The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-07-20
KEEP OUT TEE TARIFF.

The coffee exchange Of the city OF New
York has adopted the most sensible set
of resolutions in regard to the work OF
the extra session which has yet made its
appearance. They are as follows:
Resotved, that while we regret that bi-metall-
ism seems for the present at least TO De mex
pedient it is our opinion that the sherman Sill
yer Purchase law should be promptly repealed
by Congress- believing that it is one of the chef
causes OF the present unsettled condition OF
financial affairs, and that its prompt repeal
would restore confidence in this country and
abroad and bring about return of activity in
business.
RESOLVED, that in our opinion no additional
financial legislation should be attempted at ne
present silver purchase law be deemed necessa-
ry, action should be deferred until the winter
session. In the interval, measure that would
prove acceptable to the whole country could
be thoroughly considered, and the full effect Ut
the decision of the India Government TO STOP
the private coinage of silver would be felt.
should be made until the regular session. TO re-
wise the tariff In order to give the country time
to recover from the bad results OF the unwlse
Silver Law.
The special session of Congress was
called to meet an emergency. 1t was
called to consider single and distinct
matter that by reason of certain condi-
lions which had arisen, needed immediate
attention. To be sure the proclamation
of the President did not in terms specify
the particular matter it was called to
treat nevertheless there is no doubt
that the President had special object
in view in calling Congress, and that OBJ
ject was to consider the present condi-
ton of our coinage laws with view to
changing them if it should be deemed
for the benefit of the country to do SO.
The opening Of the session to general
legislation will be contrary to the under
standing on which it was called, and,
furthermore it will be unwise. If the
country is suffering chiefly from the
Sherman law-and that was the assump-
ton which prompted the calling of Con-
gress together in Augustine attention
of Congress should be concentrated upon
this law, and any question that will
tend to distract attention from this para
mount issue should be kept out The
effect of injecting tariff discussion can
easily be imagined. 1t Will surely bellt-
tie the coinage question, and very likely
subordinate it to the question of the
best method of raising revenue. Ii
the Sherman law is responsible for our
present financial troubles prompt repeal
is what is needed. But prompt repeal
will be out of the question if it becomes
complicated with the tariff question.
| The opponents of the former will use the
| latter to stave off action. They will SO
snarl the two up together, that it will
! take months to untangle the threads.
If the opponents Of repeal of the Sher-
| man law are in the minority. as it is
generally believed they will be, they will
have much to gain by injecting the tariff
question into the session. 1t will afford
them additional means for obstruction
and excellent opportunities for trading.
The friends of repeal ought to fight siren
uously against complicating that ques-
ton with others. They ought to keep it
distinct and by itself, and in order to do
so they must insist that it be the only
question to be considered at the special
|