New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-18
TARIFF AGITA7ION GETTING WEAK.

TARIFF AGITA1ION GETTING VEAh.
The silver fanatics are to have their own way
in the House The tariff will he set aside next
week under the rule which has been adopted.
The discussion, so-called, excites no interest,
and only goes on in perfunctoy way because
great number of members have speeches which
they want to deliver for home consumption that
their constituents may imagine they are doing
something at Washington. 1t is not expected 10
reach vote at present, and when the Silver bill
comes up it will probably be discussed with such
energy and acted upon with such promptness
that the contrast will be painful to tariff reform
ers. More than hundred Democratic members
feel that their political lives depend on their
prompt action in regard to the Silver bill. But
nobody really cares whether "piecemeal tariff
reform" receives any attention or not.
This is not because any Tariff bill that may
be passed is certain to be defeated by the Sen
ate. 1t is equally certain that any Silver bill
that nav be passed will be defeated, either by
the Senate or a veto. Yet the two bills pending
receive very different treatment. Democratic
Congressman dare not defer the Silver bill until
the nominating conventions in their various dis
tricts draw near 1t is life or death with them
10 GET IN votes IOT ITtt COludEN bCiOic WV wv
ton Of delegates to those conventions. Whether
the Tariff bill is deferred they do not care. The
reason is that no body Of constituents anywhere
cares about the proposed reduction of duties on
woolen goods, because constituents know that
they are getting goods as cheaply as at any other
time. AS for the wool duty, many Democratic
congressman believe that votes for its repeal
would hurt rather than help them in their dis
tricts. With nothing to gain, but some posi-
bility of loss, they are quite willing that the
Tariff bills should wait.
This contrast should be revelation to Free
Traders. Probably Democratic Congressman are
fairly well informed about the wishes of their
Democratic constituents ignorant as they may
be on other matters. They find frantic de-
mand for free silver, laundering and Ignorant
but yet real They find no such real and earnest
demand anywhere for reduction or repeal OF
duties which have not added cent 30 the ex-
penses of the people. The silver frenzy is OPP
posed by intelligent and substantial people and
by business men generally, but these do not
make Democratic nominations. The narrow
minded and intensely projudiced voters who
imagine that free silver would put more money
into their pockets can and do make Democratic
nominations III Hioc IMAM nan uno uisui|'' on"
Congressman dare not postpone vote on the
question.
There is no solid or earnest popular demand
for change of tariff on wool and woollens, and
the closet theorists are beginning TO learn the
fact 1t was an amazing blundcr, as TIE TRIB-
UNE told them to select for attack those very
features OF the new tariff which had not affected
prices or imposed even imaginary or temporary
burdens On consumers. As part Of general
revision of the tariff, in which free cotton ties,
free tin plates, free coal and iron ore and twine
would have place, the proposed changes on wool
and wooens would have been acceptable to
most opponents of Protection. But standing
alone, they have no popular desire or demand
behind them. The silver fanaticism is foolish,
but it is real and controls votes.