The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-01-10

or the vote on the measure. And al
though it may be modified in several
respects there can be but small doubt
that it will pass the House substan-
tally in its present form.
The speech made by Chairman VIII
son was a terrible arrangement of the
Republican manipulation of the nat
tional finances. and clear exposition
of the present situation and the neces-
sity for tariff reform. The points he
made were sharp and direct 1t is
undoubtedly true that: First, the coun-
try demanded tariff reform. Second,
that satisfactory measure cannot be
adopted without some concessions to
existing interests which are in the ma
ture of a compromise. Third, that the
prevailing distress renders the demand
for reform imperative, and at the same
time makes the work difficult because
|of the continual Misrepresentation as
to the cause of the trouble Fourth
that the treasury is empty, and large
demands are made upon it through the
|extravagant course of the previous ad-
ministration. This makes the needed
reforms perpleYing subject because
money must be had to meet current
expenses and entailed obligations.
The first Cleveland administration.
Mr. Wilson showed. turned over to the
Republican successor s1S5, oOO,O 900. That
was all dissipated, Notwithstanding the
oppressive increase of taxes. He de-
tailed the process by which the mag
nificent Cleveland surplus was
scattered under Harrison. At the
same time the protected firms
and corporations which had aided
the Republican party to gain
its victory, virtually made their own
terms in the increase of tariff duties
for their special benefit. They wrote
the provisions which they wanted in
the Mckinley BILL and they succeeded
in obtaining the additions which were
made to the tariff rates: In manufac-
lures, wool, from 20 to 100 per cent
average; glass from 81 to Ga per cent;
iron and steel from Sc to 63 per cent:
cotton goods from 40 to 81 per cent;
other things in similar proportion.
The consumers have never been con-
sidered in the piling on of protection.
1t is the manufacturers, the trusts, the
combines. the moheyed corporations
who have been the pets of the high
tariff Republicans, while the great
masses of the people have been COM
PEELED to bear the burden of the high
prices which this policy has entailed
upon them. 1t is indeed time that 2,
revision was made in the iniouitous
list of duties
Not that foreign manufactures may
be placed on a level with home goods
by any means. 1t is not 'tariff-snlasb-
ing that is contemplated, but tariff
reduction. 1t is in the interest of the
consumers who form the entire popula-
ton of the country. 1t is a Demo-
cratic measure because it is for the
people. The rumpus which is being
raised comes from interested parties.
from purely selfish motives, and is
echoed by the Republican press for
partisan purposes.
Selfishness, either of persons or of
localities, permeates the whole system
of protection Appeals are made by
those who advocate the high tariff to
those who are likely to be affected
by its personal or local results. The
good of the whole is put out of sight.
How it will benefit this interest, help
that industry, increase the price of
some particular product; that is the
cry. The tariff revision contemplated
in the Wilson bill is based on the prin-
ciple of 'the greatest good to the
greatest number" 1t is pro bono pub
leo. 1t will be fought by the monopo-
lists and their representatives. 1t may
be somewhat amended and revised,
but it is bound to be enacted and when
it has had time to operate, its bene-
fetal effects will be felt in every part
Of the United States.