Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-01-11
TRUTHS ABOUT THE TARIFF.


TRUTHS ABOUT THE TARIFF.
Motives Prompting tho wilson Commit
tee In Their Deliberations.
The report of the majority of the
| ways and means committee on tho bill
| for the reform and reduction Of the
tariff is likely to go into history as one
| of the chief documents brought out by
a radical and beneficent change in the
fiscal policy of the country. It is an
extremely able paper, clear and firm in
statement of principle, temperate and
prudent in spirit, logical in argumen:
and practical in its method of dealing
| with a problem that has become ex-
traordinarlly complex. The committee
recognize the mandate Of the American
people, given to the majority in con-
gress, as they justly say latter the full
est and most thorough debate ever
given by any people to their fiscal pol
ICY" That mandate required that the
present tariff, wrong in principle and
grievously unjust in operation" should
be revised in the light of the law that
1.-The power Of taxation has no lawful
or constitutional exercise, except for
providing revenue for the support OF
the government" But the committee
also recognize that the revision of the
tariff in the light of this high law can
not proceed suddenly and violently;
that 'great interests do exist whose
existence and prosperity it is no part
of our (their) reform either to imperil
or to curtail;" and ''that in dealing
with the tariff question, as with every
other long-standing abuse that has in
terwoven itself with our social or in
dustrial system, the legislator must al
ways remember that in the beginning
temperate reform is safest, having in
itself the principle of growth"
This statement is fully sustained in
the body of the report discussing the
various changes made by the bill The
object of the committee has been to
abolish or reduce the duties on the
materials of manufacture; to reduce
in corresponding degree the duties
on the finished product into which
these materials enter; to tighten the
taxes on the necessaries of life; to
abolish duties that were prohibitory,,
and to emancipate at once commerce
and industry from unnecessary restric-
tions. We do not think that it can,
with any show of reason, be denied
that the bill honestly and practically
meets these ends. 1t has been neces-
sary to some extent to keep in view the
temporary needs of the treasury, and
that is to be regretted, but the commit
tee are perfectly justified in inferring
that the opinion of the country will
sustain them in not allowing these
I'll ~
compliance with the will of the people,
as shown clearly and repeatedly at the
polls.
1t remains for the republicans to de-
eide in what way they will meet the
question which is now before congress,
brought there by the decisive action of
the voters after full discussion with
the utmost deIiberation. Will they
content themselves with fair ana rea-
sonable discussion, or will they resort
to dilatory tactics, to purely factious
talk, with the hope of wearying the
country with uncertainty? If they are
either patriotic or wise they will not
take the latter course. A tariff reform
bill is bound to pass They cannot
prevent. though they may postpone, its
passage. The particular class whom
the repu blicans in congress assume to
represent = the manufacturers - will
suffer more from the uncertainty,
doubt and confusion attending q tedi-
Gus delay than any other class. But
they will not be the only ones to suf-
fer. The country has passed through
a most trying season of suspense and
depression. Its energies are reawaken-
ing. and it is preparing to resume pros
porous activity in all branches Of bust
ness Uncertainty in any branch must
defer the recovery in all VIII the re-
publicans make themselves responsible
for such an untoward and unnecessary
addition to the difficulties Of all bust
ness men? That is the question they
will have to decide. They have now
a very moderate and fair bill before
them. They cannot justly complain Of
radical or extreme propositions. They
may be sure of one thing, that none so
moderate will ever again be offered,
and that whatever change takes place
in public sentiment will be in the di-
rection of more drastic and immediate
reform. Every consideration of honor
and interest alike impels them to mod
Grafton. If they fail to be moderate
their accounting will be sure and
swift.-N. Y. Times.