The Washington times., 1894-07-26
TARIFF REVISION ON BUSINESS PRIN.
CIPLES

1t is about time that such important legis-
lation as the tariff should be brought to n
business basis and taken ont of politics.
Party pledges and principles have little
weight with the average Senator and Repre-
sentative, as is plainly shown by the present
tariff controversy, and if we are to have an
undfsturbed prosperity it must be through a
settled policy. and not from such tariff tinker
ing as characterizes the present controversy.
Senator Caffery declared yesterday that be-
tween protecting the sugar interests of Louis
lana and Democratic reform he would choose
the former, and yet he claims TO be Demo-
crat. Senators German, Pugh, Harris,
Jones, Brice and others insist that there shall
be no tariff bill unless certain interests they
represent are protected. During the tariff
debate in the House several Democratic
Representatives openly repudiated the prin-
ciples on which they were elected and voted
against the action of the majority. 1t is this
mutiny among Democratic Senators and
Representatives that has delayed the tariff
bill and brought discredit on the party, and it
should serve as evidence that the referring of
business questions to politicians for ADJUST
ment is clearly wrong and harmful to the
country.
If we are to continue raising four hundred
or more millions of dollars each year by tariff
taxation there must be incidental protection.
and politicians are not the propsr persons to
designate how that protection shall be dis
;ributed. 1t is a business question pure and
simple; one in which the entire country Is
concerned, and which necessitates close, care
full investigation, and u strict adherence to
facts and figures. Such WORK can only be in
trusted TO men of business habits, thought
and methods if good results are expected.
There are only two tariff propositions to
be considered. one is tariff for revenue on
limited number of strictly revenue articles.
with everything else on the free list, and the
other is tariff for protection, incidental or
otherwise. The Mckinley law is tariff
measure with prohbitive protection; the Cor
man and Wilson bills are said to be tariff
measures with incidental protection. But
all three of them are protection measures,
and it is a business question US to the extent
and necessity o. that protection.
The Mckinley law has proved the greatest
legislative curse ever enacted. 1t was die
tsted by corporations, sanctioned by polti-
clans and enacted in the interests Of employ
ers and men of money. Like great blight,
its evil effects are spread among working
classes, and trusts and combines are protected
by its schedules in plunderinG the general
public. The people at the election of 1892 de-
manded its unconditional repeal, and the
present distress and Congressional muddle
and controversy is the result.
Encouraged by precedent, backed by cap
ital, and urged on by selfish interests some Of
the Senators and Representatives have be-
trayed their trust, and the public must either
accept a Gorman-McK Kineyized bill or retain
the original law. And this is the fiat OF the be-
trayers after months Of waiting, business de-
preston and wearisome controversy.
Suppose the work of revising the tariff had
been intrusted to commission of farmers,
business men. and representative wage-earn-
ers would there have been such delay and
business disturbance? Not if the work was
done by upright. practical men, and facts and
statistics were made public Congress with
its political prejudice would not, could not
oppose such measure. and business men
everywhere would be eontented.
What is most needed to insure this country
undisturbed prosperity is a reliable monetary
system and less tariff tinkering. More busi-
ness methods in legislation and fewer poll
ticians with their never-failing reputation OF
party platforms and pledges are imperative.
Party principles are commendable and neces-
cary where exempliaed by upright men. but
in the hands of selfish politicians they are
like guideboards to heaven, n,-seldom needed
and never read.