Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-05-10
AN EQUITABLE MEASURE.

AN EQUITABLE MEASURE.
ser etary Carlisle Sets Forth the Tarin
Policy Of the Democrats.
Secretary Of the Treasury Carlisle
has authorized the following statement
In reply to an inquiry by an Associated
Press reporter as to whether 1t were
true that he had taken part in the con-
ferences which it has been said were
being held for the purpose OF agreeing
upon certain amendments to the pend
ing tariff bill:
II have had no conference upon this
subject with anybody except the demo
cratic members Of the senate commit
tee on finance. and therefore cannot
state Of my own personal knowledge
what has occurred In any other con-
ferences that may have taken place
It is true that an effort is being made
to agree upon such changes in the pend
ing bill as will secure for it the united
and active support OF all the democrats
in the senate. The indications now
are that this support can and will be
secured without making radical changes
in the rates Of duty or material altera-
tions in the form or structure of the
taaif schedules as they were passed by
the house of representatives.. In fact,
I regard most OF the changes now un-
der consideration as quite unimpor-
tant, while the remainder are not OF
such character as substantially to
affect the merits OF the bill as meas
ure for the reformation of the worst
features OF existing legislation upon
this subject. do not think we ought
to permit differences Of opinion upon
mere matters Of detail, or in regard I'd
small increases or reduction OF rates IN
the bill as it now stands, to prevent the
redemption OF our pledges to the PEG!
pie, and therefore am in favor of Sc
curing. II possible without any surren-
der of principle, and without abandon
ing any part of tho democratic policy
OF tariff reform, such mutual conces'
sions upon these points as will consoli.
late our strength and pass the measure
at the earliest possible date. So far as
the proposed amendments relate to
duties upon important articles of con-
sumption now subject to duty, the
rates suggested As the basis for adjust:
ment are all much lower than in the
present law. while there are only few
instances in which they are higher than
in the bill reported by the senate COM
mittee.
by far the most important single
article upon which a change of duty is
now proposed is sugar, raw and re-
fined, and 1t is strenuously contended
by persons interested in the production
OF this article that the specific rates al
ready In the bill as reported by the
senate committee are higher than the
ad valorem rates which it is now pro-
posed to insert Whether this is cor
rect or not depends on the price of
sugar in the foreign markets from
time to time. and therefore it is not
possible to make an exactly accurate
statement upon the subject; but l am
satisfied that the difference, If any, be-
tween the specific rates heretofore pro-
posed and the ad valorem rate now un-
der consideration is so small as to be OF
no material consequences either way.
At any rate, think that differences of
opinion upon this question. which have
always been trout lesome and vex-
atious, should not be allowed to defeat
the passage OF the tariff bill. and be-
Heve this is the opinion Of all intelli-
gent and sincere advocates of revenue
reform.
1.-THE repeal of the Mckinley act and
the substitution OF more just and
equitable measure In Its place are of
vital Importance to the prosperity of
the country, and the people have q
right to expect that all who are really
in favor Of reduction Of tariff taxa
ton will make such reasonable conces-
sions to each others views as will cer-
tainly accomplish these results. It the
country is 70 wait for tariff reform
until a measure is devised which is en-
tirely acceptable in all its parts to
every senator and representative whose
vote is necessary to pass it our prom
ises will never be kept"