Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-29
S0UANDERING THE TIME OF THE
PEOPLE.

PAN'GAAs
| S0UANDERING THE TIME OF THE
PEOPLE.
The extraordinary spectacle is present
ed at Washington of both houses of con-
gress consuming their entire time day
after day in the consideration of meas
ure-the tariff bill-which almost every
senator and representative admits has not
the ghost of chance of passing at this
session. To add to the completely of the
situation the senate is considering one bill
and the house another, each totally diff
ferent from the other. Even if it were
possible for either bill to pass the house
which is considering it, it is physical i'm
possibility for either to pass both houses.
If the senate bill passes that body, it will
have to be sent to the house for concur
renee, and would, of course, have to re-
ceive all the consideration that was given
to new measure. So if the house bill
should receive the approval of the repre-
sentatives, it would have to run the gaunt-
let of the senators. Either would be more
or less amended if not entirely reconstruc-
ted, conference committees would have to
be appointed, each house would insist up
on its own ideas being put in practice,
and more time than is now at the disposal
of congress would be inevitably consumed.
The people of the country generally are
DESTROYS of changes in our tariff laws
which shall lessen their burdens as far as
consistent with the obtainment of suffi-
Gent revenue to meet the expenses of the
government economically administered.
Neither of the bills now under consideration,
however, is calculated to bring about that
result. They are designed especially for
the benefit of particular industries, and
only in few cases do they contemplate
reduction of the customs taxes. The iron
schedule has been considerably revised,
but in the interest of the manufacturers.
not of those who use the iron product.
The tax on sugar is as onerous to the
consumers under the proposed as
under the present law; wool and
woolens are protected by increased duties;
foreign made textile fabrics are taxed as
heavily as ever under the pending bills,
and with the exception of lumber there is
no important product of importa ton that
has been placed upon the free list. Even
this concession to the demands of the peo-
pie is to be reversed, as the members from
the timber growing districts threaten to
defeat the bill unless a tax is placed upon
lumber so that the already opulent lumber
men may add two or three dollars thou
sand to the cut of their mills.
But even if it was intended to improve
our tariff laws---which it is not---there is
scarcely one chance in thousand that any
bill amending and revising the entire tariff
laws can be passed at this session, and
even that chance is lessened by the diver
gent bills now before the separate houses.
1t would be the part of wisdom, therefore,
for the tariff reformers to lay aside the
bills now under consideration and endeavor
to secure the passage of bill,or number
of bills, which will correct some of the
grossest inequalities that exist in the pres
ent law. Such measures would stand a
chance of success. A long and cumbrous
bill covering the entire ground will occupy
more time than congress has at its dis
posal. The interests of the different mem
bers are too divergent to give any hope
that an agreement will be arrived at.
Those interested in the iron trade will unite
to defeat any measure that does not afford
their pet industry sufficient protection.
Tho cOutharD rnaphoro mill r,O+a
any bill that reduces or abolishes the tax
on sugar. The New England
and some of the western
members will insist on the protection of
wool and wooden products, and so on
through the entire catalogue of special in
terests. Combinations will be formed to
defeat any measure that injuriously affects
any of these inter ests.
1t is argued, however, that the pending
discussions will be beneficial, even though
nothing will be accom- plished at this ses-
sion-that they will educate the next con-
gress as to the nature of the present laws
and the needs of the public. As more than
half of the members of the present con-
gress retire from their seats in March
next, this claim is manifestly absurd.
When the matter comes up before the next
congress the entire ground will have to be
covered over again. All thu old members
will want to impress their ideas upon the
minds of those fresh from the people, and
all the new members will have ideas of
their own that they wish to have adopted.
Besides, congress has not the time at its
disposal to maintain school of instruc-
ton. But five weeks of the session remain.
and there are other matters that require
attention. 1t is unwise to squander the
time of the people in the discussion of bills
that no one expects to pass or become
laws. A short bill curing the more fla
grant inequalities of the present laws on the
tariff is all that the people require of their
present congressman.
THE saloon license matter is one of the
prominent questions of the day. On
Thursday last, bill was introduced in the
Illinois 1apicIatura fYinu the minimum