Morning journal and courier., 1892-02-06
ENDORSED BY WELLS.

Favors the Democratic Policy of At
 tacIking the Tariff by Separate BiIli l -Congressman Wells Letter to Rep
 resentative Springer.
 | WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-The policy of at
 tacking the tariff by separate bills has beer
 indorsed by the Hon. David A. Wells oi | Connecticut. At the next conference oi
 the democratic members of the ways and
 means committee there will be read let
 ter from MT. Wells to Representative Springer, dated Norwich Conn.,, Feb. 1, ir
 which the eminent political economist says
 'T have given considerable thought to youl question as to the best method of procur- | ing tariff reform by legislation and find | myself more and more inclined to the | opinion that even if the democratic party
 were in full control of both branches of | congress and of the executive the wisest
 and most practical plan would be what might be termed "tentative," rather than
 "radical" To frame new tariff bill
 wisely embodying reform ideas-even if the plan of the Walker tariff of 1S46 is adopted as a structural model-wiIl re- quire much time, great labor and almost superhuman wisdom. The best experts can rarely tell where, in our complicated industrial and commercial organization the final incidence of any tax will fall. No bill can be framed that will not contain inoongruities, ine1pediencies, errors and, perhaps, absurdities, which only time and experience will reveal. In that hot parti- san political discussion that will follow such bill, all these weak points will be picked out, exaggerated and used to obscure more important issues and confuse the public. Sup pose, for example, the proposed bills put works of art-paintings and stat uary-not ordinary merchandise, on the free list, as would be desirable. The ar gument in favor of such legislation is that products do not need the protection of any tariff, that all civilized countries make point of encouraging such importations and of not restricting them; and that their presence in the country developes artistic tastes among our people, which in turn creates demand for artistic products and so calls into existence our domestic indus tries, employing skilled labor at high wages, both of men and women. But how much would this plea avail before the great mass of voters in the agricultural districts, with political opponents coun- ter-assertions, that pictures and statuary were bought only by the rich as pure ob- jects of luxury, and are, therefore, emi nently fit subjects for taxation. Can we afford to give the enemy any advantages in discussion or opportunities for befog- ging the real issues!
 Again, with complete tariff bill, the friends of reform would have to meet the entire force of the protectionists, active and compact through the attraction of fur ther opportunity for public plumber. On the other hand, under the tentative plan that is of @ comparatively few issues, the tendency of those interests not immediate ly affected would be to sluggishness and indifference. "The old maxim, "divide and conquer" seems to me, therefore, the most potent under existing circumstances.
 MT. Wells calls attention to the fact that Sir Robert Peel, in dealing with exactly the same problem as now confronts tariff legislators, but from British standpoint adopted the tentative method, and owed his great success to the fact that he did adopt it. The British tariff, MT. Wells says, when Sir Robert Peel took office in 1S41, was extremely restrictive on British commerce. It was more complicated and taxed greater number of articles than the Mckinley bill. The first measure for tariff reform introduced by Sir Robert in 1S42 proposed little more than the removal of duties from crude materials, essen tial to manufacturing with view of cheapening the cost of manufacturing to British manufacturers. The measure encountered violent opposition. The same arguments were brought forward in favor of the continuance of the Mckinley tariff as were advanced in support of the then existing British tariff. The same predic- tions of impending disaster to domestic industry as gre now made were showered upon parliament and the public. The bill became a law and the beneficial influence of the reductions had become so manifest in reviving industry and commerce that MT. Feels chief opponents in 1842 be- came his chief supporters in 1845 snd voiced general public sentiment in de- manding further and greater reform. A bill was accordingly passed in 1S45 removing or reducing the duties on large additional number of articles, but still main taining protective duties upon manufactured arti- cles and agricultural produce, but it was not until 1S46 that Sir Robert passed the bill which repealed the corn laws and greatly reduced or entirely removed the duties on manufactured products, and it was not until 1852 that the last relic of the British navigation laws was swept from the statute book, and the policy of Great Brit ain became wholly antagonistic to laws re- strictive of the freedom of exchange or the imposition of taxes for any other purpose than revenue.
 Mir. Wells says:
 ''From this review of British experi- ence it is clear that if Sir Robert Peel in 1S42 had attempted to reform the British tariff as a whole and adopted any course in dealing with this problem other than the tentative one he would not have been successful. And I venture to predict that if we now adopt the same policy history, on a grander scale, will repeat itself. Every relaxation of existing restriction on trade will increase and the blessing of freedom and of exemption from all un- necessary taxation will be so understood and appreciated by the masses of our peo- pie that their progressive action will not be tolerated" A brief word further. By adopting the tentative method and sending to the senate few simple bills enacted by the houses, bills removing the duties on wool salt, coal, lumber. tinplate and the like-the democratic party will define and formulate the plan and scope on which the tariff debate in the coming presiden- tial contest shall be conducted. General debate will, to great extent, be dispensed with and discussion will be concentrated on the essentials. Every senator who votes in opposition to the removal of taxa tion from such articles as above specified, puts himself at once on the defensive and in position sure to be politically uncom- fortable. The masses have been and probably always will be slow to compre- bend the tariff question when discussed generally, but they will not be slow to recognize and appreciate the effect of tax ation on commodities that enter directly and largely into their consumption and in crease the cost of their living"
 The belief that such proposed bills could not receive the sanction of the senate and executive MT. Wells does not regard as altogether correct. But, he continues, supposing the assumption to be warranted, and that in the coming presidential contest the people endorse the action of the house. Then in the new congress, or the next ses- sion of the Fifty-second congress, it would be wise to present the detailed measures in question rather than general bill; for in the face of decided ratification of them by | the people it would be difficult to see how they could be rejected. And if accepted even in part the future work of reforming | the tariff, either by general bill or in | detail would be comparatively easy, for "every interest deprived of further oppor- tunity to plunder the public," would be- | come ardent tariff reforms.
 CHILIANS SENTENCED.