The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-12-29
AMERICAN TARIFF.

DlSCuSSIOu OI tlIt pIOSpCbDHC
tariff legislation in the States
both by the press and by mem
beers of Congress, indicates that
a conservative course will DC fa-
vofed. The sealing of the doom OF
Congressman Dingley's tariff bill
puts an end TO any attempt being
made during the present admins
tration to- increase, the revenues
of the country by increased tar
ifs. If it were possible to put a
tariff measure through Congress,
President Cleveland has Indicated
that he would veto il, since he is
determined that the present laws
shall have Il fair trial; hence tariff
reformers have decided to wait.
This turn of affairs, however,
assures an extra session called by
President Mckinley very soon af-
ter he assumes control of the af-
fairs of state. With this surety III
view. discussion is rife, and the
different Congressional delega
tons are preparing to secure due
recognition for their various dis
tricts. The California delegation
is carly in the field, having desig
mated the time when it will give
hearings to the representatives OF
various industries. The beet su-
gar producers are making the
best of their opportunities and
will undoubtedly make a strong
pull and pull all together to
obtain greater protection than is
now given them. Their influence
will be a power, since they repre-
sent an infant industry, and by
giving them what they want the
Republican party would regain
much of the strength among the
farming class of the West, where
the PopuIists and free silver ad
YOcates have made heavy inrOads
during the past four years, and
there can be no doubt that the
Republicans will turn every pos
sible stone to divert the attention
of the farmers from free silver.
President Mckinley will urge Il
policy which may be classed as
conservative when compared with
the tariff act of 1890, many feat
ures of which he was compelled
to father contrary to his better
Judgment. McKinley's idea seems
to be TO construct Il tariff meas
ure which shall assist new indus
tries and give fair protection TO
those already established. The re-
mark of Congressman Dingley,
that the problem is to find the
Iowestrate of duty on each article
which will preserve our home
market for the benefit of our own
producers and manufacturers, and
making due-allowancerfeEfree do
nestle competition" is undOubt-
eddy a fOrerunner of the coming
, administration policy. The Presi
dentelect, however, is a man who
firmly believes in the rule of the
majority, and it.is-reasonable to
anticipate that he will accept the
measure decided upon by a Re
publican Congress.
Hawaii's principal interest in
the tariff is in the probable
strength developed by the sugar
producers, and its use as Il lever
against annexation. And already
preachers have arisen to declare
that Hawaii's greatest sin is its
ability to produce 100000 tons of
sugar. As an American colony we
take pride in this fact, and if the
situation is properly set forth be
fore American statesmen they
must see the injustice of con
demning the country for its indus
trial progress. To demonstrate
the injustice of the condemnation,
Hawaii's interest in the proposed
American tariff is a very import