The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-07-09
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 Washington-Fact
Which Should Silence croakers.
Good Progress Mnde.

@AAO'
of Washington ever placed upon the stat
ute books tariff measure within as brief
period of it's Inauguration as will that
of President Mckinley. There is every
reason to suppose that the tariff bill will
go upon the statute books before the end
of July, probably much sooner than that.
Ii this shall happen, President Mckinley
VIII have an opportunity to attach his
signature to a general tariff measure ear
Her in the history of his administration
than has any President since George
Washington signed the first tariff act on
July 4, 17S9.
This remarkable record which is likely
to be made with reference to the present
tariff bill is made more remarkable by
| two facts: First. that every years devel-
opment of c-s. commerce and manufac
lures adds to the complications and diff
cultles III framing tariff measure. and
second, the fact that the party in control
OF the administration controls only one
pranch of Congress. 1t has seldom hap
pened IN the history of the country that
general tariff measure has been placed
upon the statute books when Congress
and the administration were not controll-
ed IN all their branches by single party,
| ana that it should be possible to pass Il
such a hotly contested campaign as that
OF SIN months ago With one branch of
! Congress controlled by those who were
| pltted against the Republican party in
that contest, is the more remarkable. In
deed, a study of the history of the tariff
legislation in the United States would
not have warranted year ago the pre-
dlcton that protective tariff Eill could
have passed a 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
| 10 crluclse what they assume to be the
| SLOW progress of the work upon the tariff
DILL to run briefly over the history of the
tariff legislation of the country from the
beginning down as connected with the
various administrations
The first tariff act placed upon the stat
ute books was signed by George Wash
| ington, July 4. 17S9 Not only was it
the first tariff act under the constitution,
! but the first protective tariff measure, in
dlcatinS in its preamble that at is neces-
sary Tor the support of government, for
| the discharge of the debts of the United
States and the encouragement and pro-
lection of manufactures that duties be
| laid on goods. wares. merchandise import
ed,' etc. The consideration of this act
occupied but about two months time as
| Washington was not inaugurated until
April 80, and the work upon the tariff
| bill sid 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
| nov I1,,Io 90 i
tariff measures We're adopted during
| Washington's administration most of
them being an increase upon the rates
named by the first measure
| John Adams, who became President
March 4, 1897, did not sign the tariff bill
enacted under his administration, which
| increased the rates of duty on sugar. mo-
classes. wines, etc, until May 13. 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 26, 1904,
the Dill passed at that time having for its
object an increase in the revenues to sup
| ply tunds for the war with the Barbary
powers This act increased the ad va
lorem rates, and on the following day, a
similar act increasing the specific rates
was signed, both of them being more than
| three years after Jefferson's ipaugrra
| ton.
| Madisonewas inaugurated March 4.
| 1909, and the first important tariff, to
increase duties lCO per cent on account of
the war with Great Britain, was signed
July l, 1872, more than three wears after
his Inauguration. He also signed a ge1s.
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 inaugurated
March 4, 1925. and signed general tariff
act May 19, 1923, more than three years
| after his Inauguration.
] jackson was inaugurated March 4,
1898. and signed his first general tariff
act July IA, 1882, more than three years
lafter his inauguration, while the Clay
| compromise reduction act was signed
March 9. 1888
Van Burens presidential term. which
began March 4. 1887, was not marked
by the enactment of any important tariff,
legislation.
! William Henry Harrison, who was in
augurat ted March 4, 1911. issued on
| t1ulS4i - d Stlli iOI II sUtcldl session OF
| Congress to begin May 81, Indicating by
the proclamation that the subjects to be
considered were the financial difficulties of
the Government. The tariff act finally
passed by the Congress which that proc
lamation called into special session did not
become law until August 80, 1912, or
fifteen months after the date named for
the beginning of the special session
! Polk''s term of service began March 4,
! 1915, and the walker tariff" which was
| the special tariff feature of his term, did
not become a law until July 30, 1916, six
teen months after his Inauguration as
| President.
| The Taylor administration, which began
March 5, 1S49, did not witness the enact
ment of amy general tariff legislation, ow
| ing to the fact that the Democrats con-
trolled the House of Representatives dur
| ing the first two years of the term and
both branches of Congress in the second
half Of the term.
Pierce, who was inaugurated March 4.
1853, signed on March 3, 1857, the last
| day of his term as President, the only