New-York tribune., 1896-12-02
TIE SITUATION GROWING CLEAREH.

The remarks Of Mr.. Foster. of Ohio. formerly
Secretary Of the Treasury. regarding tariff
prospects and needs are interesting. The cX-
Secretary is qualified by his experience to
speak with some authority regarding the source
Of past evils. and does not hesitate TO say that
the deficit has been the principal source Of
trouble to the Treasury. and that it must BE-
remeded and by a tariff fairly defending home
industries. before a general and lasting res
toraton of prosperity can be expected. Mr.
Foster does not think that there will be an ef-
fort to pass any tariff bill at the coming short
session. but that bill will he prepared for
consideration at an extra session. which. he
Judges. the coming President will be likely to
call as soon as possible after his inauguration
In connection with this report ii is of some
consequence that Senator Jones. of Nevada
who has been one Of the most ultra silver men
in the Senate. is now quoted as declaring with
much emphasis that he intends to act with the
Republican party in the support of n protective
tariff bill He does moi abandon his views re-
garding silver. but has been an earnest protec-
ZIONIST in years gone by. and in acting with the
party of protection again he will only adhere to
convictions which he has often proclaimed
With Mr.. Jones. of Nevada. it is now stated
forty-hve votes in The Senate after March T..
which, with the casting vote of the N!cePre>i-
dent in any emergency. would enable the Re-
pubcans TO pass n proper tariff bill without the
assistance of Democrats
II may he taken for granted. we suppose. that
the effort to secure the appointment of an out
side tariff commission will not meet with favor
With good reason members of the Legislative
..,.I,. l;..r,, IN
take from them the responsibility and the
credit for important measures, and experience
has taught that the outside commission of cy
pcris rarely finds il possible Ia secure the ap
proval of Congress for the measure ii frames.
even after The most careful! adjustment of lie
tails Nor is there any likelihood of the al'
pOntment of Il permanent commission Win
power to adjust tariff details from time 10 time.
Apart from the fact that radical changes III
the whole system of laws relating 10 the reve-
nue. would be involved. 1t Is obvious that no
Congress would have power To tie the hands OF
a coming Congress in such matter. or 10 take
away from it and intrust TO a special commits
sion one of it's most important functions Bu
there Is much satisfaction TO be found in the
fact that both in the Senate and in the House
men who were active i'm the framing of the
Mckinley bill of 1890 have been placed on COM
mittees where they will be intrusted with simi-
lar duties. and experience under the act Of
1890 has gone far to justify the opinion ex-
pressed by ex-Secretary Foster, that no wiser
or more carefully adjusted act had ever been
passed He does not advocate its rc-enactment,
as to details. recognizing that changes in prices
and modes Of manufacture have rendered
some of its provisions unnecessary or unwis".
but believes that the measure will furnish Il
groundwork or basis greatly facilitating the
labOrs of the coming Congress.