New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-07
TARIFF RE SION.

The votes in the House on MONDAY peihiiU nO
demonstration. They declare the desire vi
the Democratic party to take upon Itself INC
responsibility of defeating any revision oil the
tariff AT this session. They show, also, the Will
inouess Of some Republicans, who careluiiy
o,sontod themselves TO have the tariff revised
hv tba Democratic rather than by the Republi-
can party These members were present III
the House on Monday, but took care DOT 10 oe
nresent when the decisive votes were taken' IL
thev ale prepared to say 10 tbelr CONSTITUENTS
that the tariff should not be revised but IN ther
Judgment should stand as it is, their absence NJ
the critical moment is ineligible without as
snm;no that they prefer TO trust the work oil
vevision To the Democrats Bnt even IN that
casa they take a grave responsibility IN trans
ferring to the Democratic party the power 10
revise the tariff, with all its present admitted
innerfections as reason for revision. 10
their own constituents they will answer, and
by their answer be judged. very large ma
;ori+v of the Republican members have gwen
record evidence of their earnest desire to enec'
= snbstantial reduction of taxes at this session.
and mon that record they can we'll afford TO be
judged. g., -,
The Democratic party has acted Wild full
greater unanimity, and against revision OF IT.
duction mt this seHsion Its leaders deceive no
one by repeated protestations that they DO not
mean to cause delay or to prevent action. Inc
fact is. that they and the followers whom they
can control whenever they please, have caused
weeks of utterly useless delay, and do prevent
reduction of taxation. In private, they do not
conceal their feeling that a substantial reduc-
tior~Ay the Republicans must not be permitted
This they privately justify OH the plea that the
Repnblcans do not propose to cut down the
tariff al much as they, the Democratic leaders,
desire. II will be we'll to mark this fact for
future reference. When the next election
comes. these same leaders will be seen trying to
shrk these votes and their logical meaning, and
declaringItha they were,and are, and always nave
been, in favor of ample protection to American
industry. And then it will be proved upon
them that they defeated moderate revision OF
the tariff on the ground that it did not 20 far
enough toward free trade.
This will be proved, provided they do sue
coed in defeating revision to the end, as they
did on Monday. If the Republicans had III view
nothing but mere party advantage, they could
well afford to let the pending bills die, with the
responsibility for their defeat resting on Dem
ocratic shoulders. But the majority has duty
to the country, which it must not neglect
Failure to act on the tariff at this session will
mean nine months of intense apprehension and
utter uncertainty in almost every branch of
business What effect that will have upon IN
dustres too much depressed already, members
can iudee. An extra session might he deemed
expedient it is true, as chance OF averting
disaster. But there is not one chance in fifty
80 tnritn in a
Hopse. called suddenly together with all its In
tern al feuds, could agree upon any bill that the
Senate ought to pass or the President to sign.
In all probability an extra session would mean
a prolonged wrangle continually feeding the
apprehension in business, without any action
by either House. 1t may become duty. never
theless, to call such a session; the President
NAV feel that he has no right to decide what
Democratic Congress might or might not do, II
assembled. But the strong probability is that
all action will be deferred, if this session fails
IN act. until at least a month after the meeting
of the next regular session in December.
Tn. Republican members of Congress, we
think, have no right to expose the country to
nine months of such destructive uncertainty
and apprehension, If they can possibly prevent
it, Their duty is still, as it was before, TO insist
upon the revision of the tariff in preference to
all other business. An extra session could be
called, If necessary, TO pass any OF the regular
appropriation bills much more safely than TO
overhaul the tariff. The uncertainty ought TO
be terminated before this House to exist.
Every Other matter that come before Con-
gress is of less immediate importance.
If the House can pass bill in any form,
there is possibility that Committee of Com
ference can he 81 cured. The votes on Monday
Indicate that strOng majority in the House
would vote for a reasonable revision, if direct
vote could be obtained. There is also posi-
biity that, when the responsibility of final
action comes Dear, some OF the Democratic
leaders may realize that they cannot afford to-
face this question in Democratic Congress at
present. " a fsw OF them determine " call OF