The times., 1897-04-02
SILVER AND THE TARIFF.
Hon. Joseph SibIey Talks Interest
jngIy on Both Subjects.

EX-COngreSsman Joseph Sibley, of Penn
sylvana, who did so much hard work for
Mr.. Bryan and silver during the last cam
paign, has been in Washington for the last
few days watching the progress of the
tariff bill in the House. He says that IT
reminds him Of a doctor treating patient
for a symptom instead Of the disease
Mr.. Sibley had conversation with re-
porter OF The Times yesterday on tariff
matters, his ideas of the present tariff bill,
and public questions generally.
You ask me what think of the DiDgley
bill as it lea yes the House, he said. ''One
thing | feel sure Of, and | suppose every
one else does, the bill as it is now will
certainly not be recognizable by is best
friends the next time it comes 10 the
surface. Perhaps any comment on the
bill in its present condition therefore, can
not much matter either way.
what / believe in, individually, at the
present time, is "A tariff for revenue, max
ing no determinations anywhere, but stir
ply to procure the money to pay our debts
This is a personal opinion, and / realize
that there are many other good people
who think differently. l don't believe
in free wool, and / don't believe that the
wool growers will receive any benefit from
tax on wool. / am afraid that they and
theit friends who have been pleading for
help Will get at most a temporary benefit,
and that in a very short time again their
troubles VIII be upon them with even
heavier weight 1t is my opinion that
While high rates Of duties may tempo
rarilv stimulate Industries, they will in no
manner provide the ability for greater
consumption. The growers OF wheat, corn,
pork cotton, and tobacco, produced for the
mere pittance which must prevail under
the single gold standard, VIII be unable TO
purchase those products OF the forge and
factory, andI believe that the present tariff
viii prove no greater disappointment To any
class of people than those who are fOn'lly
dreaming Of the great prosperity they are
to enjoy under {.
II have d plan. one that seems the only
solution Of the tariff trouble to me, and |
have advocated it before. Perhaps you
know of it. Three years ago | had it
brought up in Congress. II is for a non
partisan commission Of educated American
men Of affairs. somewhat like the Civil
Service Commission and the Interstate
Commerce Commission, which shall have
the entire charge OF our tariff laws. This
commission should make report OF its
action to the House, which should exercise
over q only negative surveillance, repeal
ing It's rules when 1t saw fit.
1T is a fact, that the United 5 tates is
the only great constitutional government
on the face Of the eartn that deals with The
tariff as a political question rather than as
a strictly business proposition. 1t would
be my idea that this commission should sdit
the tariff first to the revenue needs OF the
Government; and. second, that it should, in
q legitimate manner, stimulate such indus
| tries as il could under its fostering care be-
come stlr-suppurting ultimately. Also, this
| commission could, if 1t were tightly EN-
powered. in my judgment, do away almost
entirely With the evils Of the trusts and
the sypdicates. When a trust mad so
| monopolized any industry that it controlled
prices, this commission could step in and
cut off duties. If it were the sugar trust
that vas ut fault, the gentlemen composing
this commission would confer ogether care
! fully and final Y remove the differential IN
sugar Then the sugar barons would very
| quickly come TO their senses"
| Mr. sihlcy is still thinking on the silver
| question. and on the chance for bimetal-
! lsm, aud his belief that it is the financial
! troubles OF the country entirely, and not
the tariff troubles, except as a secondary
| matter, which are causing our distress.
Il have been travelling through Mexico
! quite extensively since election he said,
Il had a long conversation with President
| DiaZ on the question OF bimetallism, which
| has been most interesting to me. He con
| fessed 10 me that when the repeal Of he
| purchasing clause of the Sherman law, and
| the closiug OF the Indian nIints occurred, he
! was at Il loss to know what effect there
| would be on his country. BE had long
! conference with one OF the foremost
! American bimetaIlists, who told him that
| instead OF driving gold out of the country
such a measure would bring it in, Mexico
! had government hOnds, payable in gold. He
was fearful Of his ability to pay them. The
A.! bimetallist told him that even with the
| depreciation OF the value Of silver he
| would he able TO pay his gold obligations
! more easily than before. The event has
| proved the wisdom of this prophecy Mexico
is en- Toying an era OF prosperity such as it
has never had before. The railroads and
| commerce and manufacturing industries
| are on a paying basis. and the a griCultural
| interests are prosperous For the last
! three years, for the first time in her his
tory. she has had surplus over her
| budget"
Mr.. Sibley alluded rather sorrowfully TO
| what he called the defeat OF free silver
in the last two weeks Of the campaign by
the famine in India, which carried the
prices of wheat up tremendously, but did
not affect silver This circumstance oc-
CURED too late in the campaign, MI. Sib-
ley said, for explanation to be made by
| the Democrats.
LAT this present moment you will see
! in New York and Boston every day the
| complaints of bankers that money is too
| pleptifuI-that it goes for / 2 per cent
A man talked to me in Tex as the other
day about the per cent that he was
| obliged to pay for his money. There is no
| plethora in Texas or in Missouri, or in
the South anywhere. This Congress debat-
ing on the tariff bill, reminds me OF a
doctor who would prescribe for bent
old man, carrying heavy load up a hill,
Bleed him at the arm this doctor might
say, and then put more load on his back
1t will make his step sprightlier, and his
back straighter. and he will get to the
top Of the hill easier What we need is
more money, not only in New YORK ana
Boston, but in Texas and Missouri We
want more blood circulating through ouT
veins. If we had dollar wheat in Mis-
! souri, and 1O-Cent cotton in the South the
I farmers OF those regions would be able &c
buy all the excellent manufacturing prod
ucts that the people of the East are go
! ing to make under this new tariff, but the
trouble is that wheat is away down, corr
Is 10 cents a bushel and lard 4 cents q
pound, and cotton cents pound. anC