New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-26
d" UNCERTITNTYr NOR THE CAUSE.

|
Delay and uncertainty hurt. but nothing else,
say some Democrats. If the Tariff bill wcrc
| once passed, they argue. everything wouid
brighten II Is a pleasant theory but Is II true!
| Every Republican as well rs every Democrat
wants 10 believe II. since It Is declared that the
| bill must pass But Is It the fact that GER
tajnty Of the evil feared for Il year would be
worse than the fear? For once business men
| NAV rs well look the facts squarcly in the
| face. and then petition Congress. If they can.
| TO pass the pending bill without delay.
The great fact. which II Is positively silly 10
| ignore IS that business has been dismally Dad
for year because a great change In the tarli
has been expected. But what has been OK
| pcctcl? Never change toward higher duties;
| never since November last change toward
| lower duties than were named In the wilson
bill The doubt has been whether Industries
| could live with such duties as were proposed.
Changes have been made some FOR the better
and some for the worse, but on the whole Inc
average OF duties on dutiable imports would be
only an insignIncant fraction higher under the
hill now pending in the Senate than under the
bill which passed the House. Business mas
slightly improved. but TO MI Appearances only
because II became certain that any change must
be DELAYED for months. ana some wants when
must be met could be satisfied by American pro
luction before foreign competition on new
terms could begin
II Is in full view Of the measure actually
prndIng that business has been bad. Men nave
known from hour TO hour just what the black
uoilcrs and the tr!cksicrs Of the party In power
wore propos.ng 10 do. and how far they were
likely 70 90 in sparlng some industries from the
destructive force Of the Free Traders IT DuSi-
ness has been bad, 1t Is because expectation OF
the bin actually pending has restrained mon
from buying or selling. They have not been
hindcrctl by fear OF anything worse than Inc
Democratic party has proposed through us
officials and committees and chosen represent
atiycs Of caucus. What business Is, thAt pros
poet has made II. and not any uncertainty 40
called. Men have simply not dared 10 orn'r
goods or 10 sell. IL the passage of Inc p'hulhH
bill would make the transaction losing one
It's passage therefore. must be "Hp"ct'l 10 pro
long existing conditions so FAR rs those concern
the tariff What business men can do PRIOR I'D
the dates fixed for various parts OF the bll 10
take effect they may be expected 10 do. Ailer
that rs many rs cannot compete on Few "r"'
expect 10 stop.
This STRAIGHTFORWARD statement of facts per
rccflv well known 10 all makes II clear That
husincss cannot be- expected To grow better, on
account of the passage Of the measure appr'
hcndcd but, on the contrary. must bc expected
10 shrink FOR two reasons: First. many of me
works that arc now turning out goods To De
delivered before the bill takes effect are OK
nortlng ~ stop when such orl'rS are executed
second many works which are now l'lng
an because not vet forced 10 stop. are perfectly
aware that they will be compelled to do so wh'n
the force 81 foreign competition Is actually f'lt
Tins thc phrase which Democratic business
mon are 80 fond Of using ~ an '.plaNatl"h ''
ihc prusirntion Of business Is really accrDtive
T. * not uncertainty" which stops business
Int the expectation ~ change which. when
II comes Is definitely expected 10 arrest part of
the hus'ncss which can now be transacted.
The changes IN the Senate. outrageousy
f,yoring a few interests nj the expense Of all
others. d. not help the prospect. ON tn" con
trarv. II would probably b. even worse for bust
ur.s as q whole 10 have n few interests thus
cxc.ptionally favored than 10 have NIL treated
with impartial dcsirrctyeness. Tho men OF
collars and cuffs cannot thrive II the millions
who h,iy those things nrr 10 br deprived or
their livelihood or part of their wages. Under
proicciinn the Nation has been thirty years
learning the lesson that the prosperity or every
Industry and interest depends more upon the
general welfare of the wagccarnng millions
;h,n upon any especial favor which It is In the
power ~ anybody 10 grant.