The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-11
CONGRESS N REVENUE.
The First Duty OF Congress Under the CIR.
- CnIMIlAnras. IL


New York Mall and Express: The ac-
ton OF the six Bo-called silver senators
In remaining away from the caucus of
their former party associates has at
lenst the merit Of good taste and con-
slStcncy. Having once determined that
they would adhere to their position of
last session. that they would vote for no
revenue bill without m accompanying
provision for the free coinage OF silver, II
was only right that they should make Il
clear TO the country that the Republican
party Is not In control OF the senate, and
Is not responsible for the agcertained
fact that the DIngley bill IL dead.
Under these circumstances. the future
programme OF the Republican senators
has been referred 10 an advisory COM
mltteo for report 10 their party caucu
1t II perhaps natural that there should
be some temporary division OF opinion
among the members % this committee
RS TO what attitude TO ASSUME toward 4
bill that Is dead: but that Ia, after all, a
minor problem OF parliamentary tactics.
As 20 the policy 10 be pursued toward
the general subject OF revenue, there can
be no question. The absurdity Of Mr..
Cleveland's assertion that the treasury
contains a surplus, and the folly OF his
plea that The present customs law should
be given a chance should be exposed and
combated at every point. No opportunI-
ty should be lost 10 Impress upon the
Democrats and their free silver allies
that the treasury receipts under the Will
son-Gorman act show a continuing detl-
cit. and that the present reserve fun Is
the product Of bond sales necesSitated to
meet current expenses. There are rart-
Gus ways In which this can be done.
The Dingley bill may be pressed for dis
c~ussion, even though there can be no
chance for Its passage. even though the
Presidents message warrants the lnti-
nation that he would meet Il with his
veto. and even though In Its present
form. ms reported by the majority Of the
finance committee, 1t Is only a bill for the
free and unlimited coinage OF silver.
Nor Is this the only opportunity for
Republicans TO press home the need OF
more rcvenue. There is pending before
the senate the Elk!ns bill, levying q uni
form percentage OF duty upon all goods
imported on foreign bottoms. Primarily
intended for the special purpose OF slim
ulatlng the growth OF American ship
ming. this bill can now he urged - a
sevenue-yielding measure. II Is as
sumcd that this bill can command a sub
s~tantial majority In the house; and the
silver Republicans as well as a number
OF Democratic senator's are In favor OF
the restoration OF the American carrying
trade.
II Is we'll that the country should know
thus carly that the entire tariff question
must be taken up and settled by an extra
session of the next Congress. To this
demonstrated fact business and trade
ran now adjust themselves. as indeed
they have for some time been doing. 1t
Is plainly the duty OF the next admins
,ration to call on extra session a. soon as
possible after March g.. 1t is important
that no time should be lost in revising
the tariff, so as 10 yield ample revenue
and 50 as 20 revive Industries, such as
wool and lumber, now langu!shinS under
the present inimical law.
With this end In view. the Republican
members Of the present ways n means
committee. all of whom are elected 10.
the ncxt house. should begin at once the
framing df the tariff bill. They should
20 aOut this openly and fearlcssly, civ
Ing public hearings to representatives
OF Industries affected. and so have the
measur, perfected and ready to report to
the next house just MS soon as President
Mckinley calls 1t together.