New-York tribune., 1896-12-07
THE DTNGLEY BILL-THREE PHASES.

Critics who misppresent the course Of The
Tribune regarding the Dlngley bill may rest as
sured that intelligent readers will fairly measure
both their integrity and their patriotism When
the bill was in process of formation The Tribune
poInted out the grave objections to il. which
later events have entirely sustained. II was de-
clared that the bill would not raise revenue
enough. and this years returns prove that 1t
would not. 1t was declared that 60 per cent ci
the Mckinley duties on wool would not proiec
wool-growers hut would embarrass the manu-
fact,lrc. which events have also shown. II was
held that 60 per cent of the Mckinley duties Oh
woollens would not suffice, with wool du'iable
under the provisions of that act, 10 revive 'he
prostrated industry, and. excepting branches
which have no serious foreign competition 10
meet that is also demonstrated by experience
1t was held that perpetuatlon OF the al valorem
duties which offer a premium for raise swearing
and robbing the Government was not n measure
Of relief for the Treasury. nor one when ke-
publicans Of the House ought 10 pass
The House nevertheless concluded that IT could
not pass n better and wiser bill without ihsur-
inc It's defeat either by the Senate or by the
Presidents Veto Ifaving passed the Dlnsley
bill expressly as an emergency measure, limited
in operation the House held il had done its best
toward measure Of relief. The question then
changed its nature Then the sole choice was
between that measure, Objectionable as 1t was,
and no relief whatever for the Treasury conth-
ned outgoes OF gold and more borrowing OF
money on costly and humating terms. 1t then
became. in the judgment Of The Tribune, n mat
ter of patriotic duty to take the measure. bad as
il was in order to avoid the scarcely calculaDle
consequences Of q deficit continued through
more than whole year. with the withdrawal
of gold for boarding. Between two great evils
il was an evident duty to choose the least. ana 10
leave with the President the responsibility OF
deciding whether lie would 60 on borrowing TO
cover the whole deficit, or give the treasury
such inadequate relief as that measure would
afford It. The Democrats and silver Senators
who conspired TO defeat the bill have received
their answer at the ballot-box.
The question now is radically changed again
The period of peril has been passed. The people
have elected a President and a new Congress
which will have power within the next SIX
months to frame and pass judlcious act for the
protection of industry and the increase OF revc
nue. There is now in the belief OF The 1rlDnnr
no danger that disrust regarding the currency
can again cause extensive boarding. nor Is me
condition Of foreign trade such. with exports eN'
ceedng imports probably Sl20,0OO,00O In octo'
Der and November, that any dangerous outgo OF
cold can occur before the next Congress can
meet Industries ought 10 have relief but II
would not help them In the end 10 have an en-
tirely Inadequate and unjust measure passed by
Republicans, at a time when that step would
be used with great effect 10 prevent the passage
Of a better bill. II is now as doubtful as ever
whether the President would consent 10 let the
Dlngley bill become n law, and its passage would
obviously stand as an obstruction in the way of
an extra session 10 frame and pass n better and
permanent tariff.