Evening star., 1896-11-12
TARIFF LEGISLATION
Conditions Under Which the Dingley Bill
May Be Passed This Session.
Division of Opinion Among Repub-
lfcans on the Policy of Press
ing the Measure.

| Inc only theory upon wnlcn the oppo-
siticn could be got to permit the Dlngley
| tariff bill to GO through the Senate this
winter would be that it would interfere
| with tariff legislation by the next Con-
| gress.
| While they will not generally admit it,
| some, at least of protection democrats are
| secretly hoping that there may be an OPP
| portunity offered this winter to circum-
| vent the plans of the republicans for
| complete revision Of the tariff by the
Fifty-fifth Congress.
Would Stop Further Agitation.
| If the Dingey bill could be got through
| the Senate al this session, and Mr.. Cleve-
| land could be got to sign IT, the argument
would be made in the next Congress that
| the business interests of the country could
not stand further agitation and change,
| and effort would be made to have Con
greSs deluged with petitions praying Tor
| peace and quiet with time TO recover from
| the disasters of other agitaticns. Added 10
| this would be the further argument that
| the republicans should avoid any uii-
| necessary offense'' to the geld democrats
| who supported them in the recent fight.
| and. as far as there is any foreign lnfiu-
| ence, IL would be joined with this effort TO
| smother tariff legislation.
1 If Mr.. Cleveland's reluctance to acknowl-
| edge that lack of revenue had anything to
| do with the recent depression did not
| lead him to veto the measure, the adoption
OF the Dingley bill at this session would be
regarded by the opponents of protection as
| great stroke in their interest
| 1t is believed that Mr.. Dingley, who is
one of the most observant, as well as one
of the ablest men in Congress. sees this
feature of the situation, and Will not be
caught by II.
| The Silver Republican Senators.
The republicans who succeeded in killing
| the Dingley bill at a time when its enact
ment was important to the well-being of
| the country will not change their attitude
unless such a change would seem 10 them
| to promise embarrassment in the future 10
| the Mckinley administration. Carter Will,
| in all probability, vote hereafter for tariff
| bill, but it may be said positively that he
Will not vote for the Dingley bill, after the
violent attack he made upon ii last session.
| Dubois, Teller, Caueron and Mantle may
be depended upon not to change their posi-
| ton, and it is probable tha- they will be
| reinforced by MIR. Pettgrew, who did not
cooperate with them in the fight against
tariff last winter The other silver rep IbIi-
| cans who have been quoted intending to
| vote for the Dingley bill are those who ia
vcred its passage originally, and wolld hot
| agree to its being complicated with the sill
| yer question.
| Prospects for the Bill.
In view, however. of the recent state
| ments Of some of the silver Senators that
| they would not oppose the bill, of the opin-
| ion of Senator Morgan that the democrats
| would probably permit the legislation with
out obstruction Upon their part, the pros
| poets for the bill are deemed fair If the
| republicans decide to press il.
| Upon the latter contingency there is a
division of opinion among the republicans.
| Senator Sherman of Ohio is the latest con-
| tributor to the discussion. and raises new
| point. He takes the ground that the pas
| of ne a he
| siCn would obviate the necessity for an eX-
ira session of Congress, as il would furnish
| all the revenue needed for the present and
| would be sufficient for all purposes until
| Congress shall meet in regular session and
| prepare a revision of the tariff carefully
| ana deliberately.
| Another reason advanced in support of
the proposition for the passage OF the Ding
ley bill at this time, although this is not
| laid at Senator Shermans door, is the sug-
geStion that the custom houses should be
! locked as soon as possible by an increase
| of tariff rates against the impending flood
| of cheap foreign goods, which would come
| in through anticipation of a certain in
| crease in rates at some future date.
Flood of Cheap Goods.
| The fact is recalled, in this connection,
| that just such a flood of cheap goods
pourd into the country prior to the McKin-
ley bills going into effect and in anticipa-
| ton Of the increased rates carried by that
| bill.
| In the single month prior to the taking
| effect CT the Mckinley bill the importations
jumped to SIS. .33S, 1S3. This was an increase
over the preceding month of s15,ooo.ooo, and
! of the same month one year previous of
nearly So, 100000.
According to the arguments advanced. the
| i'll effects of such condition are obvious.
| 1t is held that it discounts the revenues of
| the incoming administration, because the
| market is surfeited with goods and the
| importationS would be light for the first
| few months of the new tariff law. For the
same reason. ii is claimed, harm is worked
| 10 the American manufacturer and labor
| ers, the people whom the new law is TO
benefit, for il cuts off the market of the
American product.