The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-30
Hearings by the Ways and
Means Committee.
Republicans True to Their
Protection Theories.
Suggestions OF Manufacturers Ac-
cepted by Committee,

L
Again the ways and means committee Of
the house is at work preparing new tariff
bill. just now the hearings are the chief
subject of interest. These hearings, which
ways and means committees always give
as preliminary to tho framing OF a new
tariff measure, serve TO demonstrate In
most striking way the conflicting notions
about the whole tariff question held by
American parties and by parts Of the
American people. 1t Is not for me to have
an opinion one way or the other on a ques-
tion of pure economics, but think I can
give you an insight into tho methods pur-
sued here and into the spirit Of the men
who either favor or oppose such legislation
on protective lines. 1t goes without saying
that the present ways and means commit
tee will prepare purely protective meas
ure Revenue will be an incidental con-
sideration. In fact, protection with inci-
dental revenue" has been openly ayowed
by leading member of the COMMITTEES as
tho principle which will rule him and his
fellow Republicans In their work. On the
other hand, the Democrats declare for reve-
nue. with incidental protection, and thus
the issue is clearly joined.
The Republican idea.
In giving hearings to the representatives
of various manufacturing industries the
Republicans are true Co their theory. They
say they want to ascertain just how much
protection any given industry needs to en-
able 1t to compete successfully with its for
eign rivals. There is no better way, they
claim, than to call upon the men who are
In the business, who know its every detail
and changing condition, who know what
fluctuations there have been I'm the cost of
raw material, in labor, In the use Of labor
saving machinery and new devices. Hay-
ing obtained all this information, at first
hand, Of practical and presumably wholly
reliable sort, the Republican idea Is to go
to work and condense into schedules the
reasonable demands of the manufacturers
themselves In this way, and In this way
only, according to the Republican notion,
can foreign goods be kept out Of the market
to sufficient extent to give work and pros
perity at home.
1t has happened In the past in the max
ing of tariff bill that almost every de-
mand or request or suggestion made by
the representatives Of the manufacturers
has been accepted by the committee. For
instance, the lawyer employed to represent
the interest Of certain manufacturers as
ISOLATION has made his argument before
the committee and at the close of his speech
has said to the chairman:
"Here Is schedule which would be sat
isfactory to my clients. 1t embodies our
ideas of what should he done. beg leave
respectfully to file IL with the committee"
The chairman takes the document. hands
1t to the clerk, 1t Is filed away, and when
the time comes Is turned over to the sub
committee having that particular industry
In charge. 1t has chanced In the past that
when the tariff bill was reported 1t was
found to have in 1t the schedule submitted
by the manufacturers lawyer, without the
change of word, letter, figure or fraction.
Protection Policy.
Right here is where the Republicans
and Democrats, the protectionists and the
revenue reformers, join issue The first
admit the method which have indicated
Is followed In the making of now tariff
law, though not without revision by the
committee. But they say it is all right.
Their argument is that the men who are
engaged In these industries know what they
need. One manufacturer may be depended
upon to keep watch of another and the
committee to check any exorbitant de-
mand. In this way, they declare, the pol
icy of protection Is made to do the most
possible good, giving manufacturers q
chance to compete with foreign makers at
reasonable profit, to pay good wages to
their mon and to keep their wheels turn
ing and the smoke pouring out of their
factory chimneys. In no other way, ac-
cording to the Republicans, can prosperity |
be restored to this country. They are hon. |
est and earnest about Ii and In the present |
case mean to have the courage Of their con- |
victions
The Democrats and tariff reformers, on |
the other hand, say this Is an improper |
method. They claim as a matter of prin- |
ciple that revenue should be the first desid- |
eratum in the making of a tariff bill and |
that II any protection follows incidentally |
that cannot be helped and may even be |
desirable or at least unobjectionable. But |
the system Of allowing manufacturers vir-
tuaIly to dictate what rates Of duty shall
be paid upon the articles they are interest
ed In, they claim, is wrong as a matter OF
ethics 1t leads to monopoly and corrup-
tion. 1t leads TO great campaign funds
with which to dobauch voters. 1t places
the government. In sort of copartnership
with oil the manufacturers In the country,
giving them SO much protection In return
for so much political influence and assist
ance. The Democrats who are genuine
tariff reformers claim this system Is Of it's
very nature such one that 1t cannot be
honestly carried out. They ask Where are
the representatives Of the consumers2
Where are the mon who must pay all tho
prices which the tariff helps manufacturers
to fixf
With Us Always.
In this way these hearings which the
ways and means committee Is now giving
serve TO afford an object lesson In tho whole
tariff question. On one side appears to be
a lot of practical sense and on tho Other n
great deal of honorable conviction as 20 tho
true function of government. Both sides
are honest, and both are earnest. The
In which the Democratic members
Of the committee are cross questioning the
various gentlemen WIN appear In the ways
and means committee room Indicates that
the tariff question Is not yet dead In this