Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-19
The Subject Of Tariff Legislation
Causing Some Concern.
WHAT THE HIGH PROTECTIONISTS SAY
Don't Want the DingIey Bill, but
an Extra Session.
NJ DIR E MOD ERATE VIEWS

Tariff legislation is proving to be a knotty
| problem for the republicans.
Just after the election of Mr. Mckinley
there was widespread tendency among
republicans TO pass the Dingley bill as soon
| as Congress should assemble in December
| and in that way to tide over any deficiency
OF revenue until they came into complete
control of the government. Then they en-
tered upon a discussion both as to their
ability to get such a measure through the
Senate and to secure for II the Presidents
approval, in view of the fact that both Mr.
Cleveland and Mr.. Carlisle regard the pres
| ent tariff bill sufficient for the purpose
of raising revenue for the government as
| soon as revival of prosperity is well on its
way.
But the greatest influence that has been
exerted to defeat the idea of passing the
Dingley bill has been by those high pro-
tectfonists in the republican party who
have feared that II this measure should
once become law they would find il very
difficult to pass a genuine protective tariff
bill after the 4th of March. Many protec-
| tionists have argued in favor of an extra
session of Congress to be assembled in
April. TO devote its attention TO tariff legis-
lation, and this policy has received con-
siderable favor among protectionists all
over the country. But many politicians
who are not satisfied with the present tariff
legislation and are eager TO pass pro-
tectiVe measure are scenting another
danger which they fear will show up in
large proportions during the next congress
sional elections and that may result in
making the House of Representatives DEM
ocratic.
Danger That Threatens.
These are the nen who have not for
gotten the landslide that took place after
the passage of the Mckinley bill, and they
suggest that the Importance of the boiling
democrats in securing the election of Nc
Kinley and in returning so many republi-
can members Of Congress should not be for
gotten during the first year of Mckinley's
administration. While the speech of Post
master General Wilson before the New
York chamber of commerce and the state
ments made by Mr.. Henry Watterson, ed
itor of the Louisville Courier-Journ and
telegraphed from Paris, are not altogether
definite in expressing what they regard
the duty of The victorious party, they are
| looked upon as meaning that The republi-
cans should beware of the danger OF pass
ing extreme protective tariff measure.
The sound money democrats laid aside
temporarily their principles on the tariff
in order to assure the defeat of free silver,
but they have not abandoned those orin-
ciples and IL has been argued that a high
tariff measure will result in swinging them
back into antaSonism TO the republicans.
1t is not forgotten that the one million ma
jcrity gained 10y the republicans was chief
ly in New York and Pennsylvania, and
that number OF states in the central
west were carried by majorities that do not
| indicate that they are safely republican If
The free silver issue should be eliminated
to a considerable degree from the next
congressional election. In 1880 these same
| influences might tend to jeopardize repuo-
lican success.
1t is conceded that if the gold democrats
are to continue to lend their influence
against the free silver sentiment 10 the
extent OF aiding the election OF sound
| -la.aA- s4..f1a-z
concess sion from the republicans on TIE
subject of the tariff, and many believe
that if this concession is not made ii VIII
be impossible TO keep the rank and tile of
the national democracy outside Of the reg
Ilar democracy. 1t is argued that a high
protective policy would he an immense loss
of strength for the republicans in the south
and would throw back into the democratic
party those southern states that nave
gwen their electoral votes for Mckinley.
There is doubt that Mr.. Whitney and
other tariff reformers, when they threw
their influence for the republican ticket
had large hopes that their assistance would
| be recognized by some modification by the
republicans of their attitude on the tariff
Gold Democrats 10 BE Considered.
Extreme high protectionsts are not in
cliped to give up what they regard as their
chief means of bringing prosperity back TO
the country simply to pacify the democrats
who helped them elect Mckinley, but men
who are not SO extreme in Their views on
the tariff seriously considering the
necessity for doing means of MAIN
tanning republican principles on the money
question. When the republicans hold their
first caucus this question OF now not TO
offend the gold democrats will be one OF
the most important ones for them to con-
slider, and there many republicans who
believe that the financial question is
high above all other questions at stake
that if necessary to maintain their policies
relating to 1t they should materially modify
their attitude on the tariff. But they will
hardly be strong enough numerically to de-
feat the men W ho are laying their plans for
a high protective tariff bill. and VIII proba-
bly, compromise by urging republicans to
allow the gold democrats TO have a good
deal to say in some of the schedules in
which they are particularly interested.
There is no doubt, however, that the gold
democrats will from now on make strenu-
Gus efforts to have the republicans modify
their policy on the tariff sufficiently to al
low them to vote for Mckinley or some
other sound money" man should the regu-
lar democracy continue in the control OF
the silver men.
Som and Brother Suspected.