New-York tribune., 1893-11-27
THE BILL THAT THREATENS.

Before the proposed tariff bill is reported to-
day, there are some suggestions which 1t may
be profitable for business men to consider. The
talk about putting the bill through before the
1st of February does not merit much atten-
tion Almost anything can be done in the
House, but it took nearly month to get the
Silver bill through that body with an over
whelming majority in its favor and the tariff
is question on which many will desire to ex-
plain their action. The House will presumably
adjourn for the holidays, so that 1t will have
less than three weeks before the adjournment
for discussion OH a measure which cannot be
passed in bulk, so to speak. but will have to
be considered more or less by items in the Com
mittee Of the Whole. In view of the proneness
Of Democratic lawmakers to 60 slowly, 1t would
not be at all surprising if 1t should be nearly
the 1st of February before the bill gets out OF
the House. How long time 1t may occupy In
the Senate nobody can guess.
The influence Of this pending measure must
therefore be felt for good many weeks before
business men can definitely know what its pro-
visions are to be. CnavOidably. this uncer-
tainty will retard trade somewhat, but as folks
must eat and drink. be clothed and sheltered
even while the tariff bill is pending. there will
60 on a considerable volume Of business, In
tentative hand-tomouth fashion. and all the
more because buyers and manufacturers have
both restricted operations for several months
past Stocks in the hands of dealers are low,
and also stocks ut the mills, and the mere neccs-
stiles of the public will sustain large volume OF
trade 1t is possible that the visible increase
In Ito IN fol,o view OF the
future and to buy more than is wise. but the
chances are that most people Will err on the
side of caution if they err at all.
There Is already apparent little TOO much
disposition to take it for granted that what the
committee reports will be passed by both
houses and become a law. good many
things are more probable than that all the
Democratic Senators and Representatives will
consent in advance TO be bound by caucus on
a measure which affects the business OF their
constituents and their own political existence
In the Senate small number OF men, not more
than four or five, by refusing to be so bound,
and casting their votes as their own convictions
or interests may dictate, could make 1t impos-
sible TO pass any tariff not suited to them. and
it would be surprising if there should not be
1Ou0u CcIdtOIS cHOuSH w tnhc 'h"e po'''''"
with success 1t is already stated that
five Senators who are especially interested in
the sugar question have served notice on the
committee that they will defeat the bill II it
is inimical to the interests of their constituents
and there are other Senators who will have
even greater reason to preserve their inde-
pendence Of action.
From these considerations it follows that the
final form of the measure cannot safely be in
ferred from the report Of the committee. 1t
may be altered for the better in some respects
or for the worse in Others but many
changes are highly probable. This will be n
misfortune to the business world In one sense,
because it will prolong the uncertainty as to
important provisions until final action Is
reached But it Is a sort OF compensation that
il will not be necessary TO conclude that the
worst things reported are certain to be passed,
and during weeks or months Of doubt business
can 60 on little more freely, or at least more
hopefully, than il the end could be definitely
r.,.