New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-05
TIE ELL or SALE.

THE ELL or SALE.
The Tariff bill passed the Senate late on Tues
day night as was expected after the final vote
on the sugar schedule. But the secret came out
during the debate that the bill In IFS present
form has secured majority Of votes only by
pledges that certain amendments not yet pub
Iicly announced would be made in conference
committee. Thus the people do not yet know
what sort of hill il is that the majority In the
Senate win support. nor Is ii possible to guess
what the bill will look like when II comes from
the Committee on Conference Lawmaking IN
the dark is tho fitting practice for those VINO
have secured the passage Of any bill by shame
less corruption and by the sale 10 monopoliSts
The changes made thus far are consequently
of much less Importance than might have been
supposed Though in theory a conference COM
mttee is restricted in its action, in practice IL
does Just what II can get the majority in the
two houses 10 sustain. If il be found in COM
mttee that one or more further concessions to
the monopolies must be made before the bill
can pass both houses we may be sure that such
concessions and any notifications incident
thereto will be found in the bill rs reported.
Reports as TO the composition Of the committee
also seem 10 have been justified. 50 that II VIII
consist on the Democratic side Of the mon who
have been most prominent in effecting the sue
cessful combination In the two houses To the
end the idea Of sale TO the monopolics and sur
render TO the trusts Is TO prevail, but we have
vet to see how far it will be found necessary 10
go, or what pledges have been made to secure
the votes of hcStating Senators
One section was added to the bill late IN the
debate on Tuesday night which can only be fltly
characterized as the shallowcst political trick
yet devised 1t is section purporting TO be
legislation against trusts. and for the purpose
Of preventing any advantage accruing 70 com
binations or monopolics from the Tariff bill.
Scarcely any examination is needed TO show
that this provision is entirely empty and will
be found void Of effect 1t provides certain pen
allies for the importation Of goods by any com
bination of one or more persons or corporations
of which either IS engaged N importing goods
into the United States. Now the Sugar Trust
does import sugar. though possibly through
agents and not directly. but the combination rs
a whole engages in the importation and not
either Of the members Of that combination.
On the very fnce OF things the provision was
carefully drawn to prevent any interference
with The operation Of this monopoly The WINS
key Trust does not import whlslScy, and derives
on whiskcy tending TO prevent It's importation.
Thus all the benefits accrue to the Whisky
Trust. while This combination also Il carefully
missed 10y The provision adopted by the Senate.
The various monopolics In manufacture which
The BIZ Of sale has been framed 10 favor do not
import ana are benefited by the bill only through
the obstacles placed in The way Of importation
Of products. The provision against trusts, there
G III, tfor M ID
through the whole list Of combinations and mo-
nopocS, AZ which this provision Is ostcnsibly
aimed: 1t will be found on examination that not
a single one of them can be restrained or ar
fcctcd In it's operation or mulctcd in It's profits
by this provision IL 1t should become "A law.
1t Is little short Of an insult to the intelligence
Of the people 10 incorporate in a tariff act a
provision so obviously designed to delude and
deceive. without accomplishing any practical
result whatever
1t is not yet possible 70 form any definite idea
ms to the time when the pending bill viii 20
into effect With curious thOughilessncSs some
persons are critcising the Senate because it
fixed date some weeks ahead for the bin 20 20
into operation If passed. but Ii Is Obvious that
at least week. must elapsc before the Confer
ence Committee itself can fairly begin It's work.
and there is little reason 10 expect that its dis
cussion will be speedily terminated. After re-
port has been made 10 the two houses 1t may
not be possible for the majority In either house
10 prevent a prolonged debate on The provisions
Of the measure as finally submitted, and prob
ably Il will be found that the bill in its pres
ent form will not answer because the necessary
notice 10 collectors Of customs at all ports must
be given before the act takes effect. 1t is more
likely that 1t will be deferred beyond the 1st
OF August, and although continued delay and
uncertainty are 10 be regretted, the fact must
be faced that a measure so revolutionary in
character, so hostile to public sentiment, SO
dangerous to the best interests Of the country,
cannot be carried into operation without serious
and prolonged resistance.