The herald., 1897-05-23
THE TARIFF IN THE SENATE

by the senate finance committee, comes
up as a special order. Time has been
given for all sides to prepare for discus
sion Of the measure. The country is
deeply interested in what the senators
may have to say, as in the house the
bill reported by the ways and means
committee received very little consider
alton; in fact, not more than a fourth
of it was read by paragraph, and hence
there was no opportunity to move
amendments to or to debate the other
three-fourths. Consideration by the
house afforded but little information to
the country. AS the proposition is to
make thorough revision of the revenue
laws, it is due the people that there shall
be afforded the fullest means for ac-
quiring knowledge Of what is proposed
to be done. A measure of such import
ance should not be acted on in haste,
and hence the senate will be justified
in indulging in exhaustive discussion.
The Democrats in that body have recon-
mended that no factious opposition will
be interposed, and that all they intend
to do is to give the bill thorough scru-
tiny, and to urge such amendments as
they think are best for the public in
terests.
1t is a curious fact that the senate,
which was created as sort of aristo-
cratic body, and so far as election Of its
members is concerned, ie removed from
the direct action of the people, has really
become the popular branch of congress,
while the house, whose members are
chosen by direct vote of the people, has
been converted into an autocracy, par
tisan machine governed by gag law.
1t is fortunate that there is not parti-
san majority in the senate, and that
there is no rule which can be employed
to etifle debate.
When the session commenced it was
confidently heralded that a new tariff
law would be enacted by the first of May.
The ways and means committee of the
last house took upon itself the task of
preparing bill for the present congress,
on which it labored three or four months
and it had the vanity to suppose that its
work would be deemed SO perfect that it
could be rushed through congress at
race-horse speed. The plan. was to use
the whip and spur Of party to put the
bill through regardless of the wishes OF
the opposition, giving them no opportu-
nifty to express their views, and in obedi-
ence to this program the bill was rail-
roaded through the house.
A general revision of the revenue laws
is matter of grave importance, as it
disturbe business by changing values
of a large number of commodities
through increase or decrease Of duties,
and shifts the burdens of taxation. This
the senate proposes shall not be done
without placing before the country the
reasons for whatever action is taken.
AS several objections have already
been indicated and notice given that
important amendments will be pro-
posed, it is probable the debate in the
senate will be somewhat protracted. 1t
ID Delltr lIdl IL SllOuIU De SO tNdn ina
law shall be framed with erroneous
principles and burdened with inequali-
ties. There are radical differences in
regard to the basic principles of tariff
legislation, and an irrepressible strife
between conflicting interests.
Though the two great political parties
differ in general theory. the greatest
danger is that advantages will be given
to particular interests. Monopoly, in all
its FORMS is always present and pressing
for favors, when congress ie considering
tariff legislation. Already the sugar
trust has gained the ear of the finance
committee, and induced it to grant an
advantage far greater than it has under
the present law, or the house bill, or
even under the Mckinley act of 1890.
Other interests will clamor for advan-
tages and will have their advocates.
Differences. advantages. and burdens
cannot be adjusted with approximate
fairness without a liberal allowance of
time for investigation and debate; coali-