The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-12
HARRISON'S TARIFF LASH
BRECKENRIDGE ATTACKS THE RE-
CIPROCITY CLAUSE.

he Doubts the Constitutlonality ofthe
Third Section of the Mckinley Act
The Retaliation Allowed Looked
Upon as Unwise and Dangerous-He
Proposes a Substitute.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE republican
principle Of reciprocity, as embodied in the
Mckinley act and practIced by the present
administration. is assailed for the first time
by the democrats this session In q resolution
which Mr.. Breokinridge of Kentucky asked
unanimous consent to offer in the House to-
day, as set forth In the report Of the House
proceedings.
The resolution is the subject of great dis
cussion tonight. 81 believe" said Mr.
Breckenridge to an Associated Press re-
porter, that the third section of the Nc
Kinley act is unconstitutional in conferring
upon the President power to impose taxes
without congressional action. l also be-
lteve that the retaliation allowed In
that act is not only unwlse
as regards our relations with
foreign nations, but is really burdensome
TO our own citizens, for it imposes dutles
which they have to pay. And when this
retaliatory measure is adopted only as to
certain nations. it makes an unjust discrim-
fnation which may also be not only
arbitrary but may be not free from
corruption. /, therefore, am anxious
to have that clause Of the Mckinley act
repealed; and while it may not be possible
to do it, desired to call the attention Of the
country to this measure, and thought II
might be done by connecting this move
ment In the House with the letter which
Secretary Blaine had written aud which
had been published all over the country.
WANTS A SUBSTITUTE
"And YETI continued Mr., BreckInridge,
being in favor Of the freest possible trade
consistent with the raising OF the needed
revenues OF the government, / appended
to the resolution instruoting the committee
on ways and means to report bill repeal
ing the third section OF the Mckinley act
and an instruction TO report in lieu
or 1t, true reciprocity provision by
which the President is given power,
which undoubtedly is constitutional, to
open the ports Of America TO the products
of such countries as do make true recipro-
cal arrangements with lis. / do not
entirely agree with some Of the
leading democratic statesmen as to
reciprocity treaties and arrangements.
There are grave objections to them, bub
think them better than prohibition tariffs,
and IL we cannot enact such revenue laws
as desire prefer to nee reciprocal arrange
ments made as far as they can be with any
or all nations, believing that any move.
ment in favor of free trade will serve as an
educational process accustoming the country
to better views and practices in our com.
mercial relations.
THE TIME oPPoRrUNE.
81 was further led to offer this resolution
at this particular moment beoanse the COM
mittee on ways and means had not yet had
time to become entirely organized and get
TO work on the various propositions which
have been submitted to It, and by selecting
at this particular jnncture this particular
provision OF the Mckinley act / might con-
centrate the attention of the country upon
1t separated from the other provisions of
the act. selected as the reciprocity pro-
vision 20 be reported by the ways aud
means committee one that had received the
sanction of large number, If not indeed q
majority Of all the democratic senator's in
the iSty-frstCougress. And while tn re may
be differences of opinion in our party as TO
the extent to which it is wise to 20, there
is no difference among us that the provision
adopted in the Mckinley act ought to be
repealed, and that some liberal measure
could be well enacted in lieu of it,
WELL RECEIVED.
MT. DTecKlnrluRes RESOLUTION appears 70
be well received by large majority Of the
ways and means committee II think very
favorably Of the proposition Of Mr.. Breck-
inridge," said Chairman Springer. "Of
course | cannot say what the committee may
decide TO do in the matter. am in favor OF
reciprocity, but whether would be willing
to go to the extent provided in the articles
mentioned in the resolution, l cannot say.
That question, however is a mere matter of
detail and does not affect the vital principles
embodied in Mr.. Breckinridge's resolution