Evening star., 1896-11-30
REPUBLICANS AND TARIFF
Republican Leaders Not Decided a. IN
Action.

discussion OF the tariff Question shows
tnat the republican leaders are at present
oiFioeu INTO at least two factions There
are tnoSe VINO seem to regard the Wilson
Oil as defective principally because of its
lailure TO produce sufficient revenue. They
40 not otherwise specifically attack 1t, A
1air inference from what they say leads to
the belief that they have no desire radical
ly to overhaul the bill. Their suggestions
are all in the line of adding a few reyenue.
producing features to the measure and lot
ting 1t stand. In the main it contains nro
lection enough for them. These men think
that this work can easily be done this VIM
ter. and consequently they are opposed TO
an extra session of the new Congress
There are others who insist upon a thor
ough revision of the Wilson bill. The fart
that 1t creates a deficiency in the reyenue
Is in their eyes only one of it's many de-
fects. 1t should not be permitted to stand
a day longer than necessary Tney NOT
only contend that more protection is neces-
sary for American industries, but that the
protection contained In the Wilson bill calls
Tor general readjustment. They still ad-
mere to their campaign language, and refer
10 the bill as a botch and makeshift-an
awkward attempt on the part of the de-
n
fronted with the task Of trying to enact
some of its free trade Professions into law.
These men are opposed to any attempt to
do this work this winter. The time thev
think, Is entirely too short. They want
an extra session of the new Congress.
called to meet not later than April 1. and
the work pressed to a finish before July /.
This division of republican opinion re-
calls some of the history of the passage of
the Wilson bill through the Senate. The
Iyo,,e
rouse Dill was largely recast when it reach
ed the Sei.ate. Not only were the demo
Gratis themselves displeased with it in it's
House form, but the republicans planted
themselI es squarely across the path. and
announced that unless many changes were
made 1t could not go through Many
changes were made. The cotton schedule
underwent a revision which materially soft
ened the fighting spirit of the New Eng
lano senator's while the metal schedule be-
came less and less objectionable to those
Senators who were the most interested in
that. So marked was the change. indeed
In the attitude of some of the Senators
tnat otners IN open debate called attention
to it. Mr.. Dolph Of Oregon spoke on the
subject, and complained that the east
seemed to be the sole beneficiary of the
concessions that the democrats were maxi
ing.
When the republican caucus IS held this
matter will be brought up There is some
feeling on the subject, and the discussion
Is very likely to develop it. Those who have
denounced the wilson bill without stint
will advocate a material revision of it.
They will not demand reenactment of the
Mckinley BILL or the preparation of a
measure with duties at all prohibitory. but
being on record as opposed to the Wilson
bill, and having promised their constituents
a new measure, they want a new measure
This, of course, will be calculated to
bring out a full expression of opinion as
to how far, it atiall, protection sentiment in
the republican ranks has been, or should
be, affected by the support of sound money.
low tariff. democrats of the. republican
presidential ticket. The question is regard
ed as nice one, and particularly so at a
time when both the republicans and sound
money democrats are being advised of the
necessity of keeping up their alliance on
the money issue for use in the immediate
future