Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-21
A coMMENDABLE PROPOSITION.

n
The idea which has originated in Demo-
cratic quarters, and which is alleged to be
inspired from circles near to the President
elect, for the settlement of the tariff ques-
ton by the appointment of Commission
indicates a very emphatic desire on the
part of some Democrats not only to avoid
hasty action but to confine the tariff re-
ductiens to very conservative and cautious
changes. The proposition as published IS
that the present Congress at its opening
session shall authorize the PreSident-elect
TO appoint a Commission on the subject.
The Commission is expected to devote the
summer TO the subject and by October or
November to report to the Fifty-third Con-
gress tariff bill which would be passed
by that body in time to take effect In
April or July of 1894.
If it true that this plan is seriously con-
tamplated by the Democratic leaders it
would indicate moderate and even gen.
erous use of a sweeping victory aim ost
without parallel in political annals. The
Commission would be presumpdvely
non-partisan body. By the fact that it
was to be appointed by Mr.. Cleveland
the presumption would be even stronger
that it would represent his opinion in IA
vor of tariff reduction. The statement of
the proposition is that its personnel would
be selected from the business ranks. So
that the conclusion points to a report
carrying out Mr.. Cleveland's proposal
for tariff reductions, but shaping the re-
ductiOns on conservative and non-parti-
san lines, and with decided care against
injury to business interests.
Such a course would 90 beyond any pre-
yious expectations with regard to the care
with which the administration would use
its victory. For a party after gaining
such a sweeping success to let its antag-
OniSts off with such moderate use of its
power is almost without precedent: but
that such moderation would strengthen the
party using it beyond all former example
is equally true If such proposition for
a tariff reduction on conservative and nom
partisan lines is rendered 10 the Repub-
licans they cannot do better than accept
it, and be thankful that their defeat is at
tended with no more disastrous results.
But, while every impartial man must
applaud the moderation and even gener-
osity of the theory, it is not to be con-
cealed that there may be practical diff
cultieS in the way of making the theory
WORK. In the first place a doubt may be
suggested whether the basic idea IS correct,
that commission of business men is the
most conservative and disinterested body
possible Hearings before tariff commit
men are less swayed by self-interest than
other men. The character of the Com
MISSIONS report might be largely de-
termined by the business interests repre-
sented in the body. If there were
majority of the Commission from the
manufacturing interests, as is extremely
unlikely, there is no doubt that the tariff
changes would be extremely conservative.
1t the majority were from the importing
they might be quite the reverse.
But suppoSing that the Commissions
report should, as is contemplated, present
a scheme of tariff reduction of very con-
seryative and moderate character, it has
to be remembered that it would have to
undergo the action of Congress in which
there is a strong element of the radical
Our tariff history already
contains one instance in which tariff
report was changed by
Congress; and the Democratic
Congress might conclude that it was as
well able to do the same thing. If the
proposed Commissions report should not
be radical enough to suit the free trade
ring, there is no doubt that we would bear
anew in Congress the cry raised in the
Democratic convention, that the Demo-
cratic party might as well surrender to the
at once. After all it would
have to be determined by the contest in
Congress whether the moderate or the
radical policy of tariff reduction should
prevail.
1t is nevertheless to be earnestly hoped
that the Commission proposal is, as it pur-
ports, the authoritative administration
policy. This will be the hope of all un-
prejudiced minds, first because it indi-
Gates a moderation that contains the best
augury for the business future; and,
second, because it implies in any event
deliberation and care in whatever changes
are to be made.