The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-21
TARIFF BILL MAKES
PHENOMENAL SPEED
No Act In the History Of the Country
Ever Went Faster.
REVIEW OF TARIFF LEGISLATION
Since the Days of Washington No
General Revenue Measure Has
Moved Through Congress at any
thing Like the Pace Which Has
characterized the Progress of the
Dingley Bill.
snec,al 70 the Scranton Tribune.


DingIey Bill.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Washington, June 2O.-People who |
are complaining of what they assume |
to be the slow progress of the tariff bill |
will probably be surprised to know that |
no administration since that of Wash
ington ever placed upon the statute
books a tariff measure within as brief
a period of its Inauguration as will that
of William Mckinley. There is every
reason to suppose that the tariff bill
will go upon the statute books before
the end of July, probably much sooner
than that. II this shall happen Presi-
dent Mckinley will have an opportun-
ity to attach his signature to a general
tariff measure earlier in the history OF
his administration than has any presi-
dent since George Washington signed
the first tariff act on July 4, 1888.
This remarkable record, which is
likely to be made with reference to the
present tariff bill, is made more re-
markable by two facts. First, that
every years developments of our COM
merce and manufactures add to the
complications and difficulties in franz
ing a tariff measure, and second, the
fact that the party in control of the
administration controls only one branch
of congress. 1t has seldom happened
in the history of the country that a
general tariff measure has been placed
upon the statute books when congress
and the administration were not con-
trolled in all their branches by single
party, and that it should be possible
to pass tariff bill so Immediately fol-
lowing such a hotly contested cam
paign as that of six months ago, with
one branch of congress controlled by
those who are pitted against the Re-
publican party in that contest, is the
more remarkable. Indeed a study Of
the history of the tariff Legislation in
the United States would not have war
ranted, q year ago, the prediction that
q protective tariff bill could have pass
ed a congress which was not controlled
| in both branches by the Republican
party.
EARLY TARIFFS.
1t may be of interest both by way of
| presentation of some tariff history and
also of satisfying those who are in
| clined to criticse what they assume to
| be the slow progress of the work upon
| the tariff bill. to run briefly over the
history of the tariff legislation of the
country from the beginning down as
connected with the various admins
! trations.
The first tariff act placed upon the
books was signed by George Washing
ton July 4, 1889. Not only was it the
first tariff act under the constitution,
but the first protective tariff measure,
indicating in its preamble that ut is
necessary for the support Of govern
ment, for the discharge of debt of the
United States and the encouragement
and protection of manufacturers that
duties be laid on goods, wares, mer-
chandise imported" etc. The consider
alton of this act occupied but about
two months time, as Washington was
not inaugurated until April 80, and the
work upon the tariff bill did not begin
of course, until after that time. This
tariff act was, of course, very brief
the space occupied being probably less
than one-twentieth of the bill now un-
der consideration. Several other tariff
measures were adopted during Wash.
ington's administration, most of them
|
in the first measure.
BILLS NOT SIGNED.
John Adams. who became president
March 4, 1897, did not sign the tariff
bill enacted under his administration
which increased the rates of duty or
sugar, molasses, wines, etc, until May
13, 1900, over three years after his in
auguration.
Jefferson, who was inauguratet
March 4, 1901, did not attach his sigma
ture to g. general tariff measure unit
March 26, 1904, the bill passed at tina
time having for its object an increas
in the revenue to supply funds for tn,
war with the Barbary tribes This ac
increased the ad valorem rates, and ol
the following day a similar act, in
creasing the specific rates, was signed
both Of them being more than thre
years after Jefferson's inauguration.
Madison was inaugurated March
1909, and the first important tariff, t
increase duties 100 per cent. on accoun
of the war with Great Britain, wa
signed July /, 1912, more than thre
} years after his Inauguration. He ais
, signed a general tariff act April q, 1916
: three wears after his second inaugura
tion.
. Monroe was inaugurated March
1917, and signed his first and only gen
: eral tariff act May %, 1924 more tina
seven years after his first inaugura
tion.
: John Quincy Adams was inaugurate
March 4, 1925, and signed a genera
! tariff act May 10, 1928, more than thre
l years after his Inauguration.
= Jackson was inaugurated March
: 1929, and signed his first general tart
act July Ia, 1882, more than three year
after his inauguration, while the Cla
: compromise reduction act was signe
!, March 2, 1888.
Van Burens presidential term, whic
began March 4, 1887, was not marke
by the enactment of any importar
tariff legislation.
n THE FIRST HARRISON,
y William Henry Harrison. who was II
e augurated March 4, 1S41, issued c
e March II, a call for a special session I
q congress to begin May 81, indicatir
d by the proclamation that the sui
: jects to be considered were the final
u cial difficulties of the government. II
: tariff act was finally passed by the COZ
: gress with that proclamation callt
: into spec cial session did not become
: law until August 80, 1912, or fftet
II months after the date named for Il
: beginning of the special session,
d Polk's term of services began Marc
h 4, 1S45 and the "Walker tariff" whiC
d was the special tariff feature of h