New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-13
blessed.

THE ONLY WAY TO STOP MISCHIEF.
Members of Congress seem to have tolerably
correct idea Of Mr.. MorrisOns bill. His own
marty friends are not enthusiastic about it. Mr..
Holman is reported as saying, "The bill shows
Cd its face that Some haste was exercised by MI.
Morrison in its preparation" which Is rather
odd way of stating an obvious truth. 1t would
not be more obvious that some haste was ex-
ercised in preparing the ruins of a horse and
wagon after an express train had run over them.
The good old English phrase, 1t was hastily
knocked together" fits this bill precisely. Mr.
Converse, of Ohio, is quoted as expressing the
opinon that the old tariff on wool will be re-
stored in the bill before it is reported, which is
much the same as saying that an essentially new
bill will come from the Committee. But the
bill was palpably framed for political objects
only, and it was quito natural that reason, de-
cency and public interest should have been lg-
nored where there seemed to be any chance OF
making political point, and for the same
reason no one can guess what absurd inconsist-
encies may appear in its remodelllng.
Representative Harmer, of Pennsylvania,
gives excellent advice. He says, according to
repOrt, Were | manufacturer, L should not
- hesitate to make up my stock Tor the markets
u ON the basis of supply and demand and the
tariff as it stands" This advice he bases on the
fact that the Morrison bill has fallen utterly nat
He saws he has never known measure OF such
importance. and brought forward under such
circumstances, that has fallen so Hat, ana that
oninion those will be inclined to share who nave
noticed the treatment this bill has received
from most of the Democratic journals that nave
anv faculty of understanding what a tariff Oil
means From the first, it has been realized
that measure so crude and so contrary to all
reason WAS certain to be made ride
ulous in the hot fire Of debate. Though the
Democratic House might be guilty of almost in
conceivable absurdity and folly, if restrained
only by Republican criticism, it can hardly be
expected to take step which the most intelli-
gent members of its own party must regard as
disgraceful. That the Morrison BILL II
enacted in its present form, would be so re-
garded by the most intelligent Democrats Is
plain enough. -,
The danger is not that this crude botch VIII
pass. Mr. Harmer is right about that. But pre-
cisely because this bill, though offered by the
CHAIRMAN of the Committee on ways ana
Means, is one that the party Will not dare 10
seem responsible for, great effort VIII De maze
TO incubate something less absurd. The Demo-
Gratis are aware that one principal cause OF their
past defeats is that the party has not shown It.
self competent to deal intelligently with prac-
teal business questions. If it can make no bet
ter showing than it has done hitherto, its defeat
this year is inevitable. The Morrison bill Is not
an, improvement on the contrary, it is below
the past record of the party for intelligence III
practical matters, low as that has been II the
Committee reports this bill, and the House can
not frame better, the party Will be judged by
it-and disgraced by it. strong ana earnest
effort is therefore certain he made for such re-
pairs of the bill as may make it decently pre-
sentab.e. In the progress OF such struggle III
the open House, nobody can guess what phase
the measure may take, or how dangerous to
public interests it may become.
There is but one safe course-to resist at once
with all possible energy any change OF the tarIif
at this session. If those to whom stability III
their industries or trade is important Will at
once concentrate their efforts to this end, tarlfi
tinkering may be stopped for the session. But
if it once begins no one can guess where an IN
caDable Democratic House may stop.