Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-01-04
Tariff Revision.

In new country like the United States
with vast natural resources to be developed
and Indispensable industries to be organized
and strengthened in the face of foreign
competition, fortified by practical expert
ence centuries old before this nation was
born, tariff for legitimate and reasonable
protection is demanded 1t is matter Of
ordinary wisdom and prudence. But like
many other measures wise and prudent in
their origin, a protective tariff has been
prostituted to ends which are utterly foreign
to the first and benefcent purpose of pro.
lection. Having served as a Notification be-
hind which the fathers of "infant indus.
tries " could leisurely rear, strengthen and
arm their progeny for open fight, 1t is not
in the nature of things that the bulwarks of
high protective tariff could be wholly or
even partially stripped away from these in
dustries, when they have satisfied their orig
inal purpose, without creating powerful
opposition. There has been growing con-
viction that some of these "infant indus
tries have, long ago, outgrown the lead
ing strings of high protection and attained
to vigorous and lusty manhood, and should
now take their chances in the rough and
tumble contests of commerce that the
tariff once levied for protection has become
the source of lucrative profit that in the
soil enriched by the imposition of heavy i'm
posts, gigantic monopolies have grown up
which now use their power to preserve as
an emolument tax once levied upon the
people as a reasonable means Of protection
Even in minds which are the sincere advo-
Gates of protective tariff this feeling has
effected strong Judgment. 1t has in it
no element of free trade or tariff for reve-
nue. only. Out of this widespread feeling
has grown the tariff agitation, the tariff
conventions of the past year and the de-
mand of congress for tariff revision. The
Chicago and New York tariff conventions
were looked to in vain for any enlighten-
ment on this subject. They were devoted
exclusively to high tariff interests, and the
men who participated in them spun homilies
or sung the praises of protection. 1t was not
shown that the "infants" were still in
clouts. 1t was not claimed that the " in
FAINT steel, for instance, was still drawing
a precarious subsistence from the fountains
protection had established for its nursing.
grown a giant under the fostering of pro-
lection, that it rolls in the wealth Of i'm
mense fortunes and journeys in palace cars
by special trains, and that the people of
this country under the name of duties are
still contributing many millions of dollars
to glut its pampered appetite. A
purpose to perpetuate the present tariff, in
dependent of any considerations of reason,
justice or equity, was the characteristic fea-
ture in the discussions and papers at these
The subject of tariff revision has come |
before congress. Two measures have been
introduced in the senate, each of which |
contemplates the appointment of commits
sioner to take the whole subject into consid-
Grafton. Senator Morrilps plan provides
FOR commission of nine experts to be
chosen from civil life, and Senator Gar
lands provides that similar commission
shall be made up of three members from
the senate, three from the house and three
from civil life. A commission means delay. |
The whole matter would be taken out of |
congress till the commission has reported |
the results of its researches. 1t could not |
be acted upon before the assembling of the
next congress, and the pressure of considera-
tons growing out of pending presidential
election would be fatal to fearless, independ-
emit action, if, indeed, any definite action at
all could be had. A commission is, in fact,
in the interest Of monopolies, whatever may
be the intentions of those who advocate
this method of getting at the subject. While
the commission is at work and while con-
gress is debating or dallying with the sub
ject, the old high rates will still be in force
and the interests of the monopolists pro-
Lected. Senators and representatives should
be able to deal directly with this subject.
There are in each house men whose knowl- |
edge of the matter is derived from twenty |
years study and experience. If they are
not competent to take this subject in hand |
directly and at once, and, proceeding with |
due caution, deliberation and independence,
produce an equitable revision, their seats
should be vacated on the score of incapa. |
city and unftness for their duties. The |
steel manufacturers are reported to have
to secure the passage of one of the
bills providing for commission, their real
motives being not revision but the postpone
ment or defeat of that result. Agents of this
interest are said to have paid $4,000 to secure
the passage by the senate last winter of the
Eaton tariff bill. Other interests fattening
on the present law, which has long outlived
its usefulness, are equally active. Revision,
direct or by commission, will be environed
with danger at every step. 1t is the great
question before this congress, and
its faithful and intelligent consideration,
in decisive and judicious action,
will be distinction enough for one congress.
MoRMoNIsM.-In the late number of