Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-09-06
TARIFF lSSU + SETTLED.

and IS now law.
The enemies Of taritt reform over
reached themselves At last. They We're
determined from the beginning 70 pre-
vent any revision OF the tariff if pos
Sjble and to preserve the iuiQuitouS
Mckinley act in force. They tried to
do this indirectly, They permitted the
new bill 10 pass the senate with such
changes a> they felt sure the house
would not approve, trusting to defeat
the measure at the last on the report
of the committee OF conference.
The decided attitude of the house
compelled them to show their hands
and it WAS made evident hy,t senate
contrrceS themselves chat any tariff
bill that must hr again submitted to Il
vote in the senate would be defeated
there. The friends OF tariff reform
promptly grlSped the situation when
ii was lhuS clearly prSrutrd, and in
Obedience to the almost unanimous de
termination of the democratic caucus
the house recalled the bill from con
ference and passed ii precisely as ii
came from the senate. thus completing
the long deferred tariff legislation and
batting the enemies OF reform at heir
own game.
At the same time that this decision
was reached it was also Diet, rmjurd
to INTRODUCES ANA pass immediately
separate supplementary acts putting
sugar. coal, iron ore and &LrNrd wire
upon the free list This was douu t.
define and emphasize the record of the
house. aud with no expectation that
these bills will hr coucurred in by
the senate Free sugar i 4 theoretical
rather than Il practical measure. Sincr
the revenue from this article j. ahSn-
lulrlN essential. and the tariff hill rs
passed turns into the treasury the
greater part of the profits which the
sugar trust has levied under the Me
kiulcN act without giving amy return.
Free coal and iron ore are moro de
Srahlr, since the present tax yields
practically no revenue, but the same in
tluucCS which restored the duty ON
these articles in the new tariff will
prevent the Senatr'S concurrence In
their removal by special act, TN" pass
age of these bills, however, will keep
In party record straight and force
the responsibility for the defects of
the new tariff upon the McNinlryitc
senators who have kept the business
of the country tied up through So many
weeks
The tariff, rs finally passed, while
in many respects ii falls short of the
expectations of the country, is an
enormous step forward in the direction
of reduced taxation. Il step that will
never be rctraccd From this time
the fixed policy of the country will he
toward the gradual reduction of inn
port duties. and our manufacturers,
who Will prosper under this new
tariff as they have never prospcrcd he
fore, will not again seek the restoration
OF the cNurhitant taxes which have
dcmoralized SO many of our industries,
The new bill gives ample protection
to all our manufacturers, and to some
Of them, as notably the Woolra manu-
facturcrs il will open UP the mar
l"tS of the world for the free purchases
of the materials they need ana fol
tlr sale of their surplus products
In five years time they ought under
this tariff. ia manufacture MI the
WoolcnS used in this country or in this
hemisphere. And what IS true of
WGulCnS is true of almost every branch
/ of American manufactures.
No further general revision of the
tariff will be called for now, and ne
important changes of any Kind need
be anticipated for years Ia come. 50
/ far AS taxation is concerned, the basis
for business operations Is now fixed
and the country. which has been wait
inc whole year for This termination
and meanwhile has exhausted all tho
surplus stock thrown upon the market
through the operation Of the Mckinley
act is ready for the resumption OF
trade ON Il Suundrr bass than has "N
listed during This generation.
Thor" is every reason 10 expect thai
the resumption will he Immediate AND
rapid. There will be no great boom
hui there Will be. what is better +
steady growth of industry ANA pros
porous business activity that cannot
lao hindcr"d by partisan agitation. The
tariff issue is settled. and the word
now is forward.