Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-08
IrDnecessarv Earnestness.

When Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania,
moved last Monday in the House OF Rep
resentatives TO suspend the rules in order
TO fix date not later than February l2th
for bringing up the tariff bin for final ae-
ton, he was, so his friends say, very much
in earnest, reminding the House that the
country above anything else had demand
ed of this Congress a revision OF the reye-
nue system and reduction of taxation
knowing that the rules could not be sus-
pended without Democratic aid, he APP
pealed to members of that party to come
to his assistance and put the tariff bill In
such shape SO as to pass it next week
without amendment under the operation
Of the previous question.
Instead of sharing Mr.. kelley's solicit
tude the Democrats laughed at his speech,
and they added injury to insult by defeat
ing his motion. Nor should they be
blamed. Almost at the beginning of the
first session of this Congress, on the hrst
Monday i'm December, 1881, this now all
absorbing question Of revenue and taxa
ton was agitated, and after Speaker
Keifer had organized his committees at
and Means Committee, where all legisla-
ton affecting such matters ought to be
considered and formulated. But instead
of taking one step forward in the matter
this committee, under Mr.. Kelley's lead,
saw fit to report a measure turning
the whole tariff question over to an out
side commission. During the tendency
Of the bill then reported and after its
passage the House Republicans declined
TO consider any tariff legislation whatever,
on the ground that the Tariff Commission
would attend to that part of the business
of Congress and make a satisfactory re-
port. In vain did the Democrats, during
a remarkably long session, lasting from
December to August, with much more
real earnestness than Mr.. Kelley can now
simulate, plead with their opponents to do
something TO relieve the people from the
burdens of taxation. but nothing was ac-
complished save to report trifling bill re-
ducing the internal revenue which, though
intended to deceive all, deluded none.
I The Tariff Commission, after finishing
| its labOrs within the time appointed, made
/ its report, which was much more fair to
! the great mass of the people than
| Democrats hoped or Republicans feared.
/ Then it was that Mr.. Kelley
discovered that mis- committee had duties
deyOlYing upon it and responsibilities
/ which il OHght not TO eyade. Having
/ secured whole years delay, and
realizing that the next Congress would
/ not be in favor Of protective tariff, ne
takes the Commissions report, and, in-
/ stead of accepting it, as all those VINO
/ voted for the commission tacitly agreed
/ to do, increases the duties therein recon-
mended in very important particulars,
/ and comes before the House with Dill
and j demand for its passage as If 1t were
an appropriation of ten dollars for piece
/ of spring poetry. 30 wonder the Demo-
/ Gratis laughed at so delicious piece ef
/ humor. the like of which the senior mem
/ Der of the House is not often charged
with. But his zeal comes too late, and
/ his earnestness is of too suspicious
/ character,
/ 1t is true that the people demand "a
/ revision of the revenue system and re-
/ duction of taxation" They said as much
/ last November. but they supplemented
( the demand by a direct expression OF
/ opinion that this great work of revision
and reduction should be intrusted not ito
+ this Congress" nor TO the Pennsylvania
protectionist, and his high tariff associ-
+ ates of the Ways and Means Committee,
/ but to the revenue reform sentiment Of
the country, to be well represented in the
next Democratic House.