The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-03-13
LOOL OUT FOB SQUALLS.

Now that President Mckinley has
| issued proclamation convening con-
gress in extraordinary session, we may
look out for "sqalls," and fortunate
indeed will be the party in power if it
steers clear of the rocks and shoals
that beset its path, when it attempts
to wrestle with the two great issues
the tariff and finance. The latter will,
we believe, be lightly considered at
this session, as congress will await the
result of the international monetary
conference before attempting any
radical measures, or at least action
will likely be deferred until the regu-
lar session in December. But this
congress was elected on a platform
demanding revision of the tariff
on lines of protection, or perhaps
more correctly speaking, to re-enact
the Mckinley law of 1890; and here is
where great danger lies, both in the
way of disturbing business and effect
ing the future of the party. The Nc
Kinley law was never any more satis-
factory to the masses than is the pres
ent tariff law. 1t was passed through
the manipulation of the favored few,
and satisfied only limited number of
the party responsible for its enactment.
How it was received was evidenced by
the landslide of 1892, and that it was
unsatisfactory to many stanch protec-
tionists, is shown by the following
editorial which appeared in the Port
land Oregonian of April %, 1890:
"The tariff bill is Disappointment.
The best that honest and intelligent
republicans can say for it, is that it is
better than the Mills bill. 1t under
takes to bring the necessary reduction
of the revenue by indirect and clumsy
methods, which diminished the pos
sible benefit to the consumer. 1t
shows too tender care for the inter-
est of the manufacturing monopolist,
and offers the rural consumer p petty
tariff on butter and eggs instead Of
reduction upon the manufactured goods
he has to buy-it takes the tax off to-
bacco, but does not materially increase
the free list. 1t adds to the cost of
canned goods by increasing the duty
on tin plate. and stops the repeal of
the sugar duty just where it would be-
gin to effect the profits of the sugar
trust and benefit the consumer. 1t in
creases the duty on wool because the
wool-growers are organized and power
full, but leaves hides on the free list
because the western ranchmen are too
poor and scattered to- rival the in
fuence of New England leather manu-
factures.
SIT promises protection to the
American producer with one voice,
whispers of reciprocity treaties with
Spanish America to the eastern i'm
porters with another. 1t 1.-THE partly
shifts and falters, traffics and evades,
doubts, hesitates and is lost. 1t is a
bill to catch campaign contributions,
not to attract votes. 1t will not help |
the party In the next campaign"
At that time the Oregonian spoke |
prophetically and told many truths.
but will the republicans in congress
now profit by that experience? Proba-
bly, not. Flushed by recent success,
and having a large majority in the
house, and only two short of clear
majority in the senate, which count
ng the four silver republicans gives
hem a working majority, it is ex-
,ected they will heed the demands of
he trusts and tariff favorites aud
'nact law little different from that
# 1890. The manufacturers and trusts
will be provided for but all others will
'e overlooked. Then we may look for
squalls" and general reckoning at
he election of 1898.