The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-08-12


for the work of revising the tariff,
convened on March Is, and Immediate
ly began its work. Under the power
ful influence of the Speaker, whe oc-
cupes an office which has grown to be
one of the most important in the gov
ernment the bill was advanced with
all possible speed. On the Ith of May
the bill had been passed by the House
and its consideration commenced IN
the Senate. Two months time was
consumed in its consideration by the
Senate and when it finally passed that
body there had been over 500 amend
ments made to the original bill. Tea
days more were consumed in confer
ence over the bill, and on the 10Th
of July, the House adopted the report.
Consideration OF the report in the SEN
ate consumed four days, and on the
oath the bin became law. In the IL
nal struggle between The two house.
the Senate receeded from Is of its
amendments compromised l!0 and tho
House receeded from 51l. 1t is ex-
planned that large number Of the lat
ter amendments did not affect the real
policy of the legislation, but were only
corrections of the phaseology OF the
bill. Although the bill as finally pass
ed was very different from the origi-
nal measure introduced by Mr.. Ding
ley in the House, it will be known in
history as the Dingley bill, just as tho
Mckinley bill of 1890 bore the Presi-
dents name, and the next revision bore
the name of Mr.. Wilson.
The history Of the previous revisions
OF the tariff are fresh in che minds or
the people, and this increases interest
in the future OF the new law. The
first effect of the Mckinley law was to
advance prices Of many articles, and
especially Of tin and tin plates. That
law was passed in the summer OF 1880
by Republican Congress. The major
ity in the House was about twenty
The election which followed in Noveui-
ber proved to be tidal wave Of DEM
ocratic victory and swept that party
into power with majority in the
House so large that 1t was positively
unmanageable. Mr. Mckinley was
himself defeated, although his defeat
was attributed in part, at least, to the
TACT that the district had been changed
and given in really a Democratic ma
jority.
Then came the agitation by the low
tarif men and the election of Mr.
cleveland on that issue in 1892, will
congress Democratic in both branches
The tariff revision followed, but pre-
Viously came the special session ant
the repeal of the Sherman silver pur
chase act Then began the panic o
1898 protraCted by the tariff Legislation
or 1894, and the overwhelming Repub
mean triumph of that year, whlcl
swept the Democrats out OF power
even defeating Mr.. Wilson, the autho
OF the bill, in strongly Democrati
district.
The country is anxiously and hope
lully looking for the effects of tn
present legislation. The long con
unued depression in business, with III
resultant effect of enormously curtail
ing the purchasing power of the pee
pie, which in it's turn has greatly less
ened the demand for all the product
OF industry, combined with the agita
tlon of the currency problem, and tn
disturbance by strikes, and the aggreE
slve attitude of the trusts. has lei
Inc industrial affairs Of the countr
uvely turn with lingering hope to an
ming that promises any degree OF r.
lief.
whatever politicians may hay
promised, or whatever hopes wei
simulated in the thoughts Of the pee
pie, rejecting men agree that until II
party In power had an opportunity
write into the law. and a reasonab
opportunity to enforce its policie
here could be no reasonable hope
decided change In business cond
uons, unless these came entirely apa
from the situation as affected by Il
tarin. In view OF the fact that a
business has waited for the settlemel
OF the vexed question before it wi
MILLING tO nPnm0ta uaw Vpntnras