New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-07
MODERATION NEEDFUL.

In the interest of American industries IL is
necessary that those who are advocating par
ticular duties for the benefit of dii1erent
branches should take great care not 10 set
themselves against the welfare or the wnoie
country by insisting upon changes when IL
max be impossible to make. The spirit mani
tested by those silver men who refused 10 per-
nit anything 10 be done for the defence OF agri-
culture or manufactures or mining until 'hey
could extort just what they demanded for silver
is one which cannot be shown with safety by
the advocates Of any interest The Senate VIII
be closely divided If the Republicans have a
majority at all it probably will not exceed one
vote including one or two members who feel
bound to favor reasonable duties for protection.
but would doubtless refuse TO support duties
which seemed to them excessive 1t is neces-
sary to remember that these Senators have the
power to Judge for themselves whether this or
that proposal is beyond reason and If one is so
regarded by them it would in effect be an act of
hostility to all industries to insist upon it.
1t is quite possible that the support OF one or
more Senators who are not Republicans may be
needed for the passage of a tariff bill this year.
The silver Senator from Nevada. Mr.. Jones,
who has declared that he will support a pro-
tective tariff. and the Democratic Senator from
Louisiana. MT. McElleT!. WHO HIS Lldut ii Sihh-
liar declaration and other Democratic Senators
who realize that it is their duty 10 help the
country back to prosperity by rising above a
narrow and unpatriotc partsanship, might be
repealed from support of a measure il it should
contain provisions seeming 10 them extreme
and unwarranted Irrespective of this prac-
teal necessity, the Republicans of the commit
tee who are preparing bill are understood to
favor moderate and conservative measure,
fairly adjusted in all its parts so that it may
command general public approval. and stand
without essential change for many years.
These members are 50 we'll known for fidelity
10 Republican principles that it must be pre-
sumed they will do we'll as they can to pro-
mote all Industries in harmony having due re-
gard 10 the possibility OF securing sufficient
votes in the Senate
The action Of the Wool Growers Association
at it's prolonged meeting on Tuesday lasting
through much of the night. might be so uncom
prOmisingly pressed as to prevent the passage
of any tariff bill this year. 1t Is certain that
the wool-growers themselves would not favor
the continued destruction Of their industry by
free wool If they should be unable to secure
every detail of the programme marked out.
According to dispatches. considerable minor
ity Of the association opposed some parts of
that programme, on the ground that II would
not be accepted by the committee and could not
be passed. but they were outvoted. The dis
patches say that the association will propose IL
cents per pound on all clothing and combing
wool and cents on carpet wool, double these
rates on washed or sorted or skirted wool, and
three times these rates on secured WOOL besides
an increase Of one cent each year for three
years on clothing wool, making that duty finally
Is cents With the other clauses, this would
mean 80 cents on washed or sorted and As
cents on secured wool Of that class. The Nc
Kinley duty was II cents 90 on washed and 33
on secured
The clause Of the Mckinley act which ad-
mitted skirted wool without the double duty
imposed on sorted has been regarded as espe-
ciaily Objectionable by the growers. and did
permit practical evasion Of the tariff intended
as to a very large quantity Of wool. Neverthe-
less under the act Of 1890 the average price of
Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia fleece at
no time fell below 30 cents until the manu-
facture was broken down In 1893 by the pros
pect of Democratic tariff. and the price
ranged between 80 and "a cents. There was a
large Increase In the production of wool In those