The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-03-14

The Wilson bill as amended by a sub
committee Of the Finance Committee OF
the Senate, was reported 10 the full Com
mittee on Thursday last, and win proba
bly, reach the Senate for consideration in
the course Of the next ten days. 1t is
hybrid that pleases no one, but may pos
sibly pass the Senate because it is the
creature Of trade and dicker, made be-
tween Senators who were looking after
their individual or local interests, instead
of the good Of the whole country or the
nourishing Of its industries. In direct
contrayention of the Chicago platform
that denounced protection as "unconstitu-
tional, and as a robbery Of the many for
the benefit of the few" it takes sugar,
coal, iron and lead ores and other arti-
cles from the free list, where they were
placed by the original bill as it passed
the House, and proposes TO protect them
by tariff duty, while at the same time
it leaves wool on the free list. We are
not surprised, therefore, that the stalwart
free trade Democratic journals of the
country are denouncing il as "a cowardly
surrender to protective interests" The
most casual glance at the reported bill
must satisfy any one, that the insufficient
protection il extends TO certain articles is
yielded merely to placate individual
Senators and to secure their votes. II is
also patent that the trusts we're infuen-
tial in the construction Of the bill, the
Whisky Trust, the Sugar Trust, aud 9TH
er less conspicuous trusts all being cared
for. While the country may be thank
fal for the measure Of protection afford
ed to some articles, it owes no thanks to
the Democratic party nor to the individ-
uAl Democratic Senators who were forced
10y home pressure 10 trade their votes for
concessions OF immediate concern TO their
lOcel interests. 1t is very evident that it
was simply question Of votes that at
last controlled the committee in the for-
nation Of the bill as reported. The
Southern free traders were bull-headed
and determined TO have their way. but
self-interest and self preservation infa-
enced Others who let, would, wait upon
dare not, and kick was developed.
Thus the Kentucky Senators in the in
terests of their distillers, secured an ex-
tension Of the bonded period to eight
years, the Alabama Senators secured an
increased duty on iron ore, the Maryland
and West Virginia Senators had coal
taken from the free list and made dutia-
ble, while Murphy, of New York, secur.
ed an increase Of duty on collars and
cuffs, the principal industry in his sec
ton Of the State.
Thus it is believed that a sufficient
number Of votes have been obtained to
insure the passage Of the bill, and the
poor eonsemptible trafiickers in votes
have but little else of their boosted @free
raw material" policy left than free wool.
which win point moral and adorn a
tale in the next Presidential campaign.
The Wilson bill has the merit. If there be
any merit in it, Of being a bold, eoura-
geous step towards ultimate free trade,
bat as amended by the Senate commit
Gee It isa miserable, cowsrdly makeshift,
with trade and dicker written all over its
oagaiasy features, and it will be subject
20 still further mutilation before it can
DE forced through the Senate. The
whole bin is exclusively Democratic and
by il that party must stand or fall.