New-York tribune., 1896-12-06


-, Maine. arrived in Washington at an early
.-.,r this morning from Canton, fresh from a
~.,,,totion to which he had been invited by
oScs,den,-elect Mckinley. and every moment OF
-, r,,,a since has been fully occupied The gos-
-,-s xviii have ii that Governor Dingley was
rr,oned 10 Canton with view to his accept
% the office of Secretary OF the Treasury in
~. incoming Administrations place for which
80 10 in every respect admirably qualified. But
- .h,s as in some other cases. the gossips are al
together astray.
Thev Seem to forget a number OF things. such.
IL, sx,mnle as that there is a steadily growing
,.,, IN tho revenues Of the Government. which.
:. .o,,,nued beyond the end Of the current fiscal
NV will bring matters to a crisis. perhaps even
80 embarrassing than that which confronted
A.. cleveland Administration In the summer Of
,Soq ond constrained the President to convene
corcress in extraordinary sesson-a crisis which
,irued and finally became so acute and
..-oa,arinr that in December. 1895. he again
.o,ed in the most urgent terms to Congress
o.a besought II. in the name of patriotism as
, .. on the score Of duty to forego Its usual
(,,r,s+n,as vacation and devise means for the re-
,,o, ., the National Treasury and the preserva-
.,ou =, the National credit: that the President
,,o. fools the keenest concern and deepest solici-
..ao an account Of existing conditions and future
,,osrscts as affecting the public revenues; that
ro,.rror DIngley is chairman Of the Committee
uovsa and Means Of the House of Representa-
, which alone under the Constitution has
..,.hortv TO originate revenue legislation, and
49,. he ,s a statesman in whose ability. intelli-
nce and Judgment the Presdent-elect has rea-
sor 70 feel the profoundest and most complete
confidence.
What could or should be more natural ana
rroner therefore, than that the latter should
invita- his former colleague Of the Ways ana
Means Committee and it's present chairman 10
visit and consult with him in regard to revenue
matters? That this was the sole and only OBJ
loot and purpose of Governor Dingleys CONFER
ence with Major Mckinley The Tribune corre-
snordent ventures to assert without fear OF sue
cessful contradiction.
THE EMERGENCY REVENUE BILL.
What can be or will be done at the session oi
Congress which is to begin on Monday 70 re-
lleve the situation IS a question that everybody
:, Washington. as we'll as throughout the coun-
try is asking. As has already peeh iiiu'c".eu
IN these DISPATCHES wide diversity Of opinion
ox,sts among Senators and Representatives VINO
have arrived at the National capital. The d.
Ner2onCe
sectional lines the Western men generally be-
,ne inclined TO think that nothing can or should
he done and the Eastern men. as rule. being
~ contrary opinion OF course there are eX-
cen+,ons In both cases. Everything hinges on
tho Emergency Revenue bill passed by the
House ard sent to the Senate last winter. III
this bill should become law 1t would add at'
cav the rate of $40 OOOU.0 900 year to the income
NJ the Government The law would expire by
on August !. 1898. unless its pro-
visions should be extended by Congress. 1t Is
merely temporary measure. and H. In no sense
4 revision Of the tariff on Republican lines.
These facts were clearly shown IN the report OF
he WAYS and Means Committee. and In debate
emphasized by Republicans who advocated the
passage Of the bill. If tarin Dill should DE
passed at the special Fession OF the L|th Con-
gress which will certainly be called early next
spring. the Emergency act would immediateiy
cease TO be operative. The enactment or the
latter would not postpone for single day the
effort TO push through a general revision or the
tariff on lines directly contrary to those OF the
existing law. nor would it affect by one iota the
question as to whether or not special session
should be called for that purpose.
ARGUMENTS FOR THE MEASURE.
While the Emergency or so-caled Dingley bill
Is not in any sense Republican measure, couid
Republicans afford 10 be responsible for Its de-
feat? This is a question which some OF the most
thoughtful and sagacious Republicans In Con-
gress answer in the negative. and the reasons
they give appear to be entitled to considera-
ton. In substance they say: THE passage OF
the Emergency bill would not retard the effort to
enact q general tariff law by much as a sim
gle day. 1t would remain In force less than
eighteen months. unless re-enacted, and much
shorter time in case we succeed in passing a
new tariff law next year. But it would go a
long way so long as It stood. toward bridging
the gap between current receipts and expendi-
lures. 1t would afford some degree OF protec-
ton TO our producers and manufacturers. which
they do not now receive and 1t would raise an
embankment against excessive importations OF
foreign goods In anticipation Of the enactment
Of a protective tariff which would be most
berehcent result"
But suppose that the Emergency bill falls
because OF the neglect. inacton or open or yelled
hostility Of Republicans and we enter upon our
effort to pass a tariff law at the special ses-
sion next spring. Suppose that that effort
should be a protracted one, lasting through next
spring and summer. and should ultimately fall.
Could II not then be truthfully alleged that the
Republican party, by conniving at or being
directly responsible for the failure OF the Emer-
gency bill. had refused even the small modicum
OF relief which it would have given?
PERILs BEsETTING TARIFF REVISION.
"In the next Congress the Republicans now
have elected and assured. forty-three members
Of the Senate: they will need forty-fve with the