Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-20
THg DEMAND or THE INDUSTRIES.

ITiE DEMAND OF THE INDUSTRIES.
The Manufacturers club of Phila-
dcll hia has adopted n resolution urgently
requesting the national senate to re-
spond to the demand of the nation for
protective and rcvcnuc-producing lcgis-
laiiou by approving the emergency tariff
bill on the calendar Of that body.
Similar action was taken by the associa-
ton OF wool merchants of that city, SO
far MS the interests affected by the
tariff have been heard from they are
unanimous In demanding that there
shall be prompt action by congress for
providing the government with more
revenue and at the same time affordng
better protection to the Industries which
require It. They make this demand upon
the substantial ground that the success
OF the republican party in the late
election was In no small measure due
TO the desire Of the people for n rcstora-
tion Of the protective policy, These OK
prcSsons indicate that strong pressure
will be brought to bear on the senate
at the approaching session by the in
dustrial interests of the country for
such legislation rs is involved in the
Dingley bill. leaving TO the next con
grcss the duty Of making complete
and careful revision of the tariff.
1t cannot now be said with any de-
gree of certainty whether or not this
demand will be needed. but the opinion
seems to be growing that an emergency
revenue bill. on the lines of that which
passed the house. may pass the senate.
Several of the free silver re-
publican senator's who voted
against taking up the house
bill at the last session have publicly
announced that they will not con
tinue in that obstructive attitude. but
viii vote for revenue bill. 1t is be-
licved, also, that some of the sound
money democrats can be induced to
give their support to such Il measure.
fcrhaps the most serious obstacle in
the way Of passing an emergency reye-
nue. bill will be found i'm the desire of
some republican senator's to put off
tariff legislation until the next CON
Sress. for the reason that they appre-
hend If the Dinglcy bill or measure
like it should pass this congress and
become law, further tariff legislation
would drag along indefinitely, causing
doubt and uncertainty in the business
world and bringing the party in power
into diSreputc. On the other hand it
may fOrcefuliy be urged that senate
republicans cannot afford to antagonize
legislation for stopping treasury def
iccts. even though temporary in its
operation, and certainly they would
find it somewhat difficult to Justify
such course. 1t would seem to be
clearly sound policy for the republicans
to do their utmost to pass an cmer-
gcncy revenue bill ut the approaching
session, leaving the responsibility for
failure, if ii should fail. with the demo
Gratis and the administration. The
action Of the house republicans has dis
tinctly committed the party to this
course and it cannot prudpntly do
otherwise than adhere to it. 1t does not
follow that the Dingley bill should be
adhered to. That measure, ii is well
understood, would now be inadequate.
When it passed the house it was eSti-
mated that it would produce $4,000
COO of revenue. Probably it would not
now produce much more than half that
amount But it can he the basis of n
measure that would give the needed re-
lief to the treasury, pending Il general
revision of the tariff by the next con
gress.
This need not interfere with the
policy to which the republican party
is committed by its platform and by
the assurances given 10 the country by
its standard bearer in the late cam
paign. Having provided sufficient
revenue to stop treasury deficits, it can
proceed to the work of tariff revision
with that care and delibcration which
its imDOrtnnCe demands