Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-02-06
THE TARIFF BATTLE.
Wells Gives Pointers
to Democrats.
HILL IS LOSING GROUND
According to Statements by Cleveland
Men Other Capitol Gleanings.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 6. Mr. Springer
chairman Of the ways and means commit
tee. has received letter from David A
Wells, the noted political economist,in an
swer TO an inquiry from Mr., Springer
asking his ideas of the best means of re
forming the tariff by legislation. In his
letter Mr.. Wells says:
nnd myself more and more inclined 10 the
opinion that even II the Democratic party
were in full control OF both branches of con
gross and OF tho executive, the wisest and
most practical plan would he what might be
termed tentative rather than radical. Tc
franc n new tariff BIZ, wisely, embodying re-
form ideas-evon II tie plan Of the Walker
tariff OF lsi6 Is adopted IS n structure model
viii require much time, great labor and al
most superhuman wisdom. The best experts
can rarely tell wherein our complicated In
dustrial and commercial organization, the
final incident of any tax, will fall No bill
eau be framed that will not contain inrcUngru
flies and perhaps absurdites, which only tim.
and experience will reveal.
Mr.. Wells, after referring to the heated
partisan political discussion that will fol
low tariff BILL says:
Again with complete tariff bill, the friends
of reform would have to meet an entire force
OF protectionists, active and compact, through
the attraction OF further opportunity for pub
lie plunder On the other hand. under tho ten.
tative plan of con paratively few issues, tho
tendency of those interests not Immediately
affected would be TO sluggishnesS and indiffer.
cnce The old maxim, divide and conquer"
seems TO me, therefore, most pertinent under
existing circumstances.
Sir Robert Peeps Example.
Mr.. Wells calls at tcntion to the position
taken by Sir Robert Peel. in dealing with
a problem such as now confronts tariff
legislation. Sir Robert, he says, consid-
cred 1t from n British standpoint only In
which he took the tentative method, to
which, says Mr.. Wells he owes all Of his
great success. He continues:
BY adopting the tentative method and send
ting TO the senate u few sample bills enacted by
the house-bllls removing duties on wool, salt,
lumber, tin plate md the like--the Democ ratio
party will define and formulate the plan and
scope on which the tariff debate In the coming
presidential contest shall be conducted. Gen
eral debate will, TO great extent, be dis
pensed with, and discussion will be concen>
trated on the essentials Every senator who
votes In opposition 20 the removal OF taxation
from such articles ms are above specified, puts
himself at once on the defense, aud In po-
siton TO be politically uncomfortable.
The masses have been, and probably always
will be, slow TO comprehend tho tariff question
when discussed generally; but they will not
be slow TO recognize and appreciate the effect
Of taxation on commodities that cuter di-
rcctly and largely into the consumption, and
Increase the cost of their living and produc-
tion. II is assumed that none OF the reforms
In the tariff which II l. proposed 10 enbody In
separate bills can receive the sanction OF the
senate and executive and become enactments.
This do not altogether regard IA certain:
but suppose the sumption Is fully warranted
by experience, and that in the coming presi-
dentinl contest tho people end rse by their
votes the action OF tho house. Then, In the
next congress, or the next session OF the Fifty
second congress. Il would be wise
To RenewedIy Present
the detailed measures in question. rather than
a general bill; for, In the face of a decided rat
ihcation of them by the people, 10 would be
difficult To see how they could be rejected.
And IL accepted, even In part, the future work
OF reforming the tariff, either by n general bill
or in detail, would he comparatively easy. for
every interest deprived 20 further opportunity
10 plunder the public would follow the ex-
ample Of qunine manufacturers, when this
commodity was put upon the free list. and be-
came ardent tariff reformers, suggesting the
fable OF the old fox, who. when he 10 Z his tail
in trap, was moet anxious, for general con-
siderations. that oil tie foxes should have their
tails cut off,
Su,h are some Of the reasons which induce
our existing tariff system in detail. or by
what have termed the tentative, rather than
by a general bill, which involves q contest all
along the line and hes respect 10 every pertic-
lar, 10th OF tax and illustration