The Portland daily press., 1890-09-11
The tariff Bill Passed.

While Maine people have been excited
over the election returns the Senate has
completed its consideration Of the tariff bill
and passed 1t by vote of 3S to 2S, party
vote This was done Tuesday No great or
striking changes have been made in the bill
In the Senate, unless Senator Aldrich's mild
reciprocity resolution be considered as such.
This resolution provides as follows:
with countries producing the following articles,
and for this purpose on and after the first day of
July, 1891, whenever and so often as the Presi-
dent shall be satisfied that the government of any
country producing and exporting sugar, molasses.
coffee, tea and hides, raw and incurred or any OF
such articles; impose duties or other exactions
United States, which. In view of the free intro
duction Oh such sugar, m0lasseS, coffee, tea and
hides into the Uniied States, he may deem to be
reclprocally unequal and unreasonable, he shall
nave the power, and 1t shall be his duty, to sus-
pend by proclamation to that effect, the proyis-
ons Oh TINS act relating to the free introduction Of
production of such country, for such time as he
snail deem just and in such case and during
and paid upon sugar, molasses, coffee tea and
hides, the product of, or exported FROM such des-
lgnated country as follows.
Then follows lisr of the rates of duty
which may be imposed by the President in
case foreign nations discriminate against us.
The chief difference between this method
and the old method of making reciprocity ar
rangements lies In the greater power given
the President. We have at present a reci-
procity arrangement with Hawaii and a linn
tied arrangement with Mexico. But such
arrangements have been negotiated in trea-
ties which were approved by the Senate.
Senator Aldrich's amendment would give
this approval in advance. This is the only
feature of the plan Of reciprocity which
can be considered Objectionable. This ma
ton has for long time pursued
policy Of reciprocity whenever it thought
1t could make good trade but Congress has
heretofore given its approval after the trade
aud not before it, 1t is grave question
whether Congress should delegate the tax
ing power, which it does when it delegates
the power OF putting on or putting off GER
tain revenue duties, to any executive officer
OF the government. In arranging reciproci-
ty treaties the executive officers of the gov
eminent have not always made treaties
which the people could approve. The Sen
ate rejected the Spanish reciprocity treaties
OF Arthur's administration because Spain
seemed likely to get both ends of the bar
gam Hawaii now gets both ends of the
bargain out of her treaty; but the American
people consent to it for international and DO
hticai reasons But our government has
surrendered ten million more of sugar duties
tnan the total receipts from all the Ameri
can goods that have been sold in Hawaii nm
der the treaty. Our people have not GOT
sugar cent cheaper and we are out ten nil.
lion dollars more than we should have been
had we had no treaty and bought and thrown
into the sea all the goods our merchants
have sold in Hawaii under the treaty. Re-
ciprocal treaties may be good or they may be
bad, as sny other trades may be. How
much freedom Of the taxing power should
be given the President in making them is a
grave question