New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-20
,cu1NLEY FRAMED THE BILL
.urrNpr TO STEAL HIS CREDIT FOR
THE TARIFF LAW.


~ IN THE HoUsE-wHAT HE DID TO
1--WE SHAPE TO THE ACT AS PASSED
Nav 19-Nothing can be meaner
|ashihe ..o,,nt TO steal from public servant
than d" Itch he is entitled. Platt and agents OF
credit u ", ,ov asserting that Mckinley really
the u", - ID with the framing OF the MCKINNEY
had NJ thor Republicans in the House COM
blu "' a. a great part of the work, and that the
nli'ee "a labor was done by men ike Aidrlch
rsaiH - in the Senate" and other assertions
sno ,ura are often heard. This makes II
Of "N u+hout disparaging other Repuphcans
p'Vp' ,rad valuable service. TO snow something
* NV. origin of the Mckinley DILL
Wv Mckinley was appointed chairman OF the
VIVA Means Committee by Speaker Reeo'
way hesn with him for many years on 'ha'
VIII 49,. u was because he had become the
'O"'." onobIe expert in the House on the tarHi
gus 80, and was the only Republican VINO had
W. NTH Mr. Reed on that committee throush
--o,,,ous Congresses Mr.. Burrows, OF Michi-
wv 49, served with Mr.. Kelley In hghting the
co., '. I'M If 1889. but he had not been member
W. committee in the previous congress Wheh
20 s.s, was against the Morrison bill, while NC
with Speaker Reed. had fought through
Nm, .so campaigns Messrs Bayne, Dlhgley'
al ~" pavne. La Toilette and Gear the other
-,,,can members Of the committee IN lo'o'
Rspu0 80 "a its work Upon Mr.. Mckinley,
were o. purrous who had served before only
WI" nscessarly fell the bulk Of the labor.
eh|e' -, subrnitted by Mckinley to the commit
~" IN, ofteryard reported by the committee
" ". House on April 16. the bill as II passed the
49,. Nav q. after only a month and fve days
' IN rsnorted by the Senate committee June TO-
'ne VS. .o,, n the conference committee Sep
- * and the bin as II finally passed, Sep
'e'" 90 have been compared, item by Item
IN nrovisions in the act finally passed, $40
y. 10 the bill as originally submitted to the
49,. committee by Mckinley. In subsequent
0.,,rs ~ that committee 43 Of the provisions
sS.,, odopted were added, doubtless In part at
-. dss,rs Of Mr. Mckinley himself. Only IL were
.s.rward added IN the House. There remain oil
~, anal act only 40 provisions of which rs were
.assd by the Senate committee, and 6' were
.rbsr added in the Senate or were the result OF
.,unronses between the Senate and the House
hconference committee.
will be suggested that this reckoning GREATS
Mckinley all the provisions retained from the
,,syious tariff That is true, and there were Id
sueh provisions fixing rates Of duty, either IN
firm, or In practical effect substantially the same
as those of the tariff of 1888, though 1t may be
noticed that considerable number OF these were
by Mckinley. so altered as to impose equivalent
snecac instead Of former ad valorem duties. Inc
sstinct changes in rates from the previous tariff
we're 641 Of which 4oG are found as they were
finally adopted in the bill originally onered by
Mckinley and So more were added before inc
Mn left his committee. Only Is were ADDED
in the House. 90 by the Senate committee. ana
81 in the Senate or in conference. Every change
but one made by the House was 10 raise duties
above those proposed by the committee Inc
senate committee raised duties higher than those
az the House In % cases restored the lower
duties Of the old law in 4. and In IS substantially
lowered duties below those Of the House IN ohly
IS cases did the Senate or conference committee
raise rates while in "A cases the Senate commit
as urged rates lower than those OF the Rouse,
80 that rates between the two were hhaiiy
sspted. 40, ,n,o-
ards of all the changes made by the act OF
p 1870 were in the original bill proposed py NJ
Khhy and that 492 out 6il, or 100 per cent
rke placed In the bill before ii ever LETT MS com
mdttee The differences between the senate anu
he House resulted in 80 advances OF rates IN
~ reductions from the rates proposed by tne
House Of which SO were reductions from the
previous tariff, and in "a compromises In which
the Senate contended for lower rates than the
House. There is thus given abundant evidence
of the great care taken to get at the right KIND
of duty in each case, and ample credit Is due
TO all the able in both houses who con-
tributed to make the measure a success but 1t
cannot be contended by anybody that Major Nc
Kinley did not do his share Of the work. OF
the changes originally proposed by him which
were finally adopted 1871 reduced rates from
those previously in force. while 2o9 raised rates
10 afford more perfect protection; 81 OF these
were in the agricultural class. 81 in metals. -
In wool and wOollens. and 22 IN cotton. The
Senate's efforts for lower duties were mainly in
chemicals Is items; pottery and glassware. IA
Items; in metals. IL items. and in the agricul-
tural schedule, 20 items.