Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-24
TO NET MILLIONS
Mr. Dingley's Views as to Probable
Tariff Legislation. Z.
PROPOSED INCREASED GOLD RESERVE
Careful Revision of Revenue Laws
by the New Congress.
A N EXTRA ESSION

Representative Dingley of Maine, chair
man of the House committee on ways and
means, has given to the New York World
signed statement respecting needed tariff
| and financial legislation. which is regarded
as important as outlining the republica N
| policy.
Mr. D1ngley's statement is as follows:
Il see no reasonable ground for hoping
| that the exigency tariff bill passed by the
House last December. will be taken I'D by
| the Senate this winter 1 should neyerthe-
less be gratified to see it passed and sent
| to President Cleveland.
notwithstanding the time of its contin-
| uance is already half gone l should be
glad to see this revenue bill now enacted
because an additional income is needed By
the government and because it would serve
| to check importations made in authorization
| of increased duties.
But it should be borne in mind that the
passage OF the exigency tariff bill this Win
| ter would OF make any the less necessary
a revision of the tariff on protective and
permanent lines. The bill which passed the
House last December was purely an emer-
gency measure, and 1t would terminate by
limitation in a few months Aside from the
featured lumber 1t was simply a u Der
cent horizontal increase of existing entries.
| AS the report of the committee on WAYS
and means stated. such treatment of du-
| ties was justified only as temporary
measure to meet an exigency.
DingIey Bill Alone Can't Suffice.
mo member Of the ways and means COM
| mittee would for moment countenance
| this method as a permanent arrangement.
| The idea that has been entertained by some
persons that the House bill would make
unnecessary any further tariff legisla ton
| for a long time is certainly a mistaken one,
| for necessarily horizontal increase of du-
ties does not correct the inequalities and
| Determinations of the present tariff
| The existing tariff is amply protective
| in some parts. but thoroughly destructive
| to our industries in others, and it is rev.
| enue destroyer. The iron and steel sched-
| ule, according to Senators Cameron and
| Quay. Is for the most part satisfactory.
| The cotton schedule is satisfactory as to
| yarns and fine goods.
| The duties on some other schedules are
| sufficient. but the woolens, woods, the lum-
| Der and many other parts are destructive.
The wooden goods schedule is bad largely
| because the duties are exclusively ad val
| orem, making frauds against the revenue
| easy The wOol-grower and farmer should
be protected as well as other interests.
The Election Has Changed Things.
THE results of the election have changed
the situation materially. A President with
| different views on the question of the
| sources Of revenue will assume Office in
| three months. l hope a majority of the
| new Senate will then be in accord with the
| executive on this subject.
Gold Reserve Should Be Increased.
| I'VE should have at least $J0,WO01O in
| crease Of revenue. and it would be better If
the sum were $7O,O00.OOO. Besides, the
| II easury reserve should be not less than
| $1JO,OO0.O00. instead Of the present accepted
! limit of $1O0.OOO,OO0 in gold. This could be
! accomplished by exchanging paper now in
| the treasury for gold, and it ought to De
accomplished by the beginning of the next
| fiscal year.
After July there must be more revenue
| or serious difficulties will arise. Whatever
| is done should be done quickly, for bust
| ness reasons. AS applied to politics, delay
| would be dangerous. After another year
| the question Of the next House of Repre-
| sentatives will come forward. The present
| House and the one to be seated next year
| are favorable; 1t Is to the Senate we must
| look for action.
Extra Session.
IF my assumption is correct, that the
| Senate will reject the House bill at the
| coming short session and that no measure
| will be passed that will re store the financial
! equilibrium, there is only one plan to be
| followed. That is for President Mckinley
| to call an extraordinary session.
| 1T is my Judgment that such session
| need not be long one, unless the Senate
| purpOSely prolonGS debate. If the two
| bodies composing Congress confine them
| selves to the work in hand six weeks ought
| to be sufficient for the House. There are
| objections to an extra session unless it be-
| comes imperative, bu: there can be nc
| doubt that the exigencies of the treasury
| are under that head.
| No General Tariff OverhauIinr.
| I'm my opinion 1t is not necessary to ere
| ate an entirely new bill or to make a gen.
| eral sweep of the schedules of the present
| tariff laws. There is much that is good in
| the existing law, and also a great deal tina,
| is Objectionable from republican stand
| point. 20 say nothing Of technical or sci.
| entific one-too many inequalities.
| Part Of the wave of confidence that has
| swept over the country since the result OF
| the election became known arises from tn.
| buoyant hope Of most OF Our industrial con.
| Germs that The existing tariff injustices
| CANCERS, 1ncongrutties will be corrected
| THE currency question, although more
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to the people during
| the presidential campaign, was by nc
| means the only issue. Our manufacturing
| Interests looked forward with the hope thai
| in many cases was born of desperation for
| relief from the existing ills of the tariff
| system 1t is mistake to assume that dis
| cussion per Sc of the tariff in Congress
| to business. 1t depends whether the dis.
| cussion is with the intention Of increase O,
| Of reduction.
Tariff Debates Sometimes Good,
I'm 1890, when the tariff was debated
| more or less for eight months little dis
turbance of business ensued; the revision
was for upward purposes. When for down.
ward purposes, as in 1894, another and ad-
verse effect on business was induced.
I'VE have now an opportunity to obtain
| fifty to seventy millions additional revenue
| and at the same time to build up some OF
| our national industries which are now Ian.
| gushing.
About twenty millions revenue on the
| wool and wooden schedule alone have been
| not only lost under the present tariff law
| but the partial destruction of the WOO
| growing and the wool manufacturing inter.
est has ensued. Protection is a principle
| not a matter of rates.
CAS- the House of Representatives is the
| source of all revenue legislation, aid as i,
| is republican in political complexion, it will
maintain the principle of projection, bu,
| with justice and moderation.
Care and Moderation.
~ lille I have expressed myself thus
frankly as to the necessity Of such a re.
| vision of the tariff as will cause 1t to yield
! at