Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-28
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 2s, 1898
nn,lines Of the Proposed Tariff.

Every intelligent businessman Will
eagerly read the outlines Of the tariff bill
as proposed by tho Democratic members
~ the House Committee on Ways and
Means. and published In our telegraphie
columns this morning
Not many will be entirely satisfied with
tbe bill At most It viii be accepted as
"the best thing that could have been
done under the circumstances for 1t IS
evident enough that it Is the result OF
conpromiscs. Indeed, the committees
dealing with the sugar question IS an out
md out "siraddle." and is calculated for
the meridian" az the two Louisiana scua-
tors votes. After all that has been said In
denunclation Of "the bounty business II
seems mat 81 Is not deemed just 20 cut
n Of al once The sugar planters are to
be given eight years in which to wind
up their affairs or 20 acclimate them
solves to the new conditions. Whether
this RESPITE will satisfy them or not we
10 not know. No doubt they Will try TO
get an extension Of the bounty term since
under the Mckinley bill they were led
70 expect that the bounty would be pald
them for I5 years. Crude sugar Is to
be kept upon the free list, and the
duty is to be reduced on refined sugars
Coal and iron-orc are TO be put on
the free list. Mr.. Wilson has resisted
all the pressure put upon him by west
Virginia. or else was overborne by his
f,Uow-rnernbeIs Of the committee. As
our leader I'm the House when this great
question comes up for consideration II
will be- incumbent upon him TO explain
and Justify the committees policy. This.
We know. will not be- in accord with the
wishes Of large number Of his consttu-
cnts. and may bring his legislative ca
rcer TO ON end. lie. however, is not TO
be deferred in the performance OF what
he considers "a duty 10y any such pros
pcct. IL ne loses friends in his congress
sional district. he will but draw himself
closer to the President. This we may say
while giving fun credence to Mr.. vii
eon's denial that the President has
promised him a judgeship or any other
place. in case Mr. Wilson IS defeated Of
reelection next fall. Neither Wilson nor
Cleveland IS OF the bargaining sort.
But not West Virginia only, but Viz
GINA Tennessee. Alabama, and some sec
lions Of North Carolina. view with dis
favor the prospect of free coal and free
iron-ore. II looks as though New Eng
land Is dominating this particular fea-
ture of the tariff as she has dominated
so many others. We could have said
naught against a reduced duty on coal
and iron-ore, but 20 see them both adj
mitted duty free is a little more than
we are prepared TO rejoice at.
There - not blast-furnace I'm opera
ton in all New England. Southern enter
prise has made their fires cold. Now with
free Nova Scotia coal and ores obtained
in foreign parts they propose to blow
OUT their competitors in the South. As
Governor McCorkle. OF West Virginia
said. as far as a tariff for revenue will
protect. we want our industries protected
We observe that each State and congress
yional district in the Union Is trying to
get the very best terms II can for itself
and we shall ask 10 pardon for doing
likewise.
We see n vast deal-yes. indeed, vast
deal. that is good In the proposed tarin
and that makes us all the more solctous
10 secure its passage free from the
objections which make II bear hardly
upon our "infant industries" There will
he two more chances to secure the amend
mcnts We wish-one In the House, the
other in the Senate. The committee
have given the bill TO the public so that
they may have the benefit of intelligent
criticisms of IL. AS we understand, that
Is just what they desire. And as far as
we are able. that is just what we propose
90 give from time to time.
When everybody has been heard. when
every objection has been considered, then
we would have the two houses OF Con-
press act promptly and decisively. The
country can stand anything better than
prolonged agitation. We expect 70 hear
as emphatic popular demand for speedy
action on the tariff as there was for
action on silver repeal This one question
ohiy shiius pV'Wceh w anu d SVihPi''V
revival of business. Our hope is that
the Democrats will come together solidly
IN favor Of tho Hill after It has passed
the fire Of criticism and amendment,
md win then make II into law without
O day Of useless delay.
II win be observed with pleasure by
che great majority OF our people that
the bin aims great blow at some of
the most ayarieious OF the trusts which
have cursed our country in this de-
esde, Indeed. this is feature OF the
measure. one, too that Will so far to-
wards commencing 1t as whole TO
those who may happen to be disappoint-
Cd as to some Of its details.