The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-02
Is THERE 10 ZEE \ RADICAL CHANGE
IN TARIFF LEGISLATION

There have been few greater surprises
to the country than it received when the
fun import OF the bill which the Ways
and Means Committee of the House of
Representatives reported to revise the
tariff dawned upon it. The issue for
seven or eight years before the country
had been protective upon one side. and
was upon the whole theory of protec-
ton upon the other, and the country
understood when the result of the Presi-
Dental and congressional elections in
November, 1892 was announced to IT
that the party which was opposed to
protection as a principal IN our revenue
system had swept the country with
triumph so overwhelming as to make
the vote practically unanimous.
1t was very great surprise to the
country indeed then. when the admins
trative organ Of the popular branch OF
this National Legislature brought for
ward as presumably its judgment of what
the people had expected the National
Legislature elected I'm that election TO do
scheme Of revenue taxation constructed
essentially upon the very principles of
protection, which it was universally sup
posed the people had intended To con
denim by their votes i'm that election
This was such surprise as to amount
TO a shock to a very great body OF the
people. We think. however. that We
begin now TO understand some things in
ly incomprehensble TO us heretofore. The
exceedingly well informed special Wash
ington correspondent OF the New York
journal of Commerce writes that paper
that the Ways and Means Committee of
the House OF Representatives is very FAR
from representing the real sentiment Of
the majority Of the Democratic members
Of the House lie says the Democratic
majority OF the House is essentially a
frce-trade body Gin the sense. We apprc-
hend Of a tarin for revenue only). and
that it was with great difficulty the
authority Of the committee restrained
that frec-trade sentiment while the VIII
son bill was before the House. and pre-
vented ID from reconstructing the bin so
as to make II free-trade measure as far
as the necessity for revenue would per
nit. He adds that the Senate Finance
Committee. before which the bill goes in
that body. being truly representative OF
Democratic sentiment in that body, will
recast It entirely and present il as
purely revenue measure Invested of every
fcintilla OF the idea OF protection. in
which form IL VIII pass the Senate. ana
he says when IL goes back to the House
IN that form there Is every probability
tina; the real free-trade sentiment OF the
Democratic majority of the House win
ratify the Scnate's action and repudiate
Mr.. Wilson's bill for protection. II The
Senate shall really reconstruct the bin
30 as 10 Impose no taxes whatever but
such as are necessary 10 raise the
revenues that the Government needs. and
distribute these ratably upon all i'm
ports so as 70 favor none and impose un.
due burdens upon none. they will arrive
at a contamination 10 he most cevoutly
prayed for Let us all hope. then, thar
this correspondent has correctly dag
n)sed the case OF which there seems 10 b.
such extreme probability. And supposinl
that he has. II thus becomes a most In
tsrestins question how did Mr.. Speaker
Crisp ever come 10 constitute the WAYS