The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-17
The TnrIH niII,


l. 1t is certain that the immediate effect
Of such bill viii be TO disturb some es-
tablIshed industries. The mere fact that
it is under consideration will do so. Bust
ness men nave a remarkable power of ad-
justing their business to the conditions OF
trade. whatever they be; but any change
In condition requires new adjustment.
\ change IN tariff means change in
prices, and change in prices means a
change In wages and in profits. 1t is I'M
possible that this bill, or any bill mate
RALLY modifying the tariff, can become a
law without modifying tie profits of some
manufacturers and the wages of some
workingmen. The passage of this bill
VIII be the cause OF some reluctons in
wages, and the occasion of other rGduc-
lions. The tair-minded student Will ask
himself, not whether some present indus
tries VIII be made less profitable and some
will be even closed altOgether-for that
is certain TO be the case-but whether
there are adyantases that compensate the
loss. In other words he can not strike
balance without looking at both the
debtor and the creditor Side Of the ac-
count, And craftsmanship must not pre-
vent him from recognizing that there Is
a debtor side to the account-that is, that
there VIII be a loss.
>. only an expert can form q competent
judgn ent as to the percentages on special
articles. Detailed discussions as 20 seized
ules are of very little value To the aver
age reader. We counsel him not TO get
eutlngled ana perpleNel Ia such discus
siUns. Bat he may form Just judgment
on one or two fundamental principles,
such as whether the bin is secuOnal-that
is whether II gives advantages To one
section over another, or whether II Is
class bill-that u.s. whether II gives advan-
tages 10 one class over another.
,. But the real and fundamental Qucs-
ton goes deeper than this. That question
is i'm brief, what IS the function OF taxa
tion2 and, behind and below that, what
Is the function or government Protection
CLAIMS that II is legitimate function of
taxation to promote Industries, and insists
that taxation can be SO framed that d
tax levied to MD one industry may be
made really 10 aid all industries. Revenue
refurmcrs claim that the only function Of
taxation is 10 raise revenue for the ne
cessities Of government economically ad-
that 1t is to be so Levied as 30
infltCt the least possible pCCuni8Ty injury
on the industries OF the community: but
that one Industry can not be promoted
by special legislation without an injury
to other industries; and that no method
of tariff Is practicable and Just except
one based on a few broad principles, such
as Hight tariff or none nt all on raw ma
terials and on food products, higher taxes
on luXuries than on necessaries. and taxes
according to the value OF ar
ticles.
Apparently the Wilson bin IS sincere
and intelligent effort 70 frame n bill IN
accordance with these principles and as
these principles. ana the present house
was elected upon a platform processing
them. It is clearly the duty Of the present
house to pass such "a bill Amendments
may be made to correct errors in detail
but amendments which violate or com
promise these essential principles ought
not 10 be allowed IN order 10 pllcate local
interests. The country Will then have
before Ii the two schemes OF tarim-the
and the revenue only-in con-
crete forms, In the Mckinley blll and the
4 On me ai|EF4H oil
tons Of 1894 an opportunity viii be M
forded the people definitely deciding be-
tween the two. That finally and definitely
decided, Industry can adjust itself 10 the
decision. But Il can not adjust Itself Ia
.udecision not 10 a mongral tariff that Is
neither for protection nor Tor revenue