Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-01-05
The New Tariff Bill.
A Sensible and LeveI-Headed Estimate
of the situation.

OF Nne StIuntlOns
From the Philadelphia Ledger
The country desires no revision of the
tariff at this time, but the Democratic par
ty, which now controls the entire Federal
administration, contends that il was elect
ed by the country in 1892 upon that issue
and no other In accordance with that
contention the majority of Congress insist
that the tariff shall be revised, and the
country, perceiving that its protest is with
ont avail makes the reasonable and proper
demand that whatever is to be done with
regard to the matter shall be done prompt
ly, i'm order that the paralyzng uncertain
ty of the situation shall be removed by
the early passage of the Wilson bill in a
form as little injurious as so inevitably an
injurious measure can be made. 1t is to
be assumed that, in more or less modified
form, the Democratic scheme of revision
will pass the House, and it is probable
that it will receive the concurrence of the
Senate, not in its present. but, it is hoped,
in a very much improved shape. The SEN
ate is a much more conservative body than
the House, and it is more evenly balanced
between the two parties. Senator Hawley
has stated that there will be no factious
Republican opposition in the Senate to the
bill; that it will be considered, discussed,
and all parts of it which are in cOntraven-
tiOn of sound protective principles will be
strenuously opposed as long as opposition
will avail. That is the exact policy which
the Republicans should pursue with regard
to the revision scheme.
They should defeat it outright if in
righteous, sagacious support of the whole
some principle of protection they can do
it, but if it should be perceived that its de-
feat is impossible, they should. after prop
er effort to reduce the evils of it to the
minimum, resort to no mere factious oppo-
sitiOn, and use no obstructive tactics mere
ly to secure Intellectual delay, and thus pro-
long the period of disturbing doubt and
fear.
The manufacturing and commercial
communities, both which are profoundly
concerned to have this grave matter set
tied, urge that it shall be promptly settled.
They are now suffering from the uncer-
tainty of the situation. No merchant can
give an important order for goods, either
at home or abroad, until he knows what
changes are to be made in the schedule of
duties. He must know the ultimate cost
of the goods before he imports or buys
them. So long as the present conditions
last the manufacturer must suffer from a
lack of orders and from his inability to
know what prices to put upon his products.
Any possble change of duties must affect
prices, sending them either up or down.
Merchants and manufacturers, while pray
ing Congress to leave well-enOugh, the
Mckinley law, alone, or, at least, to alter
its schedules as little as possible, also pray
that if against their almost universal pro-
tests changes are to be made they shall be
made as early as practicable. so that they
may know to precisely what new and
strange conditions they are to conform
their business. They have right to know
this at the earliest moment possible.