The herald., 1897-01-08
SHERMAN CALLED DOWN

S41GNH<AAs S<A1 6k~1 ~ W ~
The New York Times ventilates the
hypocrisy of John Sherman and the
other high protectionists in the follow
ing severe but deserving style:
When a titled German accompanies d
an act of rudeness toward an Italian
officer with the loud announcement: Il
am Count Herbert Won Bismarck the
latter replied: THE apology is lacking
but the explanation is ample" Senator
Sherman objects to the proposition that
the tariff ought to be taken out of poll
tics and dealt with as a purely busi-
ness question" on the ground that it
lis an imputation upon the business
ability and patriotism of congress Ana
he adds the following statement:
"As a matter of fact. politics plays
a smaller part in the creation of tariff
bill than some people assume. When
the schedules of a tariff bill are being
formulated, all of the several business
interests of the county that are inter-
ested usually get hearing. Between
what the business interests want and
what they ought to have, or what con-
gress thinks they are justly entitled to,
there is frequently wide difference.
But in ANY case the endeavor on the
part of congress is always to deal out
equal and exact justice to ali classes ana
conditions of men. Politics is mere
incident in tariff legislation, and, as
said before, plays a very insignificant
part. No. l am opposed to the creation
Of a tariff commission because | see
no need of one. ard think the major
ity opinion of congress on the subject
agrees with my own views.
AS an explanation of Mr. Sherman's
dislike of a tariff commission this IS
ample; as an apology for his own
course and that of congress it is clearly
lacking" The senator says that when
tariff schedules are being dealt out. "all
of the several business interests of the
country" get hearing This is historic
ally incorrect, actually presenting
and physically impossible. The "busi-
ness interests of the country" affected
by the tariff are, practically. all those
interests When have they been heard?
When, for instance, has any hearing
been given to shippers and tradesmen
affected by the increased freight due
to the added cost of rails caused by the
tariff? When have the builders and oc-
cupants Of buildings taxed by the duties
on steel and iron, on nails and screws,
been heard? When have hearings been
accorded to the farmers taxed by the
various metal duties? When, in short,
has any committee of congress offered
to listen, much less listened. to the
claims of the vast body of American
consumers doubly taxed by nearly every
in the tariff? No such hearings
have been given in the past. They are
not being given now, and it would be
impossible for any committee. in the
time at its command, to give them.
Nor can it be granted for a moment
that politics plays a very insignificant
part in tariff legislation" On the con-
trary, it plays a large, a controlling
part. How can it be otherwise? The
party openly declares that
it will shape taxation to aid certain in
terests 1t invites those engaged in these
interests to help it get power. When
they do so, and it gets power, it keeps
its promises. 1t cannot help doing so.
No party can offer a pecuniary ad-
vantage from legislation as an induce
ment to activity in politics and then
frame legislation without regard to poll
tics. 1t is the curse of protectionism that
it compels business to depend on poll
tics, and it always will until the chief
object Of taxation is made revenue and
not protection.