The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-21
A FREE TRADE SCHEME.
A Bill to Reduce Duties $4,000, 900 Agreed
Upon for the Next Congress.
Washington Special to Philadelphia Press.

Upon for the Next Congress.
Washington Special to Philadelphia Press.
The apparent noncommittai attitude on the
question Of the tariff which has recently been
assumed by the more fanatical OF the so-called
tariff reformers is not due to the fact that they
are cooling off on the subject, but is the result
of some recent conferences in which, am in
formed, the more moderate Democrats, including
the President himself and Secretary Manning,
have thrown out the tub which is intended, at
least for the moment to pacify the free trade
whale
II must not for moment be supposed that
this deal has been brought about from any sin
cere desire on the part of the President and Sec
rotary Manning to aid the oppressed industries
of the country, but purely as a matter of party
I expedency. In the COME renee which has led
to this result and which took place recently in
Washington. CONGRESSMAN Randall took a lead
ing part, and, in many respects, his views had
much to do in shaping the new Democratic
policy.
First of ALL it was agreed on all sides that the
tariff must be revised. On this subject the
great ans of the Democratic party were a
unit
All congratulated themselves on the progress
they had made
The next questiou--namely methods and ex-
tent Of revision-was one of a very different
character, and not so easily settled. Revision,
as interpreted by the gifted statesmen of Ken
lucky or Mississippi, means wholesale and i'll
discriminate slashing of duties and the deluglng
of our home market with foreign goods at
moment when nearly every important industry
is depressed On the other hand, in Penn
sylvana and Ohio revision means an increase of
harmony in the tariff, the substitution of spe-
clfic for ad vaorem duties, far practicable,
n IN ba foot
of the tariff.
At last, after much discussion, in which the
advice of certain well known protectonists who
are more deeply and sincerely interested in the
industries OF the country, was sought, and freely
and frankly given the mOderates agreed TO give
the immoderates $40 600 coo reduction in Gus
toms duties during the coming session, the
mOderateS. however, to reserve the right of
creating sort of inner-circle tariff commission,
! to be run during the months preceding the com
| ing session of Congress as sort of sideshOw to
the Treasury Department.
On the other hand the immoderates were to
agree to observe the philosophers maxim that
the unSpoken word is a sword in the scabbard,
while the spoken word is q two edged sword in
the hands of the enemy-especially i'll localities
outside of their immediate districts
1t must not for moment be supposed that
reduction of $40, 100000, which involves the &C
ceptance and support on the part of free-traders
of a bill prepared entirely by the Randall wing
OF the Democratic party, was agreed to without
other and still more substantial promises in the
Immediate future AS few of the socalled pro-
lection Democrats comprehend the tariff and as
those who do understand it only look upon it as
secondary to party eXpediency, it was an easy
matter for them to follow the process of success
full otel-keepers-namev to promise anything
and everything: and it has been practically
agreed upon that the Treasury Department,
aided and abette2 bv such manufacturers as
may be found willing to cooperate with the Sec
rotary, will present bill, the basis of which
will be, as have said, the reduction of $40 Co.,,
600, or at least apparent reduction of that
amount. 70 this end the Treasury Department
has employed several experts who are now en-
gagged in obtaining opinions of manufacturers
throughout the country, and such information
as it is enabled to gather in relation to the cost
of production at home and in competing Euro
pean countries. All this information. will be
tabulated, and bill framed after the fashion of
that proposed land finally passedl by Secretary
| OF the Treasury Walker and which is known as
! the Walker bill of 1886"
On paper, and viewed as a whole, this is
| splendid scheme, and for four months the Ran
dali wing of the party may be able to lul their
ferocious free trade brethren to sleep. The
moment, however the bill, as proposed by the
Secretary of the Treasury, comes into the House
and is taken up-as it most assuredly will be
lire by line, the Democratic party Will be in the
same condition as it always has been on the
tariff question manufacturers who are asked
for their honest opinions on the advisabilitv of
reducing duties are not likely to recommend any
changes or so called revisions in the tariff that
will be likely to reduce the customs duties 80,
| 100000; indeed, the only way to make such
reduction this would be to increase duties or
to change some of the ad vaorem duties to
specific duties, and thus diminish the risk of
differentiation. A beneficial reduction in the
receipts might be accomplished in this way.
gin the meantime the Randall Democrats who
may promise great deal in secret conference
! with their free trade colleagues. will find when
it comes to voting, that to vote against the in
ereSts Of their constituents is not so easy mat
| ter. A struggle over the proposed treasury bill
will, in fact develop into the old struggle again
The least Objectionable measure may be passed.
| but measure that contemplates the reduction
of $40 600 coo of customs duties will in the opin
| ion of some of the leading Republicans here,
utterly fail and the attempt to pass such meas
ure will show not only the danger of free-trade
accession to power, but the ncapacity of the So
called protection wing or the Democratic party
| in dealing with tariff issues.
| While the fear of being defeated may deter
some Democrats from voting for destructive
! tariff BILL the developments of the next four
| months are likely to show that they are willing
| to make any promises and concessions to their
free trade allies, if they in return will only agree
to lie low until after another presidential cleo
| tion when the protected industries of our coun-
/ try are to be delivered over to the free trade
wolves t0 deStroy-