The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-03-29
THREE PROPOSITIONS.


The New York Reform Club Asks It's Menu
beers About Future Tariff Work.
The tariff committee of the Reform
club, which since 1857 has done so
much for the tariff reform cause, has
asked the members of the club for sug-
gestions as to the most effective meth
DDS Of carrying on future tariff reform
work. The committee asks each mem
Der to consider three suggestions,
which it states as follows:
l. One section of tariff reformers
maintain that the tariff of 1894, with
all its defects aad disappointments is,
after all, an important advance to-
wards the abolition of protection. and
that, in view of the industrial deprcs-
sion and the disturbed and uncertain
condition OF the national finances any
further agitation of the tariff question
at present would he unwise. In oppo-
sition to this view it is urged that very
active work will be needed to hold
even what we have gained by the act
of 1894. There is an obvious PROBABLE
ity that determined effort will soon
be made to overthrow the tariff OF 1894
anu TtstoTc MtNluleN rates.
2. 1t is maintained by others that
while the tariff Of 1894 does contain
some important concessions to tariff
reform, these are only useful rs lead
ing up to much more radical changes,
which must be made before IL can be
satisfactory or even tolerable to those
who believe in tariff taxation as the
~
but condemn its use for private profit,
i'm any degree. Therefore, it is argued.
we should continue our work n, act
lively as practicable. not only to hold
what has been gained. but in order to
secure, AS soon as possible, tariff for
revenue only"
3. But large number 81 our friends
insist that the action Of congress in
1893 and 1894. shows conclusively that
in working for mere tar if reform,
whether by seeking to secure modera-
tion in protection or n tariff for rev
enuc only. we are striving for that
which. even If it is not wholly unde-
sirablc. is wholly unattainablc. They
maintain that. in this country. a pure
ly revenue tariff is impossible; that the
attempt to realize it leaves members
OF congress hopelesslv confused in "A
labyrinth Of counts. weights. values
and rates. Every congressman is sub
jectcd To local pressure To obtain 10
per cent. more on this and 10 per cent.
more on that: 10 have this duty spe-
cifc and that ad valorem. No
member has the expert knowl-
edge of even a considera BILE
number of subjects that will enable
him IN meet and overcome the specious
arguments presented by the parties d.
rectly interested. The argument of
comparative injustice is influential.
Why should A have higher rates than
B and Il than G? Agreement becomes
almost impracticablc, except on the
basis of giving everybody what he
wants Tariffs are. therefore, finally
prepared on the free lunch" basis, as
one senator has cynically and accu-
rately described the process Of ls93-i.
Many believe, therefore. that the
time has come to throw aside all com
promise with logic. all temporizing
with truth. If we believe in free trade,
lHtN SLY, let us shy 80 Leu us tttidTt
against all tariffs. The issue cannot,
then. he confused. We shall always
know who is with us. who against us
II at first we lose in numbers, we shall
gain enormously in strength.
As matter Of course. II these views
should be accepted, national revenues
would be raised by direct taxation to
the extent to which they are now d"
rived from duties on imports.
Neither the club nor the tariff com
mittcc is committed 10 any one of these
different views.
The committee desire light. We are
anxious To know what our associates
in every part Of the United states
think we should now do We there
fore earnestly request full and explicit
expressions of opinion upon these
questions from every member OF the
club.