The oasis., 1896-12-19
THEIR oPPoRTuNITY AND REsPoN-
 SIBIJITN.

VIII ShJpl dh Oppoi NuhiDJ 'oi 'N' 'i'r their constituents not frequently en- joyed by the representatives of terri tories-an opportunity so great that failure to grasp it may cast upon them load of responsibility beneath which they would find their political fortunes completely crushed.
 There seems no doubt now that the first and most important duty Of the congress to which reference is here made will be to frame new revenue act along protective lines. The Ding ley bill will not be passed by the senate, and no other revenue bin can be brought to enactment in the ten weeks now remaining before the fourth of March, and an extra ses- sion of the new congress to frame revenue bill seems to be inevitable. The framing of such measure will be q very delicate duty, and in watching that it shall not become prolibitory of tratic across the line with Mexico the delegates from these two territo- ries will enjoy grand opportunity.
 With the Mckinley bill, the greas trouble lay in the fact that duties were so laid that in scme instances they worked an absolute prohibition of imports, Killing legitimate trade, fostering illegitimate traffic and de- fraudlng lhe government, beside shut ting of revenue aud creating an un- kindly feeling in friendly nation, whose people look to the United States for guidance anu assistance rather than repulsion. The tariff on cattle was an instance. That was framed with a specific duty of ten dollars Ter head upon all cattle imported, and tbat duty was levied to be put upon the high grade cattle coming across the Canadian border, all ready for market the same as steer from a Kansas corn field Reeves of that de- scription could well pay such q duty. Had the delegates from New Mexico and Arizona gone before the ways and means committee, when it was fram- ing the Mckinley bill, and called at tcnti0n to the fact that among their constituents were importers of cattle which had to be taken to Kansas and Missouri to be fed and fattened be- fore they could go to the meat block in competition with Canadian cattle, and that specific duty light upon the latter would be positively prohibi- tive to their constituents, the bill would have been so changed that one rate of duty would have been imposed on Mexican cattle and another on Canadian-Deither prohibitory, but both yielding fair revenue to the general government.
 In no instance does the protective principle seek to work prohibition of importation. It seeks only to encour- age home production by placing the burden of the general government upon foreigners who come to our markets rather than upon the home producer. And when, in framing a revenue bill, prohibitory clauses creep in, 1t is the duty of the representa- tiyes from the localities where trade would be injured by such prohibition, to point out the threatened evil and secure notifications. In framing the cattle schedule of the new tariff bill Mcssrs. Smith and Ferguson can be of great value to their constituents, or by paying no attention, can cause them tremendous damage.
 In numerous other ways can the two delegates protect the interests of their constituents in the great and and growing trade across the border Fruits, ores, tobacco, cigars, sugar and