Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-07-10
OUR TARIFF HISTORY.
NO PRESIDENT SO PROMPT AS
M'KINLEY.
His Tariff Law Will BE on the Statute
Books Earlier than That of Any
President Since WashinEton-Facts
Which Should silence Croakers.
Good Progress. Made.


People who are complaining of what
they assume to be the slow progress of the
tariff bill viii probably be surprised to
know that administration since that
of Washington ever placed upon the stat
ute books tariff measure within as br1ef
a period of its Inauguration as Will that
of President Mckinley. There is every
reason to suppose that the tariff bill VIII
go upon the statute books before the END
of July, probably much sooner than that
If this shall happen. President Mchiniey
will have an opportunity to attach ms
signature to a general tariff measure ear
lier in the history of his administrator
than has any President since george
Washington signed the first tar7H act on
July 4, 1850.
This remarkable record which is likely
to be made with reference to the present
tariff bill is made more remarkable ny
two facts: First. that every years oeNel-
opment of our commerce and manufac-
lures adds to the complications and dlfn-
culties N framing a tariff measure, anu
second. the fact that the party in control
of the administration controls only one
branch of Congress. 1t has seldom nap
pened in the history of the country that
a general ia riff measure has been placed
upon the statute books when Congress
and the administration were not confroh-
ed in all their branches by a single party,
and that it should be possible to pass a
tariff measure so Immediately following
such Il holly contested campaign as that
of six months ago with one branch OF
Congress controlled by those who were
pitted against the Republican party in
that contest. is the more remarkable In
deed. study of the history of the tariff
legislation in the United States would
not have warranted a year ago the pre-
diction that a protective tariff bill could
have passed Congress which was not
controlled in both its branches by the Re
publican party.
1t may be of interest. both by way of
presentation of some tariff history and
also of satisfying those who are inclined
to critcise 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 connected with the
various administrations.
The first tariff act placed upon the stat
ute books was signed by George Wash
ington. July 4, 11S9 Not only was it
the first tariff act under the constitution.
but the first protective tariff measure, in
dicating in its preamble that lit is neces-
sary for the support of government, for
the discharge of the debts of the United
States and the encouragement and pro-
lection of manufact ures that duties be
laid on goods. wares. merchandise import
ed etc. The consideration of this act
| occupied but about two months time. s
Washington not inaugurated until
April 30, 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 prob
ably less than one-twentieth of the bill
now under considera ton. Several other
tariff measures were adopted during
Washington's administration, most of
! them being an increase upon the rates
named by the first measure.
A do -ha ID
March 4, 1897. did not sign the tariff bill
enacted under his administration. which
increa sed the rates of duty on sugar mo-
lasses. wines, etc. until May ID. 1900,
over three years after his inauguration
Jefferson. who was inaugurated March
4, 1901. did not attach his signature to a
general tariff bill until March &c. 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 increa sed the ad va
loren rates, and on the following day.
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 f.
1So9, and the first important tariff to
increase duties 100 per cent On account of
the war with Great Britain, was signed
July 1, 1872, more than three years after
Il
eral tariff act April 81. 1916 three years
after his second Inauguration.
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 inausurated
March 4, 1925, and signed general tariff
act May 10, 1928. more than three years
after his Inauguration.
jackson was inaugurated March 4
1873. and signed his first general tariff
act July IA. 1882. more than three years
AFTER his inauguration. while the CLAY
compromise reduction act was signed
| March .. 1885,
| Van BGren's presidential term. which
began March 4. 1897. was not marked
| oy the enactment of any important tariff
| legislation -
William Henry Harrison. who was in
augurated March 4, 1871 issuad ~,
| March IL call for a special session of
Congress to begin May 81, indicating nv
| the proclamation that the subjects 70 he
| considered were the financial d difficulties Of
| the Government. The tariff act finally
passed by the Congress which that nroI-
fanatic called into special session did not
become a law until August 80 1870 or
| fifteen months after the date named for
the beginning of the special session
Folks term of service began March f.
1S45. and the Walker tariff" which was
| the special tariff feature of his term. did
not become a law until July 80, 1916. six
teen months after his Inauguration as
President
The Taylor administration which began
March 5, 1S49, did not witness the enact