St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-10
THE sENATE's TARIFF BILL.


THE SENATE'S TARIFF BILL.
While we are not disappointed in'the
bill which the finance committee has re
ported to the senate. it is certain that
that body has missed a great oppor-
tunity. 1t might have shown greater
loyalty to the party by bringing the bill
nearer, if not quite. to the line marked
out by the national convention; and it
might. by so doing. have steinmed, if
not have turned back, the current of
popular contempt in which it is swiftly
floating to that point where it will have
to be mended or ended. In making the
bill more protectionist than it came to
it, the senate has but accelerated the
current and accumulated the popular
and non-partisan distrust.
The piddling reductions it made In
the rates OH some of the manufactured
products are more than neutraiiZed by the
protective taxes it lays OIL the raw ma
terials. In the development of the pro-
tective policy the stage was reached
some time since where its whole bene fit
was absorbed by those who held the
ground floor. the raw material of the i'll
dnstries With them there was easy
combination, which left no avenue of
escape for those who must have their
products. The tax on imports placed
the manufacturers at their mercy.
The removal of the sugar from the
free list would not have been so OBJ.
jectionable had the tax been made a
uniform one of a cent a pound Oh all
grades of sugar; for there is a dire need
of revenue, thanks TO the prof1igacy of
the Fifty-hrst congress, and taxed sugar
is better than bonds. But when the
committee go farther, and put a tax.
however slight, on refined sugar, they
Detray the baleful influence of the
sugar trust on the representatives of a
party which denounced the trust to the
people, and which, because of this atti-
tude, was entrusted with power. 1t is
one of the most diScouraging features
of the situation that. when the rehnerS
are demonstrating by their expectations
of refined sugar their ability to conf
pete and the needlessness of protec-
ton, Democratic finance committee
should grant them the privilege of rob
bling the domestic consumers. 1t is no
answer to say that the allowance is less
than the Republicans gave them; they
should have none at our hands.
But the mistake lies back of the sen
ate. 1t was born in the conception oil
the lines of the house bill. When these
were made to deviate from the line laid
down at Chicago, when the idea OF
granting any protection to any industry
was admitted in the bill. the mischief
was done. We tried to excuse the
house bill because its free-listng oil
the raw materials of our great indus
tries was long step forward. and OF
that one redeeming feature the senate
committee robs it. AS the bill stands
now it is not Democratic measure. II
is practically a re-enactment of the act
of 1888, a Republican measure, against
the policy of which the president inau-
gurated the fight in his message OF
1887.
We see no ray of hope in the situation
unless it be in the action the house may
take when the bill goes back for confer
ence. The house can save the party
from defeat that now seems assured
If it can and will recommit the bill to
the ways and means committee with in
StructiOnS to remodel it on the lines Of
the platform, making it a purely reve
nue. bill, it will save the Democra til
control of the house, even should the
senate refuse to concur and no bill be
passed. Such action would have back
of it the support of the rank and file OF
the party. If it cannot do this, it can at
least insist that its conferrees reject
absolutely the changes OF the senate
which increase taxation, and let the sen
ate take tie responsibility of refusal.
The result, should the senate's amend.
| ments be adopted. may, doubtless will
be disastrous to the party, but it will be
helpful to the cause. Ii the person.
accidentally entrusted with the care oil
the cause to which the party is COM
United prove false to their trust, the
| mass will not follow them. The effect
on them will be to make them more
earnest. more insstent. more radical
IL VII ItdCll lHSul tiS udliScI anu lii
folly of paltering with protection: i
| may concentrate their attention on thu
! viciousness of a system of taxation
which plays on the selfish interests o
men, and may lead them to the con
clusion that the safety Of the nation de
| mands its abolition. The cause Of fire.,
trade will be immensely accelerated
| hof 10 off no 70 ~
unes of the Democratic party. TIL
| great rank and file Of the party are il
| no humor for trif1ing.