Mower County transcript., 1890-12-10
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Synopsis OF President Harrison's
Annual Message ~~ !.
His Views on the Tariff Law ard Its Et.
fects- s-Recomme endations In Favor
of the Election Bill-Othsr
Suggestions.
THE TARIFF BILL.

u tno message WnlC0 WILL attrACt the most at
tention is that concerning the tariff legislation
OF the last session OF Congress- Speaking on
this subject, he says: !.
The general tariff act has only partially gone
Into operation, some OF Its important provis-
ions being limited to take effect ut dates yet
IN the 1eture. The general provisions OF the law
have been In force less than sixty days. It's
permanent effect upon tfhde and prices stiM
largely stand In conjecture. It is curious to
note that the advance in the prices Of articles
wholly unaffected by the tariff act was ly many
hastily ascribed to that act. Notice was not
taken OF the fact that the general tendency of
the markets was upward, from influences
wholly ap0rt from the recent tariff legislation.
The President believes that in its general
scope and effect the act will justify the support
OF those who believe that American legislation
should conserve and defend American trade and
the wages Of American workmen. The misin
formation as to the terms Of the oct which has
been so widciy disseminated at home and
abroad he believes will be corrected by expe i.
ence, and the evil uuguries Us to its results con-
founded by the market reports, the savings
banks, international trade balances and the
general prosperity OF our people. Continuing
he says:
The criticisms Of the bill that have come to
US from foreign sources nay we'll be rejected
for repugnancy. If these critics really believe
that the adoption by US OF u freo.trade poll
cy, or OF tarllI rates having reference solely to
their own countries in the commerce OF the
world, their advocacy and the promotion by
speech and other forms OF organized effort OF
this movement among our people is u rare e1
hibltion OF unselfshness in trade. And on the
other hand, If they sincerely believe that the
adoption OF protective tarin policy by this
country inures To their profit and our hurt, it is
notceably strange that they should lead the
outcry against the authors OF policy so help.
ful to their coun:rymen and crown with their
favor those who would snatch from them q sub
stantial share Of a trade with other lands, al-
ready inadequate to their necessit es.
There is no disposition among any Of our
6ur policies are adopted not 70 the ,;s'o hurt Of
others, but to secure for ourselves those
advantages that fairly grow out OF our
position as Na.l9n "n. Our OF
suffrage, makes it imperative that we shall
save our working people from the agitations
and distresses which scant work and wages
that have no margin for comfort always
beget. But after all this is done it will be
found that our markets are open to friendly
commercial exchanges Of enormous value to
From the time Of my induction into ot6ce,
the duty OF using every power and influence
given by law to the Executive Department Tor
products, especially our farm products, has
been kept constantly in mind, and no effort has
BEEN or will be, spared to promote that end.
We are under no disadvantage in any foreign
market except that we pay our working men
and working women better wages than are paid
elsewhere-bet1er abstractly, better relatively
W bUc COSt vi LAc ucCcSSdIi0S VI lu0 l. 10 uOG
doubt that very largely increased foreign
trade is accessible to US without bartering for
either our home market for such products OF
the farm and shop as our own people can sup
ply or the wages OF our working people
In many OF the products of wood and iron,
and in meats and breadstuffs, we have advant-
ages that only need better facilities OF inter-
course and transportation to secure for them
large foreign markets The reciprocity clause
OF the tariff act wisely and effectively opens the
way to secure large reciprocal trade in ex-
al 70 o1fYCf for9 froo ccin IN ,0rfc 0f
certain products. The right OF independent
nations to make special reciprocal trade con-
sessions is well Established, and does not
what Is known Us the sfavored nation clause"
so generally found in commercial treaties.
What is given the one for an adequate
revenues was Such that we could
hides w an the any wer E4as Of suaas
and molasses That the large. advantage re-
sulting to the countries producing and export
ing these articles by placing them on the free
customs concessions upon articles exported by
us to them was so obvious that to have gratu-
1tuously abandoned this opportunity to enlarge
our trade wo.ld have been an objectionable
error.
There were but two methods Of maintaining
control of this question open to Congress. To
place all of these articles upon the duttable
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 the countries from i! which t,a
suitable reciprocal benefits This latter
method, I think, possesses great ad-
t. in the
ments affecting these products, which must
otherwise have been delayed and unascer
tanned until each treaty was ratified by the
by Congress. Experience has shown that
some treats looking to reciprocal trade have
failed to secureo two-thirds vote in the
Senate for ratification, and others have have
awaited the concurrence of the House
and Senate in such notifications Of our reve-
their provisions We now have the concur
renee of both houses in advance in distinct
and definite offer OF free entry to our ports OF
specific articles. The Executive is not re-
quired to deal in conjecture as to what Con-
gress will accept. Indeed, this reciprocity
provision is more than an offer. Our part OF
ana he re%
receive our 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 concession, q proclamation Of that fact
completes the transaction, and in the mean
time our own people have free sugar. tea cof-
fee and hides.
COMING LEGISLATION.
The President calls the attention OF Congress
to number Of bills of high Importance, which
the adjournment Of the last session, and. In
view of the fixed limit OF the present session,
urges their speedy consideration, so that the
work done upon them BE- not lost.
He repeats his recomm endat4ons contained
in his last message in relation to the develop
ment Of American steamship lines. The ben
efits Of the reciprocity clause OF the tariff bill
will be retarded and diminished he says, If the
establishment of frst-class steam communica-
ton is not encouraged between our ports and
the ports of such nations may meet our
overtures for enlarged commercial exchange .
He renews his recommendation of last MeJ
that careful and well guarded charter be
granted to an. International American bank
with view to facilitating money exchanges
between the States represented in thednter-
national American conference.
ELECTION LAWS. -, 5... =.
The President says It is gratifying to know
that generally there is 3 growing and non-parti
san demand for better election laws The need
OF q law providing Federal supervision OF
Congressional elections has manifested Itself in
many parts Of the country. The present law.
he says, stops just short Of effectiveness, Tor II
surrenders to the local authorities all control
over the certilcation which establishes the
pri.aa Laoie right to Q seat IN the House
OF Representatives This defect should be
cured. The law should give the advantage TO
4 1l~a r.