The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-01-26
THE POLICY OF OBSTRUCTION.

There is evidently a. determination
on the part of Republicans in Congress
to delay the passage of the Wilson bill
as long as possible. They are aided
by ? few Democratic members who
have axes to grind for themselves or
their influential constituents. The OBJ
stacles in the way of tariff reform in
terposed in the House will not be of
long duration. The probability is that
when amended in various particulars it
will pass before very long and go up
to the Senate.
1t is in the upper House that we
anticipate the most protracted opposi-
ton. The rules of the Senate allow
so many facilities there for delay that
speedy action cannot be looked for,
unless the Republican party shall
change its policy and be willing to
allow the measure to go rapidly into
operation, and thus give the country
a chance to see what will be it's ac-
tual effects.
But they have made so much out
of the bugaboo of anticipated legisla-
ton" that they viii hate to let go of
their scarecrow. 1t is more than
likely that every advantage will be
taken of the senatorial liberty of
speech and that the bill when it reach
es that body will be hindered for a
considerable time
That this will be the means of con-
tinuing the troubles that have arisen
because of the disturbance to bust
ness, consequent on the suspense as
to what the result will prove, seems
to be admitted by all parties. If the
tariff is to be modified, they say, by
all means let the change be effected
'at once. That is the cry from manu-
facturers and dealers, and that is what
honorable papers, Republicans as well
as Democrats, urge upon their repre-
sentatives in Congress.
Inaction and uncertainty are what
will do damage to trade and to the
whole country. If these are contin-
ued. the blame will rest upon the OBJ
structionists where it will belong. The
flibustering and hindrances to the re-
peal legislation at the special season
occasioned much unfavorable com
ment, and if followed in the tariff dis
cussion will cause a much heavier
storm of popular condemnation.
In bringing about the important
changes proposed in the tariff, of
course there should be full elaboration.
There ought to be no rushing of the
bill or of any part of it that vitality
affects an established interest. 1t is
that factious opposition which is de-
signed to hinder and delay something
that is inevitable, which oght to be
frowned down.
It would seem that even if the
troubles predicted by the Republican
party as the consequence. of tariff re-
form are really expected to follow it,
the quicker we have that demonstrated
the better, seeing that the reform is
to come sooner or later. For not only
will it be a proof to the country of the
superiority and sagacity of the Re-
publican party, but return to the
beauties of getting rich by high taxa
ton will be all the sooner demanded.
The uncertainty now prevailing is to
some extent unsettling and hindering
trade, and it is also giving opportunity
for humbug forecasts of calamity and
reductions of wages in pretence of ex-
pected low prices. All that will dis
appear when once the reality comes
and has had time to show it's effects,
and every hindrance to it, except for
the honest purpose Of improving the
measure proposed, is unpatriotic and
because it is only parti-
san in purpose and cruel to the coun-
try.