Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
NO PRESIDENT SO PROMPT AS
M'klNLEY.
His Tariff Law VIII BE on the Statute
Books Earlier than That of Any
President Since on-Facts
Which should Silence croakers.
Good proxres- Mnde.
speeIaI washIngton correspondence.


Of President Mckinley. There is ever
reason 20 suppose that the tariff bill wi
go upon the statute books before the en-
Of July, probably much sooner than tina
II this shall happen. President Mckinle
viii have an opportunity 10 attach "a
signature to a general tariff measure eal
lier in the history Of his Administrative
thar has any President since Georg
Washington signed the first tariff act o
July 4, 1850.
This remarkable record which is likei
10 be made with reference 70 the presen
tariff bill Is made more remarkable b.
two facts: First. that every years devel
opment OF our commerce and manufac
lures adds to the complications and dill
culties in framing a tariff measure, an'
second, the fact that the party in contro
Of the administration controls only one
branch Of Congress. II has seldom hap
pened in the history Of the country tina
a general tariff measure has been placed
upon the statute books when Congress
and the administration were not controli-
ed In all their branches by a single party
and that It should be possible 10 pass q
tariff measure so Immediately following
such a hotly contested campaign as that
|
| Congress controlled by those who were
pitted against the Republican party In
| that contest, Is the more remarkable. In
deed. a study of the history of the tariff
| legislation in the United States would
not have warranted a year ago the pre-
| diction that protective tariff bill could
have passed a Congress which was not
controlled in both It's branches by the Re
publican party.
II may be of interest, both by way Of
presentation of some tariff history and
also of satisfying those who are inclined
to criteise 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 administrations.
The first tariff act placed upon the stat
ute books was signed by George Wash
ington, July 4~17S9 Not only was 1t
the first tariff 1T under the constitution,
but the first protective tariff measure, in
dicating In its preamble that sit is neces-
sary for the support of government, for
the discharge Of the debts Of the United
States aud the encouragement and pro-
lection of manufactures that duties be
laid on goods. wares, merchandise import
ed, etc. The consideration of this act
occupied but about two months time as
Washington was not inaugurated until
April 30 and the work upon the tariff
bin did not begin. of course, until after
that time. This tariff act was of course
very brief, the space occupied being prob
ably less than one-twentieth of the bin
now under consideration. Several other
tariff measures were adopted during
Washington's administration, most of
them being an increase upon the rates
named by the first measure.
John Adams. who became President
March 4. 1891 did not sign the tariff bill
enacted under his administra ton. which
increased the rates of duty on sugar, mo-
lasses. wines, etc, until May 10, 1900,
over three years after his Inauguration.
Jefferson, who was inaugurated March
4. 1901, did not attach his signature to
general tariff bill until March 90, 1904,
the bill passed at that time having for Its
object an increase in the revenues TO sup
ply funds for the war with the Barbary
powers. This act increased the ad va
loren rates. and on the following day. a
similar act increasing the specific rates
was signed. both of them being more than
three years after Jefferson's Inaugural
ton.
Madison was inaugurated March 4,
1900. and the first important tariff, to
increase duties 100 per cent on account of
the war with Great Britain. was signed
July l, 1912. more than three years after
his Inauguration. He also signed gem
eral tariff act April 81. 1916, three years
after his second ipauo1tra fion
Monroe was inaugurated March 4. 1917.
and signed his first and only general tariff
act May %. 1924, more than seven years
after his first inauguration.
John Quincy Adams was inaugurnted
March 4. 1926, aud signed general tariff
act May 10, 1898, more than three years
after his inauguration.
Jackson was inauguratcd March 4.
1928. and signed his first general tariff
act July IL. 1892, more than three years
after his Inauguration. while the Clay
compromise reduction act was signed
March 2. 1888.
Van Burens presidential term. which
began March 4. 1897. was not marked
by the enactment of any important tariff
William Henry Harrison. who was in
augurated March \, 1871, issued on
March II call for a special session of
Congress TO begin May 81. indicating by
tho proclamation that the subjects TO be
considered were the financial difficulties of
the Government. The tariff act finally
passed by the Congress which that proc
called into special session did not
become a law until August 80. 1S42. or
nfteen months after the date named for
tho beginning of the special session.
Folks term Of service began March 4,
1915. and the Walker taria.r which was
the special tariff feature Of his term, did
not become q law until July 80, 1916. six |
teen months after his Inauguration as
President.
The Taylor administration, which began |
March 5. 1919, did not witness the enact |
ment Of any general tariff legislation, ow- |
ing 70 the fact that the Democrats con- |
trolled the House Of Representatives dur |
ing the first two years of the term and |
both branches Of Congress in the second |
half of the term.
Pierce who was insugurated March 4, |
1853. signed on March z, 1857, the last \
jay Of his term as President. the only |
general tariff measure enacted during his /