St. Paul daily globe., 1893-11-28
TARIFF REVISION.

TARIFF REVISION.
Some of the provisions of the new
tariff bill which has been in course oi
preparation by the house committee or
ways and means during the recess OF
congress have been made public, an(
have been given in Washington dis
patches. The schedules are still sub
ject to revision, and before the bill is
reported some further changes may be
made. 1t is said that wool. iron, ore
coal. cotton ties, copper, lumber. salt,
binding twine and flax will be placed
on the free list. and that there will be a
gradual reduction of the sugar bounty
so that it will be eXtinguished at the
end of eight years. Other minor details,
affecting special interests. show that
the work of the committee has been
very thorough, but judgment as to its
wisdom cannot be given in the absence
of full particulars.
There will doubtless be considerable
opposition to the abolition of all these
duties, and this opposition will perhaps
take the form of a combination of the
representatives whose constituents may
be affected. The sheep farmers of Yer
mont, Ohio and Montana will combine
with the iron producers of Penhsyi-
vania, Michigan and Wisconsin. and the
lumber manufacturers of the Northwest,
the result of which will be the retention
of the duties Oh those articles of produc-
ton. The sugar producers of the South
will combine with other protected in
terestS in the North so that they may
retain their bounty, and thus the pur-
pose of the committee it very likely to
be defeated.
Present indications are that this con-
test over this matter will be one of the
bitterest and most prolonged in the
history Of the country, and its result
cannot be foretold. 1t lis much to be
feared that no substantial reform in the
tariff schedules can be wrought at this
time. The iron interests are rich and
powerful. They have been protected
for thirty years, and made to regard the
tribute they exact from the public as
theirs by right. The coal barons are of
hand in hand. They comprise the dele
cations from some half-a-dozen rich and
powerful states. Unfortunately, all
Democratic congressman from these
states cannot be depended upon to vote
in favor of withdra wing the benefits of
protection from their own constituents.
They will be willing to vote in favor of
reducing the duties on the products of
neighboring cOmmonwealthS. but will
order hands off of anything that con-
Germs their own. The Minnesota and
Wisconsin delegations will be willing to
abolish the duties on salt and the boun-
ty on sugar, but they will oppose plac-
ing lumber on the free list. The entire
Northwest is in favor of the abolition of
the tax on binding twine and salt, and
would even consent to the removal of
the wool duty, but Is opposed to placing
lead and copper OIL the free list.
The strength of the tariff robbers lies
in their mutual dependence upon each
other. Questions Of equity do not enter
into the controversy. You tickle me
and I'll tickle you'' is the basis of their
compact. A broad patriotism that ig-
nores local and selfish considerations is
tOO IdI6 diuUilS OuI SIdl0Slu6Hs perhaps
it is folly to expect it when the officials
future is SO subject to the caprice of a
few men whose favor he is compelled TO
courtin order to attain his ambition.
The position of President Cleveland
on this question will doubtless have
much influence in determining the
character of the tariff bill that shall ulti.
mately be adopted. If he still. adheres
to the position he announced in mis-
tariff message sent to congress near the
close OF his first term, we may look for
a considerable reduction and equaliZa-
tion of the burdens of taxation. There
is no evidence that he has changed his
views in this respect. His counsel will
be sought by many of our representa-
tives, and his advice followed. But un-
til he shall give expression to his views
there is little upon which an estimate of
the result of the controversy can be
based.