The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-03
THE HISTORY OF TARIFF LEGTs-
LA1G1S.


IN the four years OF its operation, figured
on al imports, was about AZ per cent. and
on dnIisble imports IL was about 30 per
cent Most of the representatives from
the Middle states and the West voted in
favor of that tariff. and most Of those from
New England and the South voted against
it. IL was . close contest with the bill,
the vote In the house being I07 to 102 and
in the senate 3 to 81
The enactment Of this tariff distinctly
marked the beginning of the parting of
the ways between the sections. When the
tariff OF 1916 was enacted Calhoun was .
proteetionist and favored il, while Web
ster, then free trader, opposed IL. When
the tariff Of 1924 came no for discussion
Calhoun had become a free trader. hav-
ing reached the conclusion that the South
with slave labor could not make a success
OF manufacturing During the discussion
of the tariff of 1874 for the first time the
doctrine was advanced that the tariffs for
protection were unconstitutional and was
raised by Senator Robert Y. Hayne, Of
South Carolina. and the South sticks to
day. and forced il into the Chicago plat
form Of ise2 The South set forth the
same doctrine in the constitution Of the
Confederate states.
Soon after the passage OF the tarif OF
1924 Webster reached the conclusion that
New England's chief interest lay in manu-
featuring rather than commerce, and he
took the protection side of the debate of
the tariff Of 1928. holding IL until his death.
The tariff Of 1873 therefore found Calhoun,
the protectionist of 1915, free trader. and
Webster, the free trader of Isle, protec-
ZIONIST
The tariff of is25 increased duties on
iron, lead. wool. hemp. cotton bagging
and few other articles, and on this ac-
count II was favored by the Middle and
Western states, while New England was
divided upon IL and the South was
strongly against IL. In the house the
vote on the bill was los to 81, and In the
senate 26 to u.
| In 1882 came q turning point in the
| 1912 duties had been low. The war tariff
| OF 1912 had doubled the rates first as war
| legislation and Afterward for the protec-
ton OF the industries which the war and
the previous embargoes had established.
| The great postwar acts In this line were
those of 1919 1924 and is2s
With the tariff Of July IS. 1882, came a
downward movement due largely to the
active hostility of the South TO the high
protective tariff OF 1928 This downward
/ movement was extended in the famous
/ Clay compromise tariff IT March 2, 1883.
brought about by the revolt of South Caro-
lima against high protective duties which
il called the notification movement,
which the concessions in the tariff OF 1882
we're vainly designed to avert. The COM
| promise tariff passed the house by vote
OF ils to SIS. and the senate by % to Is. 1t
| went into operation on January l, 1884,
| and cut duties on sliding scale at inter
walls Of two years, the intention being TO
have in ten years no duty in excess OF 10
per cent remaining.
This compromise tariff was entirely
.wept away in 1872 During the operation
of the tariff Of 1883 the financial eonvul-
sion Of 1887 took place, the most dIsas-
trous In our history. The tariff OF iS42
marked an upward turn in duties. but II
was superseded In 1915 by the "walksr"
tariff. which the South still regards as a
| model OF what 3 revenue tariff ought 10
| be. The tariff of 1916 passed the house on
July Of that year by a vote Of 1is 10 e5.
and went through the senate about three
weeks later, and vas signed by the prssi-
dent on July 81
This tariff. amended from time to time
in direction Of lower rates, remained Ia
| force up 10 1851, when the era OF low duties
| ends and one Of higher duties begins The
! Morrill, tariff passed the house on May II,
lst5a. by los TO "a went through the senate
on February -. 1861. by 2s to IA, the sen
ators fron some OF the Southern states
having Withdrawn BY this time, and it was
signed by President Buchanan on March
| 9. dAy and half before he retired from
offlee. Most Of the duties were made
highly protective. This act was amended
upward many times ia the next Ave or ak
| years 20 meet the immeass expenditures
| caused by the war In 1870 the amend.
meats began % take townwAri direo-
! ton. The Merrill tarif. throughout al
these rsvisions aud alterations in spots,
nay be said 20 have remained ia operation
untu July ], ISIS. when the tariff bill
signed on March 5. 1883. By President
ATthur toak effsct. Il reduced most q
the duties although not materially. The
act Of lsSs was sapsrseiea on October 6.
i
advanced sosas dates. reduced others and
placed rzw sugar ca the free list undcr
this act, for she frst time ia our history.
more than ene-haf tie imports came in
free of duty.