Evening star., 1896-12-05
The Dingley Bill.

The Dingley bill is so prominent in all
discussion of the legislative problem that
the circumstances surrounding it's origin
are being recalled.
When the present Congress assembled
last December the most important work
expected of it was a new tariff bill. The
republicans had twice carried the country
by Overwhelming majorities against the
Wilson bill. and now, with the House COM
pletely in their hands, they were expected
to bring forward a measure in thorough
revision of that bill on consistent protec-
tion lines. The ways and means commit
tee was organized with that object in view.
In its majority personnel it was entirely
acceptable to the protection sentiment of
the country. and business interests likely
TO be affected by the work began arrange
ments for submitting data for the COM
mttee's Information and reference. Con-
Germ on the subject was widespread. for.
although the new bill might not pass the
Senate, where a clear republican majority
was not to be counted, the fact of It's hav-
ing received the Endorsement of the House
would make it the republican basis of the
approaching campaign for the presidency.
Like clap of thunder out of a clear skys
came the Presidents Venezuelan message
and. still further to change the order of
things, his confession in few days after
ward that financial legislation was neces-
sary. The country received the message
with enthusiasm. and, of course the House
did. 1t was precisely in line with what re-
publican leaders had for some time been
advocating. AS for the Presidents request
for legislation, the House put its own in
depreciation on that. He would not confess
that the government needed more money
Tor running expenses, but the House knew
such to be the fact and, so, actedsaccord-
lngEy- The Dingley bill, designated as a
deficiency bill, and prepared with that end
IN view, was brought forward and mt
through in short order.
Here was a sudden and complete change
of the whole republican program. The ex-
pscted revision of the Wilson bill was
abandoned. Work which it had been ex-
pected would require several months was
performed in little more than that many
days. OF tariff legislation proper there was
TO be none at all at that session There
was no complaint on any side, because in
providing thus promptly for the Treasury
dencit the House had acted wisely. 1t was
accepted as the first step toward putting
thlhss In shape in case England showed
ner teeth about the message In a shor,
time the war talk died out and when the
Dingley bill reached the Senate the silver
men on both sides of the chamber formed
u combination and blocked the way
Arguing from this unulsputed bit of his
tory, the more vigorous champions of pro-
lection now insist that the Dingley bill be
permitted to die on the Senate calendar
where its opponents have placed IL. IL
was an emergency measure, drafted with
regard both to the Venezuelan war talk
and to the deficit in the Treasury created
by the Wilson bill. The war talk has en-
tirely subsidized. The deficit 1t is true still
exists. and. of course. is much larger now
Ii ought to be provided for But, as the
protectionists insist, let it be provided for
In the proper way. Let this next House in
special session, do what the present House
would have done if the President had not
closed with England at the time he did
and in the way he did-prepare a tariff bill
revising the Wilson bill, and with the
double end in view of providing Feyenue
enough for the support of the government
and of affording adequate and logical and
cquitably distributed protection to Ameri-
can industries and American labor