New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-31
cuhR1OTERTSTTO PERFORMANCE


Governor Hill could not bring himself to
sign the Canal Appropriation bill which passed
the Legislature of 1887. The bill provided
for facilitating State commerce by increasing
the lockage capacity Of the Eric and OsWcgo
canals. 1t also provided for improving the
Oswego. Black River, Champlain and the Ca
vupa and Seneca canals. The total amount
appyopriated to accomplish these objects was
$4,000. The Governors failure to approve
of this benefcent measure of large pubic IN
terest occasioned no great surprise. In mono
of his messages since he was elected to his
present position has he paid the slightest Ut
tent;on TO the canals. There is nothing In
these public papers of his to indicate that New
York has within her borders a great system
of artificial waterways.
Nevertheless, Governor Hill has signed the
bill PASSED by the last Legislature, which sp-
propriates $4,000 for additional canal i'm.
proyements. There's consistency for you
This exponent of peanut politics strains at
s55O,OOO in 1887 and swallows $4,000 IN
1883 Last year he blew cold on the policy
of canal improvement. This year he blows
hot upon it. What is Che natural explanation
Of this two-faced sort of conducb? Why does
Mr.. Hill turn up suddenly as friend OF the
canals? Well, Governor Is 10 be nominated
this year. the canal counties are more numerous
and therefore will send moro delegates TO tho
State Convention-tha the anti-canal coun-
ties, and Mr. Hill may conclude to stand for
denomination. II is likely that tho Governors
mind was not wholly free from these consid-
crations when he signed the bill OF this year
TIRE CHANGES IN TIE Mills BILL
The amendments which have been made In
Democratic caucus changed the form OF the
Mills Tariff bill without changing its character.
In numerous instances, the caucus has been
forced by more or less open threats OF boiting
in tho House to abandon the provisions re-
ported by the "Dark-Lantern'' Committee
In some cases, the names of members who
threatened to bolt have been mado known
possibly in the hope Of satisfying constituents
In other cases, the public is left to infer that
the flee-trade majority would not have
abandoned its assaults upon particular indus
tries. had not members likely to be especially
affected made known their necessities to thoii
party associates Undeniably. many of the
changes thus made render the bill less harm
full to certain industries. There will now be
strong effort to create tho impression that the
only valid objections to tho measure have been
removed by alterations In caucus. But the
fact is that, in all essential respects, the measure
remains as Objectionable and as dangerous as
It was when it first came from the Dark
LanternD Conference of Free-Traders.
1t would not be easy 70 make this clear
without an array of detail for which mary
readers would not have patience, were there MT
prominent features of the bill which fix rs
character beyond dispute. These features have
not thus far been altered. Observers on both
sides report that there is no probability thai
these will be altered in any essential
respect. The abolition OF the duties on wool,
and the substitution of ad valorem for specific
duties on woollen and cotton goods may BIO
named as the more prominent Of the features
in question which give TO tho measure its dis
tinctivc character. Others equally objection
able in principle need not be discussed while
these ROMAN in the pending bill. The abolition
Of wool duties is q direct substitution OF Free
Trade for Protection, and Affects an Industry
in which moro than 3 million producers are
directly interested, while all the farmers, in
number about half the producers Of the United
States, are indirectly affected. For If the
farmers who now derive part OF thor income
from the raising Of wool are compelled to
abandon that industry they must OF necessity
raise more of other products, and increase the
competition to which other farmers arc sub
iected.
The substitution of ad valorem for specific
duties on woolIen and cotton goods will be
quite as easily understood by all who have
given any attention to the workings OF the
tariff The woolen industry Is now greatly
depressed, in part because under Treasury
rulings hostile TO the principle Of protection,
the effect of specific duties Is to great extent
evaded by improper classifications, and it is
then easy TO evade the ad valorem duties BY
fraudulent undcrvaluations. Secretary Man
ming, President Cleveland's First Secretary OF
tho Treasury. though jealous and radical
Free Trader, acknowledged in his official re-
ports that tho ad valorern duties opened tho
way to great frauds. and strongly recommended
the substitution OF specific duties as far as
possible, so that whatever duties Congress
intended to impose might be honestly enforced
N Oh lls