The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-06
TARIFF TALK THREATENED.
r1vGLEY BILL MAY BE TACKLED
NEXT MONTH.

rho Republicans Anxious to Get the
MEASURE Before the Present Con-
.ress-An Attempt to Be Made to
cain Democratic Acquiescence on
the Plea THAT the Passage of the
piII Is Needed Owing to the Deficit
in the Revenues.
washington, Nov. 5.-When congress
-.ossambles next month an effort will be
made by the republicans in the Senate to
-.,iya the Dingley tariff bill, which is
now slumbering in the finance committee,
.ncked away under a free silver amend
mont whether the attempt will be sue
oessful depends upon the temper of the
.ound money democrats and the free sill
ver republicans in the Senate.
representative Mercer contends that
4ba recent election has demonstrated that
tbe government needs additional revenue
tomeet existing deficiencies, and 1t is pos
sibe for the present congress to enact
considerable important legislation during
the short session, If the right spirit is
shown by those who prevented the pas
oil tue OlhSASJ CAAACAS CAASJ Jill AclSA
session. It is insisted that the proposed
measure is non-partisan measure,
framed only for the purpose of meeting
the demands of the government. Its pas
SAGE cannot be construed as a reflection
upon the other political party, and it may
render unnecessary a complete revision OF
the tariff, which will undoubtedly be pro-
administration,
Some of the enthusiastic tariff reformers
are already predicting that Mr.. Mckinley
will call an extra session Of the Fifty
fifth congress and try to force through a
general tariff measure. Some of the
ablest republican leaders doubt the advisa-
bility of inficting upon the country com
plete revision of the tariff and they be-
Ieve that it would be wisdom on the pari
of all concerned to pass the Dingley bill
before the coming of the new adminlstra'
ton. Such a course would be entirely
satisfactory to the republicans, but it Is
feared that the administration and its
friends look with disfavor upon the prop
osition and will raise the same objections
TO it now that were urged against 1t last
session The administration is unwilling
10 concede the claims of the republicans
that a deficit in the revenues of the gov
ernmaat exists and has continued tc
grow steadily ever since the passage Of
tne Gorman- Wilson tariff bill.
If congress returns to Washington II
December with a determination to follow
out the DO nothing policy of the last SEES
sion the tariff fight will be postponed FOR
a year. Representative Mercer says it Is
possible that those who formerly antago-
nized the Dingley bill may conclude thai
it is better to accept that conservative
measure than to plunge the country into
a prolonged struggle over the tariff which
will unsettle business and interfere with
the era of prosperity that is confidently
expected during the next four years. 1t Is
conceded that the Dmgley bill simply
modifes the existing tariff law, and cor
reefs some of the unavoidable discrepan
cies that crept into the original bill 1t is
still pending before a committee OF the
Senate and it could be revised and passed
without much discussion If the free sill
yer senators are disposed to deal with the
measure as a purely business proposition
and eliminate it from the controversy be
tween gold and silver.
The question would then arise, "Wha
will the President do with it in view o.
his well known low tariff views?' 1t /;
said that some of the friends of the ad
ministration are inclined to accept the ples
that it is an emergency measure rendered
necessary by the loss of the revenue eX
pected from the income tax. 1t remain:
TO be seen whether President Cleveland il
prepared to take the latter view of the sit
uation now.