New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-10

The Senate has passed the Tariff Commission
bill by vote of 30 to 10, ard it now goes
TO the President for his signature. The meas
urc is Identical with the one which had pre-
yiously received the approval of the Senators,
except that it omits The requirement for an ex-
animation of the Internal Revenue system.
The House concluded, we think wisely,
that the tariff alone would be found quite as
much as one Commission could fairly investigate
and report upon, in the short time allowed be-
fore December /. when the report is required
to be made.
There are defects in the tariff which ought to
be remcdied, and upon which action ought not
to be postponed until after another Preslden-
tial election The fact that important indus
trial bodies such as the Iron and Steel Asso-
citation, have called the attention OF Congress
to these defects and asked earnestly toT re-
vision, should not be treated with indifference.
Much of the great prosperity which the coun-
trv enioys has been duo to the progress of the
industries that ask for changes OF tho tariff.
II is fair to presume that the associations in
question know what will strengthen and pro-
mote those industries, and the question
whether these things can be done without dctri-
ment to the interests of other branches of in
dustry and Of the people as whole is one of
the most important that a Commission will
have TO investigate. But as TO all desirable
notifications, it is extremely important to have
action by the present Congress. For the neat
Congress will assemble with a Presidential
election in prospect. All know how difficult it
will be to obtain any action whatever, on the
tariff question, at that time. 1t Is thought by
many that new appointments may give the
Democrats control of the next House If so, It
is certain that they can agree upon no policy
regarding the tariff, and will pigeOnhOle the
whole subject rather than expose their differ
ences at the session before a Presidential cleo
ton. No wise action can with reason be hoped
for, unless it can be taken at the next sess Jon
of this Congress.
The debate on the Commission ILL, if it has
served no other good purpose, has displayed In
very strong light the unitncss of the House to
act upon this subject without a careful inycsti-
CATION. The ignorance shown by most of the
sneakers is amazing. Possibly even that
Ignorance is less dlscOnraging than the rooted
Drciudice manifested by some of the members
who have studied the subject, indeed, but only
"a nartisans. Heated contests repeated year
after wear for a long time, have trained them
10 regard the subject only as advocates of a
particular theory, or as partisans and not as
statesmen. But the occasion calls for the ut
most impartiality, conservatism and calmness
of Judgment. Bigoted attachment to any set
theory would be almost as mischieyous III the
investigation as hopeless ignorance.
The President will have great difficulty in
making wise selection of Commissioners. 1t
seems to be conceded that he ought to give a
majority in the Commission to friends of the
protective system. But some insist that lie
ought to give strong representation on the
Com mission to those who are wholly hostile to