Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-08
THE COMPROMISE BILL
Denounced by All Except Those Who Are
Responsible for It
Radical RefOrmers In the House VIII
Kick, but the Higher Duties VIII
Probably BE Preserved.

The republicans pronounce the new COM
promise tariff bill complete surrender Of
the democrats. They are delighted at the
development OF the situation. The bill they
pronounce a bad enc because inconsistent
and irregular in it's construction, and say
that 1t is confession of the impracticabil-
ity-the impossibilty-of free trade. 1t is
they say, an abandonment Of the democratic
declaration for low duties and ad valorem,
and that 1t leaves the party in a defenseless
position. Senator Allison said that the dem
ocrats had made a complete surrender and
that he thought the bill would pass.
Senator Aldrich said that the democrats
had abandoned their position; that the
amendments were increases, running from
10 per cent to 800 per cent, yet that the bill
was not satisfactory as protection meas
ure for the reason that the protection was
given in spots and the rates were too in
consistent and contradictory to benefit any
one The wool schedule, he said, is not sat
isfactory to the manufacturers.
Senator Proctor said that he thought the
bill would pass speedily. 1t was very ir-
regular and not well constructed but the
amendments all tended toward protection.
and may of the rates were fully as high
as the republicans would make them II they
felt called upon to revise the tariff There
was. he said, some pretty high protection
in some Of the manufactured articles. espe-
cially when the reduction of the duties on
raw materials was taken into consideration.
Senator Manderson said that the demo-
Gratis had passed from sectional protection
to individual protection. 1t was bad bill.
he said, but full confession of the principle
of protection. Its viciousness was in the
manner of applying the principle.
The measure is denounced by nearly every
one except those who are responsible for it.
The radical free traders are thoroughly dis
gusted and the protectionists despise the
bill, while they are delighted at the back
down from free trade. 1t Is generally re-
garded as an exhibition of incompetenoy.
The republicans say. however, that they
can very well afford to let the bill pass
Those who are interested in the raw mater
ials which are put on the free list or great
ly reduced say that there is no reason In
the world why the same measure of pro-
lection should not extend all the way
through the bill and that they propose to
make fight for it. Senator Pettigrew has
an amendment which he contemplates Of
fering, II the raw materials in which he Is
interested do not get better treatment. pro-
viding that all the manufactured articles
made Of these materials shall be admitted
free Of duty. Several republicans have said
that they will vote for this amendment
There will be a great kick on the part Of
the House against the compromise bill, es-
pecially as to sugar and woolens, but the
best Informed think that nearly all the
higher duties will be preserved by the con-
denounced by the more radical tariff re-
formers Of the House.
Ex-Speaker Reeds Criticism.
Mr. Reed of Maine authorizes the follow
Ing concerning the tariff amendments made
public today: THE presentation by the SEN
ate hnace committee Of eighty-one pages
OF amendments. apparently more than 400
In number, Is a delicate compliment to Mr.
Wilson and the House Of Representatives
co vs. hot he
right except on 400 or 500 points, and that
the Senate committee. after months
work. md 400 mistakes In their own BILL
This will hardly tend to restore confidence
In the country. especially as every amend
ntent sn1acks Of either prior Ignorance or
present barter. 1t seems impossible that a
document SO constructed as to show traffic
In every item should be permitted to see
daylight In one batch. 1t would have been
wiser to have let the matter come before
the country item by item rather than ag-
glomerate the dreadful total In one bunch.
Evidently it will be the duty of the Senate
to fully investigate these proposed amend
nients, for when a committee of finance re-
fuses hearings, because II knows intuitively
all things. but finds bv some kind of back
stairs influence that II has made 400 mis-
takes, it is evident that that committee will
bear watching."
Senator Jones Confident.
Senator Jones, who has assumed the bur-
den of preparing the amendments. said that
he believed the bill would be passed by
democratic votes. And that It would be
sent back to the House sooner than most
people believed" 'The finance committee" :"
said he. have every confidence Of enough
democratic votes to put 1t through. The
bill. while 1t may not be perfect, is one that
will commend itself to the party in the Sem
ate. 1t is. Of course, the result Of efforts to
adjust differences existing in the Senate,
and think we have been successful in that
a IN radI ha
tariff as much as possible without creating
too great disturbance in existing condi-
tions."
Senator Smith spoke approvingly Of the
changes and expressed approval Of the tariff
part Of the bill.
'It is." he said. "a great Improvement Of
the original bill 1t affords fair protection
to the Industries of the country, and think
that it win be generally satisfactory. There
are, possibly, some imperfections but 1t is
so much better than the first bill that 1 am
disposed to speak well Of It,"
ed to which he replied: II have been speak
ing Of the tariff bill I am not yet entirely
reconciled to the income tax"
Senator Faulkner contented himself with
expressing confidence in the work Of the
tariff committee and in saying that he be-
lieved the bill would pass.
A Bill of Shame.
Senator Flatt said: People who say the
compromise Is in any sense the adoption Of
the principle of protection make great
mistake. and in making this statement they
are giving the country q false impression.
1t Is protective only in few items, and
only so in such items because the demo-
cratic Senators demanded duties as the
price of their support of the bill, whereas
industries which have not been able to get
a democratic Senator to demand protection
for them are left on a free trade basis. If
the Wilson bill has been called an abomina-
tion this should be called a bill of shame.
If it had not been for the power of the
sugar trust it is doubtful in my mind If
there would have been q single protective
duty in the bill, but even the democratic
members of the finance committee could
scarcely give the sugar trust the duties
which would enable it to make more money
than under the Mckinley law and withhold
the semblance of protection from all other
industries.
1T is a bill without principle, pressed by
a party without policy"
NnVnl Cnurf.