New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-18
THE END NEARER.

The passage by the Senate Of the sugar sched-
ule, not as reported by the committee. but in
the modified form adopted in caucus clears
away much Of the lingering doubt rs to the
final success of the Tariff bill. 1t Is not sup
posed that the contest over the sugar schedule
has ended, for many members Of the House
still consider the rates Of the House bill prefer
able notwithstanding the remarkably able state
ment made by Senator Allison, of Iowa. In sup
port of the rates adopted in the Senate. But
the difference is not one which men on either
side can consider important enough to endanger
or even to delay seriously the revenue bill. 1t
does not now seem probable that any other diff
ference will cause as close a vote as was cast
on parts of Schedule E. There will be sharp
contest on the tobacco schedule. with the prob
ability In favor Of the House rates, because they
will Weld the larger revenue. The wOollens
schedule will be n point Of sharp controversy.
and the rates proposed by the committee may
not improbaby be raised, but neither the grow
ers nor the manufacturers can afford to prefer
the continuance of the existing tariff to either
the Senate or the House schedule. and there is
a clear majority in favor Of ample protection,
however much men may differ as to the amount
Of duty required
Under these circumstances, another week
ought TO see the bill out Of the Senate. 1t would
be of especial advantage to the Treasury If 1t
could begin the new fiscal year with new classifi-
cations and duties, and not be compelled to
carry in its accounts and records the duties I'M
der two different enactments for the month OF
July. Moreover the Treasury needs the in
creased revenue without a days unnecessary
DELAY In the first half of June. with receipts
greatly expanded by heavy imports to antici-
nate new duties the receipts exceeded the ex-
pendtures only S2.9O9.OOO, and the inevitable
decrease OF imports and Of customs receipts
when new duties take effect will cause In the
fall months n greater shrinkage than Is de-
sirable in view of the naturally enlarged de-
mands for currency at that season. Every week
of delay now costs the Treasury a million or
more. the difference between the duties now
paid on goods imported for future consumption
and the duties which would be paid on the same
goods under the proposed tariff. No party can
gain by delay and the Democratic party. if 1t
causes and makes itself responsible for delay.
can only lose.
1t may be as we'll to admonish Democratic
friends. who are working themselves into po
litical mysteries about the Tariff BID and i'm
patiently making statements about 1t which
have not the fantest resemblance to fact that
the measure Is going to be judged by its results
The people know by unpleasant experience what
the Wilson tariff did for them. They are not
going to accept without question the assertions
of defenders Of that measure. but will see how
the new tariff works The men who are pretend
Ing that the bill pending Is much higher and more
burdcnsome than the Mckinley act, regardless
of the officially recorded fact that its rates are
lower on almost every schedule may find them
selves confronted before long with the personal
experience of seventy-two million people, who
will be considering every day whether they DO
in fact have to pay more for all sorts OF prod
ucts than they paid in 1892 The chances are
that nearly all products Of Importance will be
cheaper than they were under the act of 1890,
and not merely because the proposed duties are
generally lower but because the progress OF in
ventlon and industrial development all over the
world have contributed to make things cheaper.
Then the Free-Trade theOrist will have to ex-
plain how It Is that this ntoerable tariff does
not prevent the United States from sharing to
the full the benefits OF that general progress.
But for nine-tenths Of the people the question
will turn upon the cost of commodities now and
in previous years Of prosperity. If they find
employment increasing and prosperity return
ing with the cost Of living not higher but de-
cidedly lower than in good years which they
remember all the extravagant things Democrats
are now saying about the new tariff will only
return to plague them.