The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-06
sPRINGER's TARIFF POLICY.
1t Is Approved by David A. Wells, the
Great Free Trader.

WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. 5.-The Springer pol
icy OF attacking the Republican high tariff by
separate bills has found endorsement from the
great political economist and father of tariff re-
form, Hon. David A. Wells of Connecticut. At
the next conference of the Democratic member
OF the ways and means committee letter from
him viii be read not only endorsing the Springer
policy as the wisest party course at this
time, but intmating that even if
the Democrats controlled both houses OF
congress and the executive, the separate bill
plan, rather than measure for general revision.
would be the wiser course. That the gentleman
whose works and essays Tor years have served
as the chief Democratic literature in the agita-
ton for tariff reduction should approve the
plan now adopted by the Democrats on the
ways aud means committee is naturally a source
OF great gratih cation to Springer and other
members OF the House, who have stood as al
yocates OF the separate bill policy as opposed to
the demand for an attempt at a general revis-
ion. Mr.. Wells in his letter, referring TO the
framing of complete new bill, says:
No bill can be framed that win not con-
tain incougruties, errors and perhaps absurdi-
ties, which only time and experience will re-
veal In hot partisan discussion ali the weak
points will be exaggerated and used TO obscure
the more important issues anu confuse the pub-
lie. We cannot afford to give the enemy adyan-
tages in discussion or opportunities for Defog
ging the real issue.
Again, with n complete tariff bill the friends
oil reform would nave 10 meet the entire force
of the proteetionists, active and compact
through the at raction of further opportunity
for public plunder. On the other hand, under
the tentative plan-that is, OF comparatively
few issues-the tendency OF those interests not
Immediately affected would be TO siuggishness
and indi florence.
The old maxim, "Divide and conquer" seems
therefore the most pertinent under existing cir
cumstances. He also asks attention 10 "A matter
of historical adherence, full of suggestion,
which thus far seems to have been overlooked,
at ia Robert n Heal liuuy
exactly the same problem, but from British
standpoint, adopted the tentative method and
owed all OF his great success TO the fact that he
did adopt it. Mr.. Wells then goes on 10 detail
the attack made by Peel in 1872 ls45 and 1916 on
the British tariff laws and how, under the con-
tinuation OF his policy after he lef. Office, the
last relIc of British navigation laws were swept
from the statute books in 1852, and the policy of
Great Britain became wholly antasonistic to
the maintenance and enactment of all laws re-
strictive of the freedom of exchange or the i'm
position OF taxes Tor any purpose other than
revenue
Saws Mr. Wells: And venture TO predict that
if We now adopt the same policy, history on n
grander scale will repeat Itself. Every relaxa-
tion of existing restrictions on trade will ill
crease trade, ard the blessing Of freedom and
exemption from all unnecessary taxation will
be so understood and appreciated by the masses
of our people that retrogressiye action will not
be tolerated. Furthermore, by adopting this
method and sending 10 the senate few simple
! bills enacted by the House, removing the
duties wool, salt, coal, lumber, un-plate
and the like, the Democratic party will
define and formulate plan and scope on which
tariff debate in the coming presidential contest
| shall be conducted. General debate will thus
| be to Il great extent dispensed with and discus
| sion will be concentrated on essentisls The
masses and probably always will be slow TO
| comprehend the tariff question when discussed
! generally, but they Will not be slow to recog-
| niZe and appreciate the effect OF taxation on
| commodities that enter directly ana largely
| into their consumption and increase the cost Of
| living and production.