Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-05-30
TARIFF REVISION.
Some of the Dffhculties It Presonts-At
titude of the Republicans ON this Sub


Some Of the Difacalties It Presents-At-
titude of the Republicans ON this Sub-
ject.
That there should be some revision of the
tariff seems to be admitted by Republicans
everywhere except in Pennsylvania. To
the people Of that State the present tariff
laws have reached an ideal perfection, not
to be tampered with, unless indeed to give
more protection. Higher taxes they could
stand, particularly as they sit at the re-
ceipt of custom, but lower taxes would SIM
ply be ruin to the country. But, apart from
these people who get most of the swag, it is
very generally held that the tariff should
be revised.
With view to this revision, the Demo-
cratic party has proposed the Mills bill. It
Is in itself an extremely moderate measure.
1t seeks to reform the tariff laws in tho
most cautious way, and instead of making
the tariff taxes stand all the brunt of sur
plus reduction it takes of to a large extent
the taxes from tobacco.
The bill is imperfect, as all such measures
must necessarily be, but the whole spirit of
it is In the line of true craftsmanship II is
not framed in spirit of hostility to any
industry or to any section. 1t wisely seeks
SO to adjust the tariff reduction as not to
inJure those industries which high tariff
has either called into existence, or has
forced into unnatural activity. 1t is based
upon the idea that the present state of
things can not continue and that some
changes and reductions must be made.
The tariff as we have it now, SAYS the
Chicago Herald, is in fact a monstrous
Jungle. 1t embraces some four thousand
articles, from which varying amounts Of
revenue are raised. 1t has duties specific,
duties ad valorem, and duties both specific
and ad valorem These are based on mar
ket value and on invoice value. 1t provides
for appraisements and reappraisements,
importers afidavits and Consuls' certif-
Gates. There has clustered about q large
number of decisions and constructions,
made, some by the courts, but most by the
Treasury Department 1t is not q single
law well rounded and complete, the result
OF single act of legislation. 1t is an in
tricate growth, having roots in many
places, the consequence and effect of many
years OF trading and tinkering amend
ments. Thus weeds and parasites that mo-
body knows the reason of have grown up
with it, with vast underbrush that simply
cumbers tho ground.
With such obstacles to encounter on the
one hand, and the ever-increasing surplus
In the Treasury demanding a reduction of
taxation on the other, one would think that
wise and patriotic party would meet any
proposed legislation at least in the spirit of
fairness. Knowing the immense difficult
ties OF the situation, one would expect to
see fair criticism upon the measure, with
suggestions of amendment, where the bill
dld not appear to come up to the Just re-
quirements of the situation-if the bill was
pad altogether, that then some substitute
would be offered. But have the Republic
ans taken any such stand as thatl They
oppose the bill altogether in letter and
spirit, In its extent and in its detail. They
offer no substitute and they offer no amend
ments. The high tariff papers denounce
the bill in every particular, and call it a
"free-trade" measure. When asked to ex-
plain such a lying description of it, they say
its tendency is toward free trade, and that
it is but an entering wedge, to be followed
by more radical measures hereafter. Such
an argument forbids all tariff revision, for,
according to that, any tariff reduction is in
the direction of free trade.
Other opponents of the present bill say
that the tariff should be revised by its
friends, meaning thereby the Republican
party. But not spokesman for that party
in the House has yet offered single meas
ure looking to that end, while all with one
accord are playing the role Of obstruction
lsts Every argument they make is opposed
to any possible reform in the tariff, and, in
lieu of reducing the tariff taxes, they favor
the abolition Of the whisky and tobacco tax.
Thus they are on the record. And vet
when concerned, they admit there must bs
some tariff revision, and again say that it
must be done by friendly parties. They
none of them make tho least move in that
direction, however, and so the most excel
lent fooling goes on, and the people can see
no end to the robber war taxes through their,
aid
Thus the difficulties Of revision, in them
selves great, are enhanced hundred fold
by the attidude of the Republican party.