The Portland daily press., 1896-11-19
THE SENATE AND THE TARIFF.

THE SENATE AND THE TARIFF.
Senator Aldrich Of Rhode Island is
recognized as one of the Republican
leaders in the Senate and an authority
on the tariff. In replying to question
of the Now York World about the pros
pect of currency and tariff legislation
this winter Mr. Aldrich says:
In answer to your questions I will say
that in my judgment it will hardly be
possible to secure the adoption of any
satisfactory financial or revenue legisla-
tion at the approaching second session of
the Fifty -fourGh Congress.
My reasons are these: First-W1th a
free silver majority in the Senate it must
be evident that no remedial financial
Legislation that would satisfy the advo-
oates Of sound money can be adopted.
second-In the Senate OF eighty nine
members there are thirty -nine Demo
crafts six Populists, and the six silver
Senators who supported Mr.. Bryan-or
I'll ~ one Senators in all who have been.
and are likely to be. with very few
possible exceptions, opposed to the Ding
ley bin or to any revenue legislation that
would have the approval of the thirty
eight Republican Senators.
The possibility Of securing an adjust
ment of the differences betw can Sena-
tors on this question is SO remote that
believe it may be safely assumed that
any attempt to pass tariff or reyonne
bill, or even to enter upon it's serious
consideration as at this season, would be
unsuccessful.
In this connection 1t should be remem-
bered that the session will contain barely
fifty working days, and that the consid
Grafton of the appropriation and other
necessary bills will absorb every available
day.
The question of the precise character of
the LEGISLATION on there two great sub
jeots that should be ADOPTED at tho first
session of the Fifty -fifth Congress is by
far the most important one with which
the members of that Congress will have
to deal.
The future of the Republican party
may depend largely upon the measure Of
wisdom shown by the responsible ma
joriuy in its treatment of this question.
pect can only be decided upon and an
nounced after the most careful consider
alton andssfullest consultation.
In the meant time in a general way the
obligations and purposes of the party are
fully understood.
1t should not be forgotten by those
supporters of the President-elect who
have heretofore differed from us upon the
tariff question that Republicans are
platform and candidates and bv the ira
ditional policy of the party, and as such
are bound by every consideration of
fidelity to the American people to apply
their principles to any changes which
may be made in revenue laws.
No amendments to our tariff laws.
however. should be made unless neces-
Grr to arrr Info afC 20 nj dn 4 he
requisite revenue.
The task of amendments should be en-
tered upon in spirit of true conservatism,
and with determ nation to make the
needed changes as soon rs possible and
in manner which will create the least
disturbance to business interests.
1t will be seen that Mr.. Aldrich IS view
of the prospect of tariff legislation this
Dingley, both of them believing that the
passage of the Dingley bill or any other
rev enue measure by The present Senate
is out of the question. Other Senators,
notably Mr.. Sherman, have held other
wise, and some expressions which have
recently come from the silver Senators
have given grounds for believing that
their attitude of last winter toward the
Dingley bill WAS likely to be modified
this inter.
If Senator Aldrich is right and no
tariff legislation is enacted this winter,
1t is altogether probable that special
session of Congress will be called to
meet soon after Mr.. McKinley's inaugu-
ration. The continued deficiency in the
revenue which will follow failure of the
present Congress to increase the tariff
will certainly justify an extra session, if
it does not make the calling of one i'm
peratively necessary.
Mr.. Alcrich's outline of the kind of
q tariff revision the Republicans will
make when they have the power is intey-
esting. The Democrats who supported
the Republican ticket are given dis
tinctly to understand that the Republic
cans will not ON their account depart in
the slightest degree from their pledge to
reform the tariff on protection lines. Mr.
Aldrich adds however this significant
No amendment to our tariff law !
should be made unless necessary to cover
defects or to provide requisite revenue.
While Mr.. Aldrioh is in favor of living
up to prnteotionist principles in carrying
out what revision of the tariff may be
needed, hv evidently Is in favor of doing
just as ittle tariff revising as possible |
In that he is undoubtedly wise.