Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-01-25
TARIFF LEGISLATION.
Senator Allison Feels There Will Be
Some Reductions, but No Sweep
ing Tariff Changes
C!erelan,i's Free Trade Message Will
Hurt In the Eastern
States.

dubuque special to Chicago Inter Ocean, &
" Senator Allison having been called home
10 attend to some important private busi-
ness, the later Ocean correspondent vis-
tied him al his residence for the purpose OF
int, rviewing linn On matters OF public in
terest. The Senator displayed his customs
ary disnclination to submit to the news.
paper inquisitor. Dn the Presidential
question and some other topics he refused
to say anyth ng. while ON other questions
lie talked quite freely. As TO tariff ieeisla-
ton he said, witaout hesitation, that legis-
lat,on was needed, and would undoubtedly
be enacted during the present session. lie
said the great surplus now on hand and its
rapid accumulation demanded that Con-
press should do something in the direction
OF icducing the revenue, and that such ac-
tlon NoUld have been secured during the
last session had the Democratic majority in
the House been willing 10 deal with it with
out s.crihi our industrial interests.
This year, he said, the necessity for some
action was very great. and Congless would
be compelled TO act. He did not wish to
outline any definite pl IN, but said the par
ties were SO divided that, in OIL der to reach
any result, mutual concessions must be
made. In this split he would consent to
the repeal of the internal revenue tax on
tOUdcCO. ~ HIS uluu, luc HIsl uuNy lC-
spects tariff was 10 repeal or greatly reduce
the sugar tax, and LIE was confident this
would ultimately be doe. lie believed
there was probability of a still further en-
largemeLt OF the free list, but that had al
ready been 80 enlarged that fully one-third
Of our entire impoitatiOns now come free
of duty. He did not believe 1t possible,
with existing Majorities in the House or
Senate, To revise the tariff without preserv-
ing the protective pr.n iple, but that there
should be reduction in the annual reye-
nue. from $65,000,000 to $75, 900, 900, or
perhaps mort.
Being questioned in regard to sppropria-
tons, the Senator said thot there would be
appropriations made to mode rate extent
for coast Notifications and for the lcrease
of the navy, but tat it was not probable
that more thaa $5,000.000 annually for
each of these purposes would be provided
for. As to the river and ha,bor appropria-
tons, he thought they would be lar er this
year than usual; because the President had
exercised the pocket veto at the last ses-
sion, and this suspended work on mary
needed public Improvements Of rivers and
harbOrs upon which large amount of work
had already been done.
He felt confident that Congress would,
during this session, make beral provision
for needy and dependent soldiers upon the
pension rolls, which. if not vetoed by the
President, would require considerable
increase of pension expenditures annually.
Still, with all these proper expenditures,
the existing large surplus would continue
to accumulate unless taxes were speedily
reduced, and he believed the party that
failed to do its share in this work would
lose in public favor. He favored the fur
ther purchase OF Al per cent. bonds. even
at slight advance over present prices,
rather than leave these large sums in the
be preferred to the enlargement of depos-
its with national banks and that such
purchases were now fully authorized by
law, notwithstanding that the President, in
his message, had mildly expressed doubt
as to the power.
In reply to question as to the wisdom
OF Cleyeland's free trade message, he said
that it had greatly injured Clevelnnd's 8
chances in New York. New Jersey. and
Connecticut, without in any degree
believed Cleveland would be reuominated
by his party, and would find the arguments
used in his late message embarrassing to
him in the States named
In his Judgment, there will be no legis-
lation during this session looking to q
change in the matter of national bank cir
cuiation, although some more liberal pro-
vision might he made for the use OF United
States bonds in the organization of ma
tional banks. He did not look for any
legislation on the silver question. The
present law seemed to be working we'll
enough, so there was no apparent need Of
any legislation on the subject.
In regard to the coming Presidential
campaign, he believed the issues were
likely to be made up by the conduct of the
two parties in Congress during the pending
session. He expressed his belief that Mr..
Lamar would be confirmed, as the Demo-
Gratis would all vote for him, and, with
their votes, he would only need two Repub-
hcan votes to secure his confirmation.