New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-25
THE QUESTION OF TARIFF CHANGES

THE QUESTION OF TARIFF CHANGES.
The Republican party would not need 10 de-
clare its policy If it fully controlled all branches
of the Government. The only uncertainty that
exists springs from the fact that the Republ-
cans by themselves may not have majority in
the Senate, and have reason TO expect veto at
the White House. But these facts do not alb
solydahc Republicans from obligation TO do
whafthey can TO restore prosperity. They are
not at liberty 10 assume that the President will
veto any good bill until they have passed one
and sent It TO him. Neither are they at liberty
to assume that Senator's Jones and Stewart.
who voted for the tariff Of 1890, or Senators
PETER and Butler. who have manifested some
appreciation of the Republican policy, will re
fuse TO vote for any necessary revenue law.
Congress cannot shirk its obligation to raise
an ADEQUATE revenue. If Republicans should
fail in this duty, they would grauitously take
upon themselves a fun share of any financial
disasters which might result from continu-
ance of Democratic laws in force. The outgo
of gold. the decline in stocks the decrease Of
the Treasury reserve all admonsh them that
the first and most urgent necessity Is to provide
q surplus revenue instead Of n deficit. Yet II
is true, as many Republicans are urging.
that a complete reconstruction Of the tariff,
with such care and thoroughneSs as should he
given TO a measure expected TO stand without
change for years. would probably take more
time than Congress can give TO 1t at this SEES
sion Nor is it desirable that all measures for
the relief Of the Treasury and of business
should be deferred for the months which would
necessarily be occupied in q work OF this nat
ure.
II Is also evident that Congress could not he
expected to give to such labor the time ana
attention that it demands. with the probability
that II all may be rendered useless by the Presi-
dents veto A much briefer bill. avowedly for
present relief and not designed as a permanent
settlement would serve equally well to test his
willingness to obey the mandate Of the people
expressed in the elections Of last year and this
year. and il ought to be possible to pass some
such bill without great delay. The RESPONSE
bility would then b. fixed upon the President,
and there would yet be time for Congress to
determine what appropriations ought to be
made in view of the deficiency of revenue. For
il would be perfectly in order for Republicans
of the House TO declare that they could not in
telligently appOriion the revenue among the
different branches Of public expenditure, until
they could know whether the revenue is to be
adequate or inadequate-to yield a surplus or a
deficit On the face of things it IS obvious that
Congress cannot properly appropriate sums far
in excess of the existing revenues of the Gov
ernment and if expenditures at anything like
the present rate are proposed by the executive
departments, Congress ought first to make a
determined effort to provide the Government
with an adequate revenue.
Those who have followed the comparisons OF
imports and revenue for the last few months
will realize that it might not be necessary TO
alter duties on great number OF articles in
order TO raise a sufficient revenue. Duties on a
few classes have been greatly reduced, with
most disastrous effect as to the revenue, and
also as TO the industries Of the Nation. The
former duties on those classes worked well,
yielded a large revenue and gave most health
full stimulus TO industries 1t would be pos
slble to raise all the revenue nee1d by simply
repeating certain sections OF the existing law,
and re-enacting the corresponding sections of
the act Of 1890 without attempting com
plete revision at this time. Probably II would
be found comparatively easy TO agree without
much delay upon the sections thus to be re-
vised with the practical experience Of the last
year TO show what portions Of the existing
tariff have proved most harmful 10 industries
and cost the Government most revenue