Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-11-04
A POLICY OF RETALIATION.
Hurtful Effects of the Mckinley Bill on
American Interests.

President Harrison issued proclama-
tons laying retaliatory duties on GER
tain products OF Venezuela, Colombia
and Hayti, as provided by the MeINin-
ley act, because those countries refused
to make such reciprocity dickers as he
deemed satisfactory. 1t was soon per-
ceived that these retaliatory duties were
at least as hurtfal to American inter-
ests as they were to the interests OF the
countries against which they were di.
rected.
This result, which economists had
foreseen, was well known to the new
administration, and it was understood
that the retaliatory proclamations
would be promptly rescinded. The
statement was made in March that the
president was strongly inclined either
to rescind the proclamations or to aban-
don the entire reciprocity business and
treat all countries alike. But for vari-
Gus reasons he decided to postpone ac-
ton. For one thing, there was a posi-
bility, at least, that the withdrawal of
the proclamations might call forth
strong protests and even retaliatory
measures from some of the countries
with which reciprocity dickers had
been made, and it was deemed advisa-
BILE not to cause Unnecessary irritation.
But a moge potent consideration was
the fact that congress was expected
soon to revise the whole tariff system
and adopt a new policy with respect to
II foreign trade relations. As that
was the case, it was deemed advisable
not to make a change by, executive &C.
ton which might soon be followed by
another change by legislative action.
According to a Washington dispatch,
there has of late been a special reason
for %postponing executive action. More
revenue must be raised from some
source. 1t may be raised in part by
means OF a duty on sugar. 1t would
look like a very tickle policy to abolish
the duty imposed by the retaliatory
proclamations and soon after reimpose
it wholly or in part by act Of congress.
The suggestion is made that it might
be advisable for the ways and means
committee to Settle the sugar question
promptly and then induce the state de-
partment to proceed upon the assump-
ton that the committees decision will
be accepted by congress.
That plan is not likely to be Adopted.
Secretary Gresham will hardly act rn6on
the ASSUMPTION that the decision of &he
committee will be the decision Of cen-
gress. II the majority in the senate is
going to accept it as settled that moth
ing a be done by that body so long as
the minority says no, there will bel no
tariff legislation of any Importance.
The republican Chicago Tribune states
plainly what will happen: "In the
course of time the house, which still
legislates, will send up a bill to repeal
or seriously modify the Mckinley law.
The republican minority will say that
it must not pass" The majority has
decided that it is helpless against min.
ing-camp ~selfishness; it will find itself
equally helpless against millaboss self.
ishness, and there will be no tariff re.
form unless the majority finds a way to
govern The president and the secre.
tary Of state understand that perfectly,
and they are not going to act upon tho
assumption that the senate will concur
in the passage OF any tariff bill tha,
may be sent over from the house.-Chi
cago Herald.