New-York tribune., 1896-12-10
THE PRINCIPLE OF PROTECTION.

Jmnortont information was contained in the
washington dispatch of Monday regarding Ma
for McKinley's views of the proposed duties on
certain articles. 1t has been conhdentially
known to many that in 1890 he did not favor as
high rates Oh some articles as other members
of the committee and the House adopted. and
some months ago. in an analysis Of the act. The
Tribune showed that in a number OF cases the
rates proposed in the bill which Mckinney hlm-
self submitted TO the committee were afterward
raised in that body or in the House. The Wash
jngton dispatch makes known that Mckinney
voted in committee to impose only $40 per ton
duty on steel rails but the majority favored the
higher rate. S13 ~. which was adopted NO one
then supposed. nor do intelligent men now sup
nose that there could he serious competition at
the important ports of the Atlantic coast win
a duty of only so per ton az there IS not now
with a duty of only 81 ~ per ton but at points
in rbe Gulf and Oh the Pacific coast, far distant
from railroads. importations are possible on ac-
count Of cheap water carriage The existence
Of a combination in this manufacture was
rssson strongly urged in 1890 for putting the
duty not higher than So and as the same COM
bination has since placed its price as low as Sd
though now charging $2S. the same Republicans
NAV reason that a duty of so is now more than
Is necessary.
This spirir. which will probably govern the
framing of the tariff bill to he passed next year.
WAS expressed by Chairman Dinglcy in these
words: "The problem Is TO find the lowest rate
s.of duty on each article which will preserve our
shome market for the benefit Of our own pro-
"ducers and manufacturers. making due allow
lance for free domestic competition. Evidently
IL IL essential in the mind Of Chairman Dingley.
that there should be free domestic competition
The Tribune has from time 10 time pointed ont
other rates OF duty which were in 1890 fixed I'M
necessarily high. and in the light of experience
these can be more accurately adjusted. SO In
other cases the duties of the Act Of 1890 have
proved insufficient and need to be raised. But
the careful classification and adjustment which
prevailed in that act will without doubt he OBJ
served as the basis ON which the coming tariff
will be framed.
One point it Is important to keep in mind, both
In framing and in judging Of such measure.
The prices which have prevailed In time Of
extreme depression cannot safely be taken az
the basis OF comparison with the cost Of similar
articles abroad The people will not and ought
y not to expect that the continuance OF Demo
CRITIC low wages shall be forced upon the coun-
try by a Republican tariff. II former wages are
to he restored for coal and iron miners. for
transporters and furnace men, Il Is inevitable
that the cost Of pig-lron. the material for the
whole iron and steel industry, will he higher
than II has been. So il the wages Of men In the
various later processes, from the pig to the fin
ished rail or beam. plate, wire or nail. are to be
a. high at they were In years Of prosperity. the
cost Of the finished product must be somewhat