Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-12-04
Afraid of Tariff Changes.

afraid of Tariff Changes.
The apprehension that our tariff NAV
again and at once be subjected to i'm,
portant general changes would undoubt-
edly add a depressing influence of the
most serious character. The general
tariff act has only partially gone into
1 operation, some of its important pro-
visions being limited to take effect at
/ dates yet in the future. The general
provisions Of the law have been in force
less than sixty days. Its permanent eff
fects upon trade and prices still largely
stand in conjecture. There is neither
wisdom nor justice in sthe suggestion
/ that the subject of tariff revision shall
I be opened before this law has had fair
! trial. 1t is quite true that every tariff
( schedule is subject to objections. No
bill was ever framed. / suppose. that in
all of its rates and classiications had
/ the full approval even of a party eau
Gus. Such legislation is always and
necessarily the product of compromise
as to details, and the present law is no
exception.
The misinformation as to the terms of
| the act which has been so widely dis
seminated at home and abroad will be
/ corrected by experience, and the evil
auguries as to its results confounded by
the market reports, the savings banks,
| international trade balances and the
general prosperity of our people. The
imports at the port of New York for
| the first three weeks of November were
nearly per cent. greater than for the
same period in 1889, and 90 per cent.
greater than for the same period in
1888.
Foreign Criticism Rcpugnant.
The criticisms of the bill that have
come to us from foreign sources may
well be rejected for repugnancy. If
these critics really believe that the
adoption by US of free trade policy, or
of tariff rates having reference solely
to revenue, would diminish the partici-
patton of their own countries in the
commerce of the world, their advocacy
and promotion by speech and other
forms of organized effect of this move
ment of our people is rare exhibition
of unselfshness in trade. There is no
disposition among any of our people to
promote prohibitory or retaliatory legis-
lation. Our policies are adopted not TO
the hurt of others, but to secure for
ourselves these advantages that fairly
grow out of our favored position as a
nation.
Again Smiling on the Farmer
From the time of my induction into
office the duty of using every power and
I influence given by law to the executive
department for the development of
larger markets for our products,
especially our farm products, has been
kept constantly in mind, and no effort
has or will be spared to promote that
end. We are under no disadvantage in
any foreign market except that we pay
wages than are paid elsewhere-better
abstractly, better relatively to the cost
of the necessaries of life.
In many of the products Of wood and
iron, and in meats and breadstuffs, We
have advantages that only need better
facilities of intercourse and transporta-
ton to secure for them large foreign
markets. The reciprocity CLAUSE of the
tariff act wisely and effectively opens
the way to secure a large reciprocal
trade in exchange for the free admission
to our ports of certain products. The
right of independent nations to make
special reciprocal trade concessions is
well established, and does not impair
either the comfy due to other powers
or what is known as the favored nation
clause" so generally found in CONNER
cial treaties. The state of the revenues
was such that we could dispense with
any import duties upon coffee, tea, hides
and lower grades of sugar and molasses.
As to Reciprocity.
There were but two methods of main
tanning control of this question open to
congress: To place all of these articles
upon the list subject to such treaty
agreements as could be secured, or to
place them all presently upon the free
list, but subject to the reimposition of
specified duties of the countries from
which we received them should refuse
to give to us suitable reciprocal bene-
fits. This latter method possesses great
advantages. 1t expresses in advance the
consent of congresses to reciprocity ar
rangements affecting these products,
which must otherwise have been de-
layed and unascertained, until each
treaty was ratified by the senate and the
necessary legislation enacted by con-
gress Indeed, this reciprocity provis-
ion is more than an offer. Our part of
the bargain is complete; delivery has
UCtH anu WncH tuc COuubl lCo
from which we receive sugar, coffee. tea
and hides have placed on their free lists
such of our products as shall be agreed
upon as an equivalent for our conces-
sion, proclamation of that fact COM
pletes the transaction.
Push Legislation.
In addition to the import bills that be-
came laws before adjournment of last
session some other bills of the highest
Importance were well advanced toward
final vote and now stand upon the
calendars of the two houses in favor
able positions. The present session has
fixed limit and if the measures are
not now brought to final vote all the
work that has been done upon them by
this congress is lost. The proper con-
sideration of these, of an apportion-
ment bill and of the annual appropria-
tion bills will require not only that no
working day of the session shall be lost.
but that measures of minor and local
interest shall not be allowed to inter
rupt or retard the progress of these
that are of universal interest. In view
of these conditions l refrain from
bringing before you at this time some
suggestions that would otherwise be
Hdue, anu mOSG earnestly invoke your
attention to the duty of perfecting the
important legislation now well ad-
vanced. The reciprocity clause of the
tariff bill will be largely limited, and
its benefits retarded and diminished, if
provision is not contemporaneously
made to encourage the establishment of
frst-class steam communication be-
tween our ports and the ports Of such
nations as may meet our overtures for
enlarged commercial exchanges.
Steamship Subsidies.
The present situation of our mail COM
munication with Australia illustrates
the importance of early action by con-
gress. The Oceanic Steamship COM
pany maintains line of steamers be-
tween San Francisco, Sydney and
Auckland, consisting of three vessels,
two of which are of United States
registry and one of foreign registry.
For the service done by this line in car
rying the mails we pay annually the
sum of GOO, being as estimated the
full sea and United States inland post
age. which is the limit fixed by law.
The colonies of New South Wales and
New Zealand have been paying annually