Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-08
Of All Tariff Reform, David A.
Wells, Writes
TO CHAIRMAN SPRINGER
Of the Ways and Means Committee, IndOrs-
ing Hills Plan
OF Alta king the Mckinley Tariff in Detail.
Wells is the Great Authority Quoted
by the DemOcrats-His
Letter In Full.
Approved by the Great Economist.

David A. Wells of Connecticut is known
everywhere as The father of tariff reform
His works and essays have served for years
IS the chief arguments of the Democratic
side against proIectionism. The letter writ
len by him to Chairman Springer approx
ing tine Crisp orman-Hill plan of attacking
the tariff in detail is generally regarded as
conclusive proof of the wisdom of the ma
jOTity. 1t throws a decisive damper on the
movement of Mr.. Mills 10 arouse opposition
amcng Democrats to the action of the ways
and means committee. The letter runs as
follows:
NORWICH, CONN, Feb. /, 1892.
Idy Dear Mr.. Springer.
Ihave given considerable thought to your
question as to the best method of procuring
tariG reform by legislation, and find myself
more and more inclined TO the opinion that
even if the Democratic party was 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 a new tariff bill wisely
embodying reform ideas-eyen if the plan
of the Walker tariff of 1916 is adopted as a
structural mOdel-will require much time
great labor and almost superhuman wisdom.
The best experts can rarely tell wherein
orr complicated industrial and commercial
organization, the final incidence of
any tax, viii fail No bill can
be framed that will not contain
incOngruities, inexpediencies, errors and
perhaps absurdities, which only time and
experience will reveal. In that hot parti-
san political discussion that will follow
such 4 bill, all these weak points will be
picked out, exaggerated and used to obscure
more important issues and confuse the
public Suppose, for example, the pro-
posed bill puts works of art paintings and
statuary, not ordinary merchandise, on the
free list, as would be desirable. The argu-
ment in favor of such legislation is that
such produce do not need the protection of
any tariff; that all civilized countries make
a pointof encouraging such imporJations
aud of not restricting them, and that their
presence in this country develops ar
tistic tastes among our people, which in
turn creates demand for artistic products
and so calls into existence new domestic in
dustries, employing highly skilled labor at
high wages, both of men and women. But
how much would this plea avail before the
great mass in the agricultural districts
with political opponents counter asser-
tons that 0pictlres and statuary were
bought only by the rich as pure objects of
luxury and are therefore eminently fit sub
iects of taxation. Can we afford to give
the enemy any advantages in discussion or
Opportunities for befoggiIg the real issues2
friends of reform would have to meet the
entire force of the protectionists, active and
compact through the attraction of further
opportunity for public plumber. On tho
o her hand, under the protective plan, that
sncy of those interests not Immediately