Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-07-09
OUR TARIEF!HISTORY
NO PRESIDENT SO PROMPT AS
M'kiNLEY.
HI. Tariff Law Will Be on the Statute
Books Earlicr than That Of Any
President Since Washinaton-Focts
Which shou:d Silence Croakers.
Good Progress Made.


of Washington ever placed, upon the stat
ute books n tariff measure within as brief
period of its inauguration as will that
of President Mckinley. There is every
reason TO suppose that the tariff bill will
90 upon :he statute books before the end
of July. probably much sooner than that.
If this shall happen. President Mckinley
vii; have an opportunity to attach his
| signature to ~ general tariff measure ear
!ier in 'he history of his admin;s,rstio
than has any President since George
Washington signed the first tariff act on
July I. 1850.
This remarkable record which is likely
TO he made with reference to the present
tariff hii! is made more remarkable by
two facts: First. that every years devel-
opinent of our commerce and manufac-
lures adds to the complications and ditti-
c'ii.ies IN framing n tariff measure. and
second. the fact that the party in control
OF the administration controls only one
branch of Congress. 1t has seldom hap
pentd in tli" history of the country that
q general tariff measure has been placed
upon the statute hooks when Congress
ana the administration were not controls
ed in all their branches by a single party.
and that it should be possible to pass IL
l
such hotly contested campaign as that
OF SIX months ago with one branch of
Congress controlled by those who were
pittetl against the Republican party in
tllat contest. is the more remarkable. In
deed. Il study of the history of the tariff
legislation in the United States would
not have warranted year ago the pre-
d'ctlon that protective tariff till could
have passed Congress which was not
\ controlled in both its branches by the Re-
publican party.
IT may lie of interest. both by way of
] presentation of some tariff history and
also OF satisfying those who are inclined
10 crltc;se what they assume to Ike the
SLOW progress of the work upon the tariff
hlli.to run briefly over the history of the
tariff legislation of the country from the
| beginning down as connected with tLe
various administrations.
The first tariff act placed upon tho stat
nte books was signed by George Wash
inSton. July 4. lTS9. Not only was it
the frst tariff act under the constitution.
nut the first protective tariff measure. in
| dlrating IN its preamble that lit is neces-
sary Tor the support of government. for
| tae discharge of the debts of the United
states and the encouragement and pro-
lcc1lon OF manufactures that duties he
i'l.u on goods. wares. merchandise tnport-
| cd. etc. The consideration of this ac.
occupied but anout Two months time as
washington WAS not inaugurated until
| April 10. and the work upon the tariff
mn did not begin. of course. until after
that time. This tariff act WAS of course
Very brief. the space occupied heing prob
ably less than one-twent;cth of the bill
now under consideration. Several other
tariff measures were adopted during
Wash!ngtor's administration. most of
them being an increase upon the rates
named by the first measure.
John Adams. who became President
March I. 119I. did not sign the tariff hill
enacted under his administration. which
increased the rates of duty on sugar. mo-
lasses. vines. etc. until May 13. 1850.
over three years after his Inauguration.
Jefferson. who was inaugura,ed March
| 4. lSol. did not attach his signature tn ~
general tariff bill unit! March 2G. 1St4.
the bill! passed at that time having for its
ob1ect an increase in the revenues to sup
ply fluids for the war with the Harbary
powers This act increased the nd VA.
io:em rates. and on the following day. a
similar act increasing the spec;tic rn.es
! three years after Jetferson's inaur,1rn
tion.
Madison was inausurated March a.
lSU'. ard the first important tariff, to
increase duties 100 per cent on account of
the war with Great Britain. was signed
| July i. 1917. more than three years after
his Inauguration. He also signed gen.
eral tariff act April %. 1916, three years
after his second Inauguration.
Monroe was inaugurated March 4, 1877.
and signed his first and only general tariff
act May 90. 1925. more than seven ycars
after lis first inauguration.
John Quincy Adams was inaururated
March 4. 1925. and signed general tariff
act May 10. 1923. more than three wears
after his Inauguration.
Jackson was inaugurated March
lS2S. and signed his first general tariff
act July IA. 1882. more than three wears
after his inauguration. while the CLAW
compromise reduction act was signed
March .. 1893.
van itErcns presidential! term. which
began March 4. 1887. was not marked
ny the enactment of any important tariff
| legislation.
/ William Henry Harrison. who was in.
ansurated March 4. 1871. issued on
] March Ii call for special session of
Congress to begin May 81, Indicating bv
the proclamation that the subjects to be
considered were the financial difficulties of
the Governments. The tariff act finally
passed by the Congress which that proc-
lnmation called into special session did NOT
become law until August 80. 1870. or
fifteen months after the date named for
| the beginning of the special session,
Folks term of service began March 4
1916. and the Walker tariff" which was
the special tariff feature of his term. did
not become n law until July 80. 1876. SIX
teen months utter his inauguration nc
President.
| The Taylor administration. which her,n
March >. 1S49. did not witness the enact.
ment of any 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 md
both branches of Congress in the second
half of the term.
Pierce. who was inaugurated March
1853. signed on March 3. 1867, the Inst
day of his term us President, the only
general tariff measure enacted during his
r Al.