Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-01-20
TRUTHS ABOUT THE TARIFF.
Motives Prompting the Wilson Commit
tee In Their Deliberations.

tHO'Vo %oOOt tuG tN"sFVs
Prompting the Wilson Commit
tee In Their Deliberations.
The report Of the majority Of the
ways and means committee on the bill
for the reform and reduction of the
tariff is likely to go into history ~ one
of the chief documents brought out BY
a radical and beneficent change In the
fiscal policy Of the country. 1t Is an
extremely able paper, clear and firm In
statement Of principle, temperate and
prudent in spirit, logical in argument
and practical In its method of dealing
with problem that has become ex-
traordinarily complex. The COMMITTEES
recognize the mandate OF the American
people, given to the majority In con-
grcss, as they justly say after the full
est and most thorough debate ever
given by any people to their fiscal pol
icy" That mandate required that the
present tariff. wrong in principle and
grievously unjust in operation" should
be revised in the light Of the law that
.'the power Of taxation hss no lawful
or constitutional exercise, except for
providing revenue for the support 0f
the government" But the COMMITTEES
also recognize that the revision OF the
tariff in the light of this high law cam
not proceed suddenly and violently,
that great interests do exist whose
existence and prosperity 1t Is no part
of our their reform either To imperil
or to curtail:' and that In dealing
with the tariff question, as with every
other long-standing abuse that has In
terwoveu itself with our social or in
dustrial system, the legislator must al
ways remember that in the beginning
temperate reform is safest, having In
itself the principle Of growth"
This statement is fully sustained In
the body Of the report discussing the
various changes made by the bill The
object OF the committee has been 10
abolish or reduce the duties on the
materials OF manufacture; to reduce
in corresponding degree the duties
on the finished product into which
these materials enter; to tighten the
| taxes on the necessaries of life; to
abolish duties that were prohibitory.
and to emancipate at once commerce
and industry from unnecessary restric-
tons. We do not think that it can,
with any show of reason, be denied
that the bill honestly and practically
meets these ends. 1t has been neces.
sary to some extent TO keep In view the
temporary needs of the treasury, and
that is to be regretted, but the commit.
tee are perfectly justified In inferring
that the opinion Of the country will
sustain them in not allowing these
needs to interfere with substantial
compliance with the will OF the people,
as shown clearly and repeatedly at the
polls.
1t remains for the republicans to de-
eide in what way they will meet the
question which 10 now before congress,
brought there by the decisive action of
the voters after full discussion with
the utmost deliberation. Will they
content themselves with fair ana res.
sonable discussion, or will they resort
to dilatory tactics, to purely factioua
talk, with the hope of wearyinR the
country with uncertainty? II they are
either patriotic or wise they will NOT
take the latter course. A tariff reform
bill is bound to pass. They cannot
, prevent. though they may postpone, its
: passage The particular class whom
} the republicans in congress assume tc
: represent - the manufacturers = will
, suffer more from the uncertainty,
, doubt and confusion attending q tedi
, Gus delay than any other class. But
they will not be the only ones to suf
: fer. The country has passed through
a most trying season OF suspense ant
{ depression. Its energies are reawaken
t ing, and it is preparing to resume pros
$ porous activity in all branches OF bust
t ness Uncertainty in any branch mus
Y defer the recovery in all. viii the re
4 pmblicans make themselves responsible
: for such an untoward and unnecessary
, addition to the d tficulties of all bust
, ness men? That is the question they
e will have to decide. They nave nov
v a very moderate and fair bill befor'
n them. They cannot justly complain o
e radical or extreme propositions They
, may be sure of one thing, that none 81
. moderate will ever again be offered
: and that whatever change takes plac
8 in public sentiment will be in the di
h rection of more drastic and immediat
E reform. Every consideration OF homo
r. and interest alike impels them to mod
It Grafton. II they fail to be moderat
v their accounting will bc sure an
s. swift. N. Y. Times.