Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-12-07
THE SENATE BILL.

When Congress Teassembles the
question of the finances will be the
unfinished business, and the Sen
ate revenue bill must come mp, at
once. 1t was laid aside in order to
hear from the country, and the
country has been heard from. The
treasury situation remains as 1t
was, and the necessity for re-
vision of the amount and sources
of revenue IS the same as it was in
October.
Criticism of the Senate bill IS
presented in some Republican
Quarters,-why, We do not exactly
see. That the Senate majority
we're wise in framing it, and not
simply opposing the House bill, is
perfectly clear. 1t made the situa-
tiOn vastly better for the Repnbll-
cans, in the recent discussion. 1t
furnished a decisive answer to the
char &c that they were opposed to
revising the tariff and reducing the
surplus. 1t showed the country
that while the Democrats Of the
House had proposed a tariff which
was sectional and unprincipled, the
Republicans of the Senate we're
ready with one to which no such
objection could be taken. 1t reas
sured the farmers and the lumber.
men, by transferring both their
commodities from the free list and
slightly raising the duties on wool.
SO far from obscuring the issues of
the campaign, it made them 30
much clearer that Republican
victory became reasonably certain.
In taking up the bill again, in
the light cast upon it by the em.
phatic action of the states in which
elections have been held, there will
be of course a distinct recognition
of the confirmation of its princi.
pies. 1t has been declared by the
vote just taken that no "retOrm" is
wanted in the direction of encour-
aging foreign productions to the
injury of our own, but that, on the
contrary the settled policy Of the
cou ntry is to produce for ourselves
everything that our soil, climate,
and other natural conditions per.
NIT. There 10 to be no reduction
there is to be no "revisionn of tariff
rates, except such as are needed to
make them correspond more &C.
curately to this general principle.
No one can be mistaken, now, as to
these points. The debate was
thorough, full, and without reserve.
The doctrine of protection was put
forward, openly and positively
The discussion by Republicans,
from beginning to end, was on the
broad ground, with no technical
eyasions, or verbal qualifications.
1t logically led to strong, simple,
and direct legislation. The fight
was made for the home market,
and against the in.pour Of foreign
goods: whatever 10 done, therefore,
to the tariff schedules must be, in
good faith, and absolute consistency,
done to keep our market for home
producers, and to place foreign
competitors at disadvantage
abundantly adequate to Offset the
difference in wages and other con-
ditiOns.
The Senate bill did not have a
careful and searching discussion
and 1t may need some amendments.
But it was the product Of several
weeks of assiduous labor by men
of the very best competency, who
undoubtedly succeeded In recon.
Cling many divergent though not
conflicting individual interests in a
general measure on the line Of pro.
lection. We do not believe that
any of it's features demand essen
tlal change, though some of
its details may be capable OF im-
prOvement. THIS will be better
seen when it is again examined un-
der tho fuller light which the coun-
try now possesses. and which Sen
ators enjoy in their degree, as well
as other people.