St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-04
rARIEE REFORM.

The protection papers are fond Of
contrasting the methods OF the Repub-
Iican committee of the house now at
work on the tariff question and the SIM
lila committee of the preceding house.
Now, it is claimed that the doors are
thrown open, and all who have interests
involved are invited to come and tell
what they know or want. This is said
to be fair and busineSS-like, and will
result in a revision that will meet the
needs of the industrial interests of the
country. illustrations of this will be
noted in the reports of the sessions OF
the committee. With but a single ex-
ception the parties who have appeared
have insisted that their manufactures
demand the retention of all of the pres
ent protection, if not an Increase. One
glass manufacturer from Pittsburg urged
that soda ash be put on the free list With
othec materials Used in his production,
but he was badgered and shown to be
unwelcome by the majority. 1t is not
surprising that the represe" tatives of
fostered Interests and monopolieS should
be the parties consulted. The monop-
oIies built up by the tariff are compare
lively few in number, and generally
convenient to the capital. They are
wealthy, and can afford large eXpendi-
lures to keep up the bonus system that
has enriched them. Their agents are
always ready to respond to summons
| to Washington to show how the interests
| of labor are at stake in the maintenance
of the war tariffs. They are glib and
persuasive takers. and they have the
| gall to claim that they are solicitouS for
the taxation to be kept up for the
benefit of American labor. That old
trick has been worn threadbare, but is
| still made TO do duty. Even the Chicago
Tribune admits that the favorite argu-
ment of protection, that it keeps up
wages, is untrue and but q hypocritical
| pretense good for making votes. The
trusts and combinations can afford to
| crowd the committee rooms. That body
| is the outcome of their campaign contri-
buttons, and they expect it to do their
work. Those who want larger profits
or to shut out possible competition
would be deficient in business sagacity
If they did not insist upon their special
privileges. 1t is but an exhibition of
natural greed. But the mass of con-
sumers aud toilers all over the land
have all they can do to meet the
exactions of existence, without going
to Washington to relate in their
unprofessional and unadorned way
their.grievances. They haven organi-
cation and no paid agents. Their stories
are not wanted. 1t was given out at the
first that the tariff revision was to be on
the line of the senate bill of last year
and the Chicago platform-not IN the
interest of the people, but of the sub
sidized specialties. This is not tariff
reform. 1t is not what the country
wants and will have. That bill added
largely to the duties on most iron and
steel articles, although Col. SHOOK
who has been investigating the situation
over the water as an agent of the pro
tective league, says iron is produced il
, this country cheaper than in England
and that wages have advanced over 8
per cent there. A revision upward OF
iron, tin-plate, wool and other manu-
features will not add to the value Ot
agricultural productions, or relieve thu
masses Of any burdens.