Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-07
TARIFF DIFFICULTIES
Why the Administration Does Not
Favor Retaliation.
NO CHANGE LIKELY THD SESSION
Republican Senators viii Not Aid
in Passing Amendments.
THE URRENC BILL

The tariff perplexities of the administra-
ton increase as 1t becomes more evident
that there is little probability of tariff
change in this Congress- The proposition
to retaliate, which, in the cabinet, has had
so earnest an advocate in Secretary Nor
ton, is not regarded with special favor
by the President and the Secretary OF the
Treasury for a very important reason. To
retaliate means to restrict, or to exclude
importations. And the administration
shrinks from contemplating a loss of reve-
nue. from any source in this crisis of the
treasury. The President and the Secre-
tary of the Treasury give out the hope
that there will soon be a large revenue
from sugar duties. from the income tax.
and from distilled spirits.
Yet the practical men in the govern
ment who do not have such close rela-
lions to politics raise no such expecta-
lions. The commissioner of internal reve-
nue.. for instance, tells his friends that 1t
is visionary to anticipate any revenue
from distilled spirits during the present
fiscal year. 1t needs no great forethought
to suggest that the revenue from the in
come tax is not yet to be regarded as
certain reliance. While as to the sugar
duty, the men who are practically con-
nected with the refining. industry say that
the large STOCK OF "a" sugar lIupOTteu
under the Mckinley law is ample yet for
q considerable period. and that. moreover,
there Is no present demand for the pro-
duct Of the refiner from the large grocers
and the large consumers OF sugar, for the
reason that those grocers and consumers
purchased an enormous stock OF sugar
while the price was low. and sugar was on
the free list, and they have yet placed but
few orders with the refiners under the
new law.
More than that. the enormous reductions
In the wool duties which took effect Janu-
airy l will greatly reduce the revenues
the wool duty those who predict increased
revenue from the operations OF the new
tariff law seem to make no account.
Republican Senators and the Tariff.
The republican Senators are pretty nearly
united in their purpose not to consent to
the reopening Of the tariff question through
action Of any OF the proposed amendments.
One of the foremost of the republican Sem
ators said today:
II do not see that there will be any
change in the republican platform. 1t Is
the understanding that there Is to be no
tariff legislation The only possible break
in the line might be at the instance of
some of the western cattle men and their
senatorial friends, few Of whom are said
to think that the German embargo might
be removed If the One-tenth diferential
sugar duty should be abolished But there
are few of that opinion, and those have not
as yet given any indication that they are
disposed to take any action in that matter.
The republicans believe that the trouble is
much more deep-seated than the one-tenth
differential in sugar. They consider that
the complications with foreign countries
arise from the entire system of legislation
which the democrats have enacted, and
that no substantial benefit can come until
that system shall be changed. The repub-
lcanS do not believe 1t to be wise, pohtlc,
terest Of the country. to attempt to change
any isolated provisions in the tariff bill
The western cattle men are not the only
ones who desire to have some change IN
the existing tariff law, in order to protect
their own interests. The representatives OF
the railroad companies and corporations
very greatly desire to have one feature In
the income tax law changed. The Chicago.
Burlington and Quincy railroad has had
representatives here urging this change
The provision to which particular objection
is made is the one which requires the rail-
roads to state the sums which they pay 10
all of their employees. The railways object
to this as impracticable, If not impossible.
calculated to create jealousies among labor.
and to incite to labor troubles. But mus
far the republican Senators generally have
not thought it wise to alter their program
about declining to make any break in the
line or any change in legislation because
of special interests.
r. IL the general republican opinion in the
Senate that there should be no tariff legis-
lation until the republicans are in posses
sion of the power necessary to carry out
any policy which they may form. and
that, meanwhile. the democratic tariff law
should be permitted to remain upon the
statute books, and that an opportunity
should be given to it to work out beneficial
results for the country, which its trainers
still predict for 1t.
The Cause Deeper Than Parties.
For my part" continued this republican
leader, cit would be very unwise for any
republican to maintain or to predict that
the prosperous conditions Of the country
which existed under the Harrison admins
tration can be restored by a mere change
of national politics. The depressing in
fuences which have operated in this coun-
try are deeper than parties and can only
partially be cured by legislation The prac-
teal difficulty of the United States now Is
not that labor Is crushed by capital, but
that the United States Is compelled to en-
ter into competition with the entire world
as to natural products. The United States
no longer has the monopoly OF the wheat
of the world. The fields of India, of Egypt
and of Russia are a new revelation to this
country, and the world price of wheat is
established by other countries than our
own. The same Is relatively true as to
cotton, petroleum, beef and other products
The United States is in competition with
the world now in natural products. and
the price Of these products is not deter
mined by this country. And our producers
and laborers are compelled to adapt them
selves to these changed conditions. The
removal of a comma or Of clause from
the tariff bill will not change all this. 1
do not think that there will be any tariff
legislation at this session.
The Currency Bill.
1T may be different with respect to the
currency BILL" continued this Senator. II
do not see that it is possible for the party
which controls both houses of Congress
to come to an agreement as to any finan-
cial measure which will meet the APP
prevail of the republicans. But If such
bill should be prepared it will be voted
upon by the republicans as individuals.
There is probability that any party
action can be had or that 1t will be at
tempted, as to any financial measure: and
it certainly Is not desirable. l do not
think that the republicans are prepared.
or desire, now to undertake the solution
of the financial problem But it will he
necessary for them to do that before very
long. If the President desires an extra
session, 1 do not know but that 1t would
be as wise for the republicans to assume
the responsibility fer financial legislation
in April as in December. The task can
not be postponed indefinitely. and at hest
only few months can intervene before
the republicans must assume the response