The herald., 1894-02-07
THE WILSON BILL AND rHR SENATE.

Congressman Geary is just now being
made the subject of grave animadver-
sion in Democratic circles for voting
against the Wilson bill. He founded
his vote on figures made by him, and
which, if true, are certainly worthy of
consideration by the average Cali
fornisn. He asserted in his place in
congress that the duties RENTED or
reduced BY the Wilson bill would make
difference of nearly a million and
quarter Of dollars on staples raised in
this state. In other words, Mr.. Geary
says that protection against foreign
competition to that extent will be taken
off our products by that measure. In
these piping times of peace this Is
large sum, and it is not to be picked up
on every roadside, He thinks that
placing the importation OF French wines
on an dd ualorem basis will be apt to
kill our wine industry. He assumes
that valuable French wines will be en-
tered at merely nominal valuation.
running as low as five cents a gallon.
We should not be surprised il this were
to prove to be the case. 1t will be re-
membered that, some time ago, it was
telegraphed to the United States that the
French vintage oflsst year was SO sbund-
ant that the bulk of the wine was SELF ng
for five cents gallon. We would not
wonder If this telegram we're preparing
the way for this dd valorent tax. Mr..
Geary estimates that the practical oper-
alton of the Wilson bill will be to food
the country with French wines admit
ted practically without the payment OF
duty. He figures out that our vignerons
are now protected to the extent of
$240,000 year, and he is of opinion
that they need this protection. So are
we, and so Is any one that desires to see
a great and benefcent interest growing
up in the United States.
A. great many Democrats admit the
force of Mr.. Geary's arguments, but
they say that while the facts justified
his energetic opposition to these features
of the Wilson bill, his opposition should
have stopped when he had done his
utmost with the committee, and that
he ought not to have carried his opposi-
ton into the open house; and that,
above all, he should have voted for
measure which had received the en-
dorsement of the caucus and chiefs of
his party. This, of course. was ques-
ton for Mr.. Geary to determine for him
self. He doubtless had an oblique eye
on the lumber and wool and wine inter-
ests of his own district, and probably
concluded that an extended career in
the house of representatives would suit
him pretty we'll.
Now that the bill has reached the
senate, the Hon. Stephen M. White
will nave an opportunity of doing the
state of California great deal of good
without compromising mis- party stand
ing in the slightest degree. The Pacific
coast senators can do much towards
modifying those provisions of the Viii
son bill that will operate unfavorably
towards the infant industries of this
coast. Uniting with the Louisiana sem
ators they ought to be able to knock out
the notifications of the sugar bounty
clause of the bill, and thus allow beet
sugar to develop into great industry
something of the proportions of the in
dustry in France and Germany. And
so of the wine and other schedules.
Uniting with the senators from New
York, the Pacific coast senators ought
to be able to defeat the income tax
feature of the Wilson bill. If this Is al
lowed to become law in time of pro-
found peace it will prove to be the most
unpopular measure ever enacted. Mr..
White, by employing his natural energy
and great abilities in the lines indi-
Gated, will forfeit no popularity in the
present but will lay the ground for much
in the future.
The Wilson bill ought to come out Of
the senate well pruned, with the prin-
ciple of free raw material as its cardinal
feature. The country expects this cor
rective action.