20 an attempt by the Ways and Means Com
mttce 20 do il. He called attention TO the
fact that the Congressional elections are coming
on, and Congressmen would not, therefore,
be able or willing 10 give tho time necessary to
such an investigation He also described the futile
efforts of the Ways and Means Committees in the
last three Congresses 20 revise the tariff and the
falure Ct every measure brought into the House by
iheu.
Mr. Kasson said that no one-higb-tarif man, OF
low-tarf man. or no-tarih man-would deny that
the tariff ought TO be revised In the last four
years he said, the Secretary of the Treasury had
been called upon TO decide 500 cases OF cOntro-
yersies arising under the tariff laws. and most Of
them involving the rates Of duty 10 be paid on i'm
ported articles.
He declared that the mon who advocated " q
tariff for revenue only" do not want commission
or favor through and judicious reviion-they de-
less of the consequences. The rest Of Mr.. kassons
speech was devoted to discussion OF the question
els there any merit in the principle of protection !"
"A question TO which he gave affirmative an
swer greatly pleasing his party friends who
warmly appiauded him. He reviewed the history
of tariff legislation in the United States his object
being 10 prove that during periods of protective
tariffs the country has been prosperous, while
tarif laws tending in the direction OF free trade
have uniformly brought disaster and also
10 show how and why Southern statesmen
who had been prOtoctiOnists IN the first quarter
Of this century had changed their yiows and become
free traders while New-England statesmen had
reversed their opinions in the opposite direction.
lie then considered and described the effects OF
free trade policy in England and her colonies. and
asserted that all the Nations which had been bound
20 that policy by commercial treaties with Great
Britain. had without exception refused 70 renew
those treaties after their expiration. and he called
attention 10 the fact that Canada is enforcidg
a protective policy against the mother country as
well a. against the United States, and is rejoicing
in consequent prosperity. while Ireland and British
India chained by England 20 a free trade policy.
are languishing in distress and poverty.
Mr. Carlisle, of Kentucky, is generally regarded az
the abest advocate IN either branch OF Congress Of
the tariff idea and his speech Of
to-day fully sustained his reputation in that re-
spect lie marshaled his formidable array of sta
t.fics with skill and handled his figures with great
dexterty He began by asserting That II IS " the
almost universal conviction that the pro
tective policy is bad one and
that the present tariff laws are especially
vicious. lie did not believe that Congress should
virtually abdlcate it's constitutional functions in
favor of Tariff Commission but that the Ways
aud Means Committee should immediately pro
ceed 10 revise the tariff in the ordinary way" Mr..
Carlisle declared that it is not the design OF the
friends of the bill 10 get rid of the unjust and
nbominable provisions of the tariff, but 10 post
pOne action, 20 create unnecessary officers and 10
entail an expense of 500 day during the next six
or months. From the very nature of the case,
be declared, II would be impracticabe for Com
mission 10 deal properly with the subject MIR Car
lisle then plunged into general discussion of the
present tariff hardly feature of which he left un-
assailed Mr. Carlisle's speech received with
earnest attention by members on both sides OF the
house