Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-12-03
WHAT OF THE TARIFF
1t IL Proposed that the DingIey Bill
BE Passed and commission After
ward Appointed to Adjust the Tariff
-Repubiican Majority I'm Congress.


The government must not be per-
mitted to go on without some addition
Of revenue. The present Congress
should do all In Its power to overcome
the revenue deficit 1t seems that the
measure that has the most favorable
chance to pass Is the Dingley bill.
This was constructed to temporarily
restore the revenues. !, 1t was drafted
by Chairman Dingley Of the Ways
and Means Committee, after consulta-
ton with Speaker Reed in the late SEES
sion of Congress. 1t passed that body
easily and was stified in the Senate.
The Dingiey bill increases the du-
ities Of the Wilson bill 10 per cent on
everything except wool and wooden
goods, sugar and lumber. Wool Is
taken from the free list and made duti-
able at 40 per cent, while correspond
ing increase Is placed on wooden goods.
Lumber Is removed from the free list
and made dutiable at 10 per cent,
while sugar, which the Wilson bill
made dutiable, Is not touched. This
Is purely revenue expedient. 1t Is
not satisfactory, because OF the ad
valorem system, which is so conducive
to fraNd, but it would aid the revenues
immensely and to degree give pro-
lection to American industries. 1t is
the best thing that can be done In the
circumstances.
This bill should be passed through
the Senate If possible. There is con-
siderable doubt whether it can be pass
ed, but the chances for doing so have
been improved by the altered attitude
of the silver men and by the belief
that Senators Brice and German will
put no obstacles in the way Of Its pas
sage. 1t had generally been assumed
measure IL 1t were to pass and there
is no ground to suppose that he has
changed his mind on that point. Doubt
less the Republicans will ascertain the
Presidents purpose in this matter be-
fore pressing the bill in the Senate,
and they will make every effort to
learn whether it has chance in the
Senate before urging 1t, unless they
become convinced that it Is well to put
those men on record who are ready,
from motives of spite or partisanship,
to interfere with restoration OF the
Governments revenue.
If the Dingley bill were passed, and
1T appeared that a tariff commission
were impossible, Congress should be
summoned In extra session to restore
the protective tariff and to get rid Of
the Ubiquitous system of ad valorem
duties. Senator Sherman, public
man whose abilities and patriotism are
fully recognized, except by few carp
ers and absurd individuals, suggests
that the Dingley bill should be passed
and provision made for tariff COM
mission to adjust the tariff. or course,
such adjustment would be on protect
i've lines and to provide revenue also.
If this commission were appointed it
would take considerable time for 1t to
complete its report, but when COM
pleted and passed by Congress there
would be little doubt that it would set
tie the tariff for years to come and take
it out of politics. That is most desir-
able, for the country needs to have a
stable basis on which to do business
and one that will afford protection
without being too drastic in its duties.
The suggestion of Mr.. Sherman is an
admirable one and deserving of most
serious consideration. = Springfield
(Mass.) Union.