St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-04
THE WRONG SOURCE.
Tariff Reform Cannot Be Secured
All at Once.

lAAI az OhSOs
Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, June 8. - The New
York Reform club is made up of great
many estimable gentlemen who have
individually and collectively performed
valuable services in behalf of the Dem
ocratic party and the movement for tar
if reform, but, like numerous other
men who voted for MIR. Cleveland at the
late national election, many OF these
gentlemen cherish the idea that the re-
form of the tariff is the only problem
before the country. and that it Is the
only issue to be considered. That Mr..
Cleveland does not consider it in this
light at present is certain, and, while
there will be legislation aiming at a
substantial reduction in the tariff at the
coming session of congress, there
will not be anything radical
enough to please the selt-styled
radicals" Iof the party. The
condition OF the national treasury will
not permit any very sweeping reduction
in duties on imports, and none will be
made. TO be sure, the Democratic
party is not responsible for the present
condition. The Reed congress mort
gagged the revenues Of the government
to the extent of nearly $2U0,000,000 per
year for some time to come. But the
present administration is compelled to
provide for the wiping out Of this mort
gage, and if the tariff reduction move
ment is thereby delayed. the RESPONSE
bility must be laid at the doors OF the
Republicans.
Laughed Off the Stage.
The tariff bill framed by committee
of the New York Reform club, and
which made its appearance accompanied
by picture of its makers, has dropped
completely out of existence. The peo-
pie have forgotten it, and all but one OF
two of its makers. The proposed meas
ure, however, while prepared entirely
too hastily was, in the main, reason
able proposition although the reduction
would probably have been too great
when the needs of the government were
considered The bill, however, was not
original with the distng uished gentle
men of the Reform club. The general
outline was made by Edward Atkinson,
back in 1885, and submitted to Presi-
dent Cleveland and Secretary Manning.
Mr. Atkinson's proposition divided the
tariff as follows:
Classified by Atkinson.
(A) Articles OF food and animals.
tB) Articles i'll crude condition which
inter- into the various processes of do
nestle industry.
(C) Articles wholly or partially man
uIactured for use as materials Ill the
manufactures and mechanic arts.
(D) Articles manufactured ready TO
consumption.
(E) Articles of voluntary use, luxur-
les, etc.
In 1892 the total amount collected on
these five classes reached the sum of
Sis, 097, $40. OF this, S10,300,226 was
collected under class A, Sl4.04S.42S UNI
der class B, SO, 21S.4l2 under class G.,
SIC, 927, sos under class d, and $40, 702,-
796 under class E. The Reform club
bill would place classes A and B wholly
on the free list, together with portion
of class G. This would decrease
the revenue certainly over S24 900,
600, part of which might be
made up by increased importatioDs OF
articles coming under class G. This
brief statement shows that the making
of tariff measure is not task to be
completed in day or week by three
or four gentlemen, however able, ear
nest and honest they may be. The Re-
form club bill was laughed off the stage
without a fair discussion Of its merits
because the country did not believe II
| that way of preparing measures fol
raising revenue for the support OF th'
| government.