Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-06-14

Condition, Not Theory.
1t is absurd to say that there can be any
real settlement of this greet question so
long us tariff revision is to be tossed about
like ball between the two parties. 1t
must cease to be partisan issue, and be
taken up on business principle and
acted upon by business mem not politi-
clans. The more carefully this
question is considered, the more apparent
il becomes that what's needed TO determine
II definitely is such tariff commission as
Senator Sherman has recommended
Ihttolielphid EteaiiiJ Telegraph, Rep.
But the tariff is a partisan issue, has
been partisan issue for years past, and
is likely to remain a partisan issue for
years to come, so, what are you going to
do about it? Where are you to get a
tariff commission OF business men who
are not politicians, and who are 10 ap-
point such commission? Theoreti-
cally, the Telegraph is right, but the
tariff has been brought into politics-no
matter by whom now-and there il is,
very much in politics in fact. How are
you going to get it out? So long as the
tariff remains in politics, there is no
more hope of getting non-partisan
tariff commission through the action of
Congress then there is of obtaining the
millennium through the same agency.
Before we can get tariff commission of
business men who are not politicians,
either the tariff must cease to he politi.
cal issue or we must get Congress of
business men who are not politicians
in either of which contingencies such
commission would be superfiuity.
But, supposing such commission
constituted, and supposing it to frame a
fair revision of the tariff, just to all in
terests-an ideal tariff bill in fact-what
would become of its work? Congress
would, of course, have to pass upon that
ideal tariff bill and enact it into law.
The moment Congress took hold of it
the trouble would begin all over again.
The ultimate bill would be the tariff bill
Of that Congress; the commissions bill
would have been entirely lost sight of.
The work of the commission would go
for nothing, and We should be at the
. end just where we should have been
had no commission been appointed.
This has been demonstrated. We had
a tariff commission in 1882, not q non
partisan body of business men knowing
no political ties but commission made
up with a majority Of protectionists.
That protectionist commission was con.
strained, by the facts in the case, to
admit that the then existing tariff rates
f! were entirely too high and to recon-
mend reduction of from 90 to 25 per
cent The report met with the approval
of even the New York Tribune, which
said:
Tho report is a brave and honest effort
TO do just what the needs and interests Of
the country demand. Inasmuch as no
party can hope to succeed unless it does. or
honestly tries to do this, the report is wise
for the Republican party as we'll as wise
for the country. If it be adopted BY the
Republicans they will stand amply yindi-
Gated on this issue whether Democratic
parusanshlp defeats action or not, and II
enacted into law il will greatly promote
the public prosperity. The commission
proposes substantial reduction of % to
70 per cent in the duties. The commission
recognizes that excessive duties tend 10
bring the American system into discredit,
TO endanger its stability, and to render in.
dnstrial enterprise uncertain and unneces.
sarily risky and costly. The present tariff,
created in time Of war. was needed to build
and develop industries; the commission
recognizes the fact that different range Of
duties is needful in time of Deace wher
industries have been grandly built and
developed.
Everybody knows, however, that the
advice of the Morrill, commission was
not followed, and that its work was moi
engrafted into legislation. Quite tn,
contrary. Instead Of lowering tn,
duties, the Republicans proceeded t.
raise them and continued doing tbi
until the eliminating atrocity of tn,
Mckinley act" In 1882 the averag,
I'D valorem duty rate of duty was AZ. O.
per cent In 1885 it had risen to 45.st
per cent So much for the work of thi
tariff commission. And we see the New
York Tribune to-day as fanatically ant
frantically fighting for the perpetuatioi
OF worse than war tariff as though /
had not admitted IL years ago that GU
industries were even then so grand,
developed that they could and shoult
stand reduction in tariff rates ia
below that contemplated by either th
Mills or the Wilson bill.