The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-11
The Morrison Bill.

We printed last Friday statement of the
principles upon which Mr.. Morrsons tariff
bill is based, as we found them set forth by
one of its friends. They had plausible
air. 1t seems perhaps very simple thing
to adjust tariff in that way; but when the
conditions are examined it will be discovered
that the thing is not so simple as 1t seems.
The present tariff law, framed after long ex-
pert investigation ard diligent labor of COM
mittees and Congress, is admitted to be an
improvement in classification and clearness
over any previous tariff. That law would
fill page or more of the PRESS in fine type.
The Morrill, tariff of 1861 was also an elab
crate bill which would fill another page of
the PRESS. These two bills are widely Diff
ferent in their classification in their nomen-
clature and in their forms of expression.
Now comes Mr.. Morrison with what NAV
properly be termed the lazy mans tariff bill,
brief measure which proposes, instead of
going over the subject item by item and
definitely fixing the rate of duty on each. to
draw straight line between the two. the
exact position of any point In the line to be
ascertained only by series of measure
ments to related points in the two other
bills.
When the engineer laid before the Gar OF
Russia his plan for railroad between st.
Petersburg and Moscow, the Emperor en-
CURED why the road curved here and there.
The engineer said it was to avoid an obsta-
Gle here, TO get the business of an important
city there, to make connection with the com
merce of river at one place and to afford
an outlet for the productions of district in
another, and SO on. The Gar, it is said took
rule, and, drawing straight line between
the old capital and the new one, told the en-
gineer to build the road on that route and
let the other places take care of themselyee.
This appears to be Mr. Morrison's notion of
drafting horizontal tariff. He thinks it is
about as easy as drawing straight line on q
piece of paper. All you have to do is to say
the tariff rates as by given bill are reduced
20 per cent. with certain exceptions of arti-
Giles which are put on the free list and GER
tain other exceptions of articles which if SO
much reduction was made in them, would be
scheduled at a rate below that which they
have in certain other tariff bills, where they
are perhaps not to be found, or, if found, ARE
scheduled with respect to different condi-
ton OF things than what now exists, giving
them greater or less Importance.
When it is considered how difficult it is to
frame any general tariff bill which shall be
definitely understood in all it's parts. how
necessary, in order to avoid controversy and
litigation, it is that every item shall be dis
tlnctly set forth with its definite rate, It can
be appreciated What endless vexation and
confusion viii be caused by tariff the
terms of which, as to any given item, can
only be ascertained by series of calcula.
tions having reference to two bills so differ
ent In their scheme and order as the old
Morrill, tariff and the revised tariff Officers
of the treasury department, importers and
the courts would be embarrassed in every
step of their business by such law. 1t
would be prolific in breeding quarrels be-
cause it is vicious in its quality, being un-
certain and confusing in its terms. This is
aside from any question of the reasonable
ness Of the reductions it proposes, and the
embarrassments these may occasion to the
industrial interests of the country.
1t is thought in Washington that Mr.. Nor
rison had canyassed the committee eff ways