The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-11-13
TARIFF.

The present time seems like favorable
season to examine this favorite subject of
the politician, philosophically, as it is not
subject of party bigotry at present, it
not having received any particular notice
in the last campaign from any distin-
guished person save Mr.. Mckinley, who
is elevated in the head" on that subject
it is generally admitted. The tariff bill
which originated under Mr.. Harrison's
administration accidently received the
name of the Mckinley tariff, not because
Mr. Mckinley was its chief architect, but
because he was chairman ofthe committee
that formulated the bill which it is the
duty of the chairman to present to the
House and explain the details of. In a
| former administration Mr.. Mills was
chairman of the same committee and the
his name and was called the Mills bill
| The present tariff was called the Wilson
German bill because Mr.. Wilson was
chairman of the House committee that
formulated the bill and Senator German
took the leading part i'll the Senate of
altering the bill in several particulars.
This is the way laws receive their given
names, and for the purpose of preventing
confusion when it becomes necessary to
refer to particular acts i'll the future.
! Mr.. Dingley, of Maine, is said TO have
been the chief architect of the "McKin-
ley tariff, he being all expert in that par
ticular branch of legislation, which Mr..
Mckinley is not. Mr.. Dingley's chief
assistants were the large eastern manu-
facturers who wrote out, each the schedule
of their particular branch of business,
and it is charged that many of those
schedules were embodied i'll the bill just
as the manufacturers wrote them.
The bill having been completed Mr.
Mckinley as chairman had charge of it
and became its chief champion i'll the
House. Having received his name he be
came personally identified with the bill
throughout the country, which brought
| LllHl lhlO llOlOI lSly dilu uCHCS Ills ClCNd-
ton in the head" over this law amounts
to hobby, human weakness which is
probably pardonable by charitable pub
lie. No one in the present or next con-
gress will ever think of re-enacting the
mckinley tariff" Even the republican
platform adopts tariff plank as one OF
schedules, and is no more definite on the
subject than the general term of pro
lection" implies, which will adjust itself
to any tariff that can be framed.
This is the present status of the tariff
question, which leaves it as indefinite as
it has been for hundred years. The
original object of tariff legislation was to
assist in building up manufacturing indus
tries in this country in connection with
method for securing revenue to defray
expenses of the general government.
"Protection" is the incident and not
the primary object of tariff, although
politicians endeavor to make the public
believe that protection" is the primary
and revenue the incidental purpose. This
fact is easily determined by putting the
question to every consumer of manufac
tured products, "Are you willing to pay
bounty of 10 to 60 per cent on all goods
manufactured in this country, which shall
be paid TO the manufacturers to encourage
and enable them to build up and main
taiu such manufactures after they have
acquired their utmost development? ?"
Three-fourths if not greater number
of the population would return decided
negative to the question. And yet this is
the philosophy of the question AS a
system of revenue tariff has to depend
for its merits as an economic policy.
That the tariff is as shifting as the sands
of the sea shore is proven by the fact that
none of the bills which have been fought
over for months, whether rejected OIL
account of the party not having sufficient
power to pass them, or if passed into law
and afterwards repealed by the ascen-
dency of the opposition party, are never
again introduced when the party i'll favor
OF the bill again succeeds to power, as
witness the Mills and Mckinley bills
These bills will never again be offered in
congress, although they both have been
Landed as the acme of perfection by Their
respective parties.
All that the republicans suggest of new
tariff legislation is certain changes in the
present Wilson tariff in order to raise
, more revenue and correct some incon
gruities and defects in the law. And thi.
IS about what manufacturers desire, with
the exception of that class who want the
earth and are not to be satisfied with less
These, however, are comparatively few
as classed with the whole number of man
ufacturers. This, it may be safely said, i.
the extent Of tariff legislation which viii
be attempted by the next congress, and
the probability is that no great opposition
will be made to this.
The whole nation are standing on the
tip toe of expectancy for the opening Of
J the financial battle by the next congress
Hard times which the present gold stand
dard has produced will remain ever pres
ent with the producing masses while that
system is endured, to fight on the side OF
the suffering people against it. The show
OF starting mills and the "hum" of in
dustry that is to be heard in all the land