The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-13
A s.NoDERATE" TARIFF.


committee will frame a moderate
tariff bill to be presented at the
ordained special session means only
that it will be moderate in the opinion
of ultraists. 1t will, probably, not be
absolutely prohibitive, for some reve-
nue. must be had. but it will approach
that point wherever the influences po-
tential in such a congress as the Fifty
fifth will be, can make it. This is a
fairly safe prediction to make in view
of the fact that arrangements have
been made for a repetition of that grim
old farce of giving hearings to the
representatives of the industries Dur
ing and after the holiday recess we are
told certain number Of days will be
allotted to the wooden mills men. others
to the glass factories men, the iron and
steel mills men and the tin plate men,
until all have appeared to again write
their schedules and indicate how much
tribute they may levy on consumers
in return for campaign favors rendered
in cash and votes
Even if we did not have this repe-
tition of the Republican method Of fos-
tering home industries, the whole rec
ord of that party, since its capture and
subjugation by the federalistfe element
that entered into it at it's birth, would
indicate that we are to have a tariff
moderate only from the standpoint of
men like ''Pig-iron" Kelly, who lament
ed that congress could not convert the
Atlantic into a sea of fire that would
prevent all foreign intercourse. There
have been four distinct tariff periods
in the history Of that party There
was some justification in the exigencies
of the war, with it's strenuous demands
upon the treasury, for the high rates
imposed on imports, during which the
rates averaged Al per cent upon duti-
able goods and As per cent on ALL This
slight difference indicates the small
ness of the free list, noncompetitive
products being taxed for revenue.
Shortly after the close Of the war be-
gan the contest between the high and
low tariff elements in the party, dur
ing which time Sherman, Allison and
others made those annoying free trade
speeches so often quoted. The latter
gained a slight ascendency in 1872 when
the little tariff bill was passed, MAX
ing a reduction in rates that sent the
average on dutiable goods down to 1915
per cent by 1875.
This ends the second period. Then
the protectionists gained head, and the
act of 1872 was repealed and advances
made in the rates that, until 1882, made
the average about 43 per cent on dutia-
bic imports. But the policy Of enlarg-
ing the free list by exempting non
competitive imports, thus enabling an
increase of protection, was adopted.
the rates on all imports averaging
about 20 per cent, as compared with
As per cent in the preceding period. In
the campaign of 1876 Mr.. Tilden forced
tariff discussion, and the Republicans
were impressed with the belief that
something must be done. Then fol-
lowed the tariff commission Of 1882.
and the tariff of 1883. The commission
was composed of protectionists, some
Of them it's benefciaries. They report
ed complete bill with a voluminous
report, giving the evidence taken and
the reasons for their concluding rec
ommendation that the condition of
manufacturing in this country war
ranted a general reduction Of rs per
cent in the rates.
Congress paid no attention whatever
to the report. 1t proceeded to frame a
bill advancing rates. The licensed
privateers held up congress and forced
their schedules into the act Illustrat-
ing their power was the increase in
the rate of tax on steel after both
houses had agreed upon a rate, while
the bill was in conference The COM
mission might have repeated the vigor-
Gus protest of Bob Schenck, who, in
moving the recommittal Of a tariff bill
to his ways and means committee af-
ter it had gone through the committee
of the whole, said: 'The bill has been
ulDDtoU Dy plSIIlTeS anu KICKED by jack
asses until I cannot recognize it.'eThe
average rate on dutiable imports under
this bill was All per cent and on all
imports 1925.
Then came the Mckinley era with
the moderate" tariff of 1890 and it's
average rate on imports paying duty of
1854 per cent. with a crescendo move
ment that increased the average from
6.28 per cent in its first year to So 06 in
it's last. The free list was doctored
scientifically so as to promote protec-
ton, and the average rate on all i'm
ports fell to an average of 22.56 per
cent, while the movement was diminu-
endo, the average being 25.25 per cent In
its first and 20.25 per cent in it's last
year. This review Of the progressive
increase of rates for protection first
and revenue incidentally, furnishes
very accurate estimate of what the
country may expect in the moderate"
tariff bill Mr.. DingIey and his Republi-
can associates on the committee with
the invaluable aid of the advice of
the various experts summoned to as
sist them from the mills and factories, !