New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-03
THREE ROADS BEFORE THE REFOEM CLUB
ITS COMMITTEE ON TARIFF WOULD LIKE TO |
KNOW WHICH SHOULD BE FOLLOWED.

IT'S COMMITTEE ON TARIFF WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW WHICH SHOULD BE FOLLOWED
The Reform Club would Ike to know where it
is at" Lack OF confidence has never been char
acteristic OF it, but 1t confesses itself to be
badly muddled. Three courses open to II.
according to a circular OF the Tariff Reform Com
mttee. follows:
the ariff Of 1894 with all its defects and disap-
poin,ments. is. after all an importan, advance
view Of the Industrial depression and the dis,
,urbed and uncertain condition Of the Ma,iona'
ton at present would be unWise.
In opposition to this yiew 1t is urged that very
we have gained by the act OF 1894. There Is an
Obvious pT s6 ndt ,he nr Of 1877 snd
restore Mckinley rates.
2 II is maintained by others that while the tariff
Of lss, does contain some important concessions to
tariff reform. these are only useful as leading mp
10 much more radica! changes which must be
made before IL can be satisfactory or even toler
able TO those who believe IN tariff taxation as the
best means OF raising public revenue but condemn
It's for private profit, in any degree ;,,,u o,,r
d IS rfa Ts 1eog mot [%"~ to ho
what has been gained but in order to secure as
soon az possible ari1 TOT rTvenu H q nsis ,ba,
the action OF Congress In 1893 and 1894 shows CON
lection o. a tariff for revenue only. we are striv-
rir k 5Ir i ie wS TH" anatanabe They maintain
that in this country "A purely revenue tariff is i'm
beTS OF Congress hOpelcssly confused IN apyfhth
Of counts weights. values and rates. Every 'on-
grcss man is subjected 10 local pressure 10 op'hh
10 per cent this and 10 per cent more on
that; 10 have this duty specific ana fnal al Vaofen
No member has the expert knowledge 81 even con
siderable number Of subjects that VIII cndDe I'm
10 meet and overcome the specious arguments pr
scntc1 by the parties directly Interested ne ar
Rumcnt VI comparative injustice - iniluehllal WY
should y have higher rates than u ana - thah
c? Agreement becomes almost pTacicabie' cN-
cep on the basis Of giving everybody Whit ne
wants. Tariffs are, therefore, finally prepaitd on
the free lunch" basis. senator mas cynIcay
and accurately described the process IN ls'5- ~
Many believe therefore, that the time mas come
10 throw aside all compromise with ogic. All tonh-
PORTING with truth. II we believe in Tree tradc.
they say. let us say 80. Let US declare against an
tariffs. The issue cannot then be confused. We
shall always know who Is with us. VINO against US.
II OF first lose In numbers we shaH gam
enormously In strength.
As matter OF course If these views should De
accepted National revenues would be raised D. dl-
rect taxation 10 the extent to which they are 10"
derived from duties on imports
Neither the cub the tariff committee ~ COM
mitted TO any OF these different vcwf. .
The committee desire light We are ANXIOUS 10
know what associates in every part OF Inc
United States think should now do. We there
fore earnestly request full and explicit expressions
Of opinion upon these questions from every mem
Der OF the club
Answers should be addressed to Tariff Reform
Committee No. % Wiiam-s, New-York.'