Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1896-11-20
THE WEST AND TARIFF.

AoN CSA
What the western senators will do re-
garding tariff legislation during the
coming session of congress is the one
topic of discussion by the eastern gold
bug press. There is a disposition on the
part of not only the newspapers, but Of
the goldbug politicians, to insist that the
Dingley bill be taken up and rushed
through as q temporary measure Of re-
lief. 1t is urged that this is necessary
to meet the ordinary expenses Of the
government, and that it will give the
next congress ample time in which to
prepare a tariff measure that will be &C.
ceptable to the party. From the Nc
Kinley standpoint this is a good scheme,
but there are signs Of rebellion. At
least some of the silver republican sena-
tors are as much opposed to the Dingley
bill as they we're a few months ago when
it was held up in the senate. They are
disposed to oppose it now as then be-
cause it does not deal fairly with wool
and other raw materials, and they fear
if it becomes a law the manufacturers
of the east will have power enough to
continue the duty at the rate fixed in
the bill. Upon this subject the Ogden
Standard says:
"We believe Senator Cannon will vote
for more tariff, if the west is given a fair
share of the protection that a new tariff
bill proposes. or course, we do not ex-
pect Senator Cannon to vote heavy pro-
lection to the east and poverty to the
west. The republican senators of the
west have enough power to frame a
tariff bill that will do exact justice to
the whole nation. If they fail in that
they are unworthy of the position of
trust the people have confided to their
care"
Independent Of the silver republicans,
however, there is another mighty OBJ
stacle in the way Of the Dingley bill. 1t
is no less a parsonage than the ponder
GUS, stubborn MI. Cleveland, who still
sits in the white house with a veto club
in his hand. Upon this subject he is re-
ported as saying that he does not feel
there is any necessity for the Dingley
bill. According to his opinion, the Will
son bill has not been given a fair trial
and he insists that it is entitled to that.
He still holds that with business in it's
normal condition the Wilson bill will
produce enough evenue to maintain
the government and he seems anxious to
prove it. During the early period Of
its existence the bill answered that
purpose, but the depression ar
bitrarily and artiicially produced
for political purposes has acted
against and brought it into dis
credit. If the much boosted re-
vival of business, owing to McKinley's
election, is real and permanent pros
perity has set in Mr.. Cleveland knows
of no reason why the revenue as at
present provided should not be ample.
In any event, he is said not to be willing
to acknowledge that it is a failure until
events have proved so beyond the posi-
bility of a doubt. If this report be
true the Dingley bill has only a slim
chance Of becoming a law. There is no
reason why it should from a political
standpoint, for Cleveland is under no
obligations to smooth the way for his
successor. Let him do his own rustling.
That is what Harrison compelled Cleve-
land to do, and he will be excused if he
returns the compliment. The situation
is interesting, both from a political and
financial standpoint.