The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-15
THE GOOD WORK DONE.

We believe the majority of the peo-
pie of the United States will approve
the action of the Democratic majority
in the House of Representatives on
the tariff bill The reasons advanced
by Speaker Crisp and Chairman Will
son for the acceptance of the Senate
amendments were ample and conclu-
sive. The passage of the bill was a
public necessity. 1t was far better to
take what could be had than to hold
out longer for something that could
not be had. So far as the enactment
goes it is good. To refuse a part of
what is wanted because one cannot
gain all that is desired would be a
mark of folly as conspicuous in the
conduct of Congressman as in the mis-
takes of striking workmen.
In the passages at arms which ac-
companied the final disposition of the
measure in the House, the Republi-
cans were at the front with sarcasm
and persiffage. That is all there was
to the flights of oratory in which Reed
and others on mis- side INDUCED. 1t
was funny but foolish. 1t contained
no argument. The reasoning, the fig
ures, the facts and the conclusion
We're in the speeches of the leading
Democrats who favored the bill as
it could be enacted. Crisp and Wilson,
Turner and others talked to the point,
and there was no nonsense in their
remarks. Cochran was angry. Flo
quent in his wrath, he yet failed to
touch the convincing arguments of
his colleagues, and their sense was
stronger than his denunciations.
The passage of the. supplemental
bills was a good stroke of policy. BY
that means the most conservative of
the House Democrats secured what
was possible at the moment, and star
ted another movement to try to gain
more without risking what was in
hand. 1t is in view of the adoption of
that mode Of procedure that perhaps
the President will sign the bill which
has now passed both Houses of Con-
gress. His views were closely set
forth in his letter to Chairman Will
son. But there is nothing therein de-
clared which will make inconsistent
his approval of the bill with the pos
sibility of the passage of some at least
of the supplementary bills which the
Senate viii have to consider. 1t is not
likely that he will veto the main
measure.
The Democratic party was pledged
to reform of the tariff If nothing
more is had during the present Con-
gress than the bill just passed, it
will prove great step toward that
full reform which the country will yet
demand. If those supplementary bills
should pass the Senate or even most
OF them. which we admit is doubtful,
there would be no need to greatly dis
turb the tariff situation for several
years. Even with the changes made
by the Senate the reductions in duties
are considerab bic. a number of articles
are added to the free list, and while
the changes made leave no room for
the Republican false cry of free
trade the worst features of McKin-
leyism are removed from the tariff sys-
tenn.
The passage of the tariff takes one
weapon out of the hands of the Re-
publicans, which they have been bran
ulshlhS Tor some time. They can no
longer threaten to smite the Demo-
cratic party for inaction on the tar
if. They have done everything in
their power to defeat it and have |
failed. The delay" which they have |
in words and helped to
cause in deeds. is no longer available
as pretence of reproach. Nor will
further predictions that M tariff hin
would be enacted be OF any service.
We condole with the Republicans who
are thus deprived of such means of
assault. and We congratulate the Dem
ocratic party on what it has been
able to achieve in one session of Con-
greSS