New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-18
THE COMING TARIFF VOIE


Mr. Morrison hopes to get his bill before the
House by vote to-day. He hoped last
summer also. But this time, according to
Washington reports, he has the promise OF ala
which is expected to be decisive from the Pres
ideut and the Mayor-elect. 1t is telegraphed
by Democratic informants that the President
has promised several votes which were cast
against the consideration of the MORRISON Dill az
the last session, but which he can now move Dy
judicous use of his appointing power. IL 's
also telegraphed that other members VIII %
| controlled by the desire to secure favOrs LOT
| their friends from MayOr-elect He WITT whose
great patronage.is to be used, it is sald 10 heip
| the cause he has so much at heart 1t would
| not be surprising if these influences, precisely
those which are best adapted to sway the DEM
ocratic majority, especially when nearly half OF
| its members have failed to get reelected,
should all to change the few votes needed
TO give Mr.. Morrisons bill a hearing In the
| House.
| If these reports are correct, President Cleve-
| land is to do exactly. what he many times prom
iscd not to do Uso of his appointing power 10
control legislation he has again ann again re-
fused, ON the ground that the Executive ought
to leave the legislative department OF the Gov
eminent entirely free, and on the ground 'hal
the Civil Service should not be prostituted Dy
appointments not based on merit. 1t VIII De
| interesting to see how those Civil Service re-
formers who are also Free Traders will treat this
matter, if the President does what is reported.
| They cannot excuse him for employing puDuc
patronage to favor their notions, and conuemn
him for exert;ng the same influence IN Dehal1
of other measures aud public policies which he
deems important. Civil Service reform Will
again. receive deadly blow from progressed
| friends, if the people are to be educated 10
praise the President, not only for using patron
age to help one political party against another
but for using it to force upon his party Inc hue
of policy which he chooses. With that step,
there would hardly. be anything left OF the re-
form, in. Democratic hands. that Is worth
saving
1t is but few weeks since the election OF MI.
Hewitt was earnestly opposed on the ground
that he was hostile to the protective tariff, that
his election would give the prestige of victory
in this great manufacturing city to the free
trade cause, that his influence with the Admin
istration and the House would be greatly in
creased thereby, and that the enormous patron
age of the Mayor would be used by him to help
assaults on the protective tariff, upon which the
|
industry in this city, so largely depends. But
Republicans and sincere PrOtectionists were
nevertheless induced to vote for him, on the
plea that his election would save property from
harm. and that the only real issue here was one
of good municipal government. Thus early the
| predictions of Mr.. Hewtt's opponents seem to
be verified His election has given prestige To
the Free Traders 1t has given him greater in
Il ha Admin = yotiOn.
His patronage is to be used if some of his intiu-
entail supporters are not In error, 10 oreak
down the resistance of Democratic members
who nave hitherto considered the welfare OF ln
dustry in their districts and therefore opposed
free trade bills. 1t will not surprise Repub-
licans if this proves true. Those who helped
to elect him may perhaps see that any aid to
Democr attic candidates gives strength to Dem
ocratic principles which are hostile to the best
interests of the country.
Consideration does not necessarily mean pas
sage. Mr.. Morrison's bill may take much OF the
time of the House and yet get beaten at the
end. The hope that it will be so modified as to
suit them is used to influence men of the most
contradictory aims; the sugar growers OF
Louisiana and the hemp growers OF Kentucky,
and even the wool growers and manufacturers
who want higher duties on tin plates and wire
rods, are told that if the bill can once be
brought up for action, the changes they want
may perhaps be secured. Thus there are more
men who are W iling 10 vote for some bill than
are willing to vote for any bill. With every
decision for or against proposed changes, the
bill is liable to lose strength. A vote for It's
consideration, If that should be obtained,
therefore, should not be regarded as proof that
the bill can be passed. even in the House.