The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-21
SOUTHERN seNAToR'sviEW
PREFERS GENERAL TARIFF RE-
VISION TO DINGLEY BILL.
His Reasons For This Preference
Against Restoration of DUTY
on Raw Wool.
Especial to the Baltimore SUM-

Washington, Nov. 19.-Ihere mas
been much speculation as to the probable
attitude Of the Democratic Senators IN
the coming session of Congress with re-
gard to revenue tariff legislation. One
of the prominent Southern Senators said
to-day it was difficult to tell just what
the Democratic caucus might determine
to do, but he was confident there would
be strong Democratic opposition to the
passage of the Dingley bill. Every OBJ
lection we urged to the bill during the
last session will, in my opinion, be re-
newed,' ne said. "The proposed increase
of duties instead of increasing the reye-
nues would cause a decrease, while the
plan of a horizontal increase of all pres
ent duties would place many of them
higher than they were in the Mckinley
bill In addition to this, the proposition
to renew the duty on wool must be OBJ
noxious to every Democratic member Of
Congress who has believed in tariff re-
form and aided in the reform movement.
Free wool is, in my opinion, the very
first step in the direction of tariff re-
form. 1t is impossible to place a duty
upon the raw material without increasing
the duties upon all wooden manufactures,
and Ton the other hand, to reduce the
protection on manufactured goods, we
must make the raw material free.
IF / have understood Mr.. Cleveland's
position with regard to this phase Of the
question, / feel confident he holds views
similar to mine and could not be per-
shaded TO sign any bin that restores the
duty ON raw wool. | do not believe the
Ilingley bill can pass the Senate and
If it should, / think the President would
veto it. There are those who argue
that times have changed; that the presit
dent would consider the bill merely a
temporary expedient to raise revenue
and would. therefore, not object to its
becoming a law. | think men who talk
in this manner do not understand the
President or appreciate how many fea-
lures of the Dingey bin are objection
able. / am also satisfied the President
does not believe the bill will increase the
revenues, and is therefore, worthless as
a revenue measure, besides being OPP
posed to every principle of tariff taxation
TO which he has heretofore given his ap-
prevail.
II have no doubt" the Senator con-
tinued, that there viii be strong eff
fort made by the Republicans to call
the bill up and pass it, but / am equally
certain that the Democrats cannot con-
sistently render any assistance. What
the position of the silver Republicans
and Populists will be do not know. 1t
seems to me likely, however, that they
will not support n bill they opposed less
than year ago."
PREFERS A GENERAL REVISION.
Would you prefer a general revision
Of the tariff at an extra session Of the
next Congress?' the Senator was asked.
Infinitely" he replied. II believe the
Republicans if they find they can pass
Il tariff bill through the next Congress,
viii pass much better bin than the
Dingley measure. In the first place, if
they have a majority in the Senate in
favor of tariff revision, it will be
small one, and the trainers of the meas.
ure viii be forced to consider the views
of the opposition in the preparation OF
nearly every schedule. The Republicans
viii find themselves in the position occu-
pied by the Democratic Senators in 1894
They viii have to compromise with the
opposition in order to get any sort of leg
islation. 1t, therefore, seems to me that
they will find it the part of wisdom to
present a very moderate bill, and the final
form will be the result Of a compromise
In such q measure it is probable many OF
the present duties would not be increased
at all, while others would be raised to
figures below the law of 1890 The free
list would Of course, be generally revised
and duties placed upon wool and other
raw materials, but the whole measure
when completed would probably be much
better than the bin it is now proposed to
pass.
1T is in order that we may produce
this result that | am in favor Of spirit
ed opposition to the pending bill by the
Democrats, and continued opposition in
the next Congress so as TO force the Re
publicans to give the country moderate
| tariff legislation Such a result would
be an excellent thing for the country
The bill would not arouse the same spirit
of antagonism that was shown the Me
Kinley bill, and future changes in the
law. provided the Democrats regain pos
session Of the government, would not ne
cessarNy be radical and could be made
without causing serious disturbance to
business"