New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-19
PROGRESS WITH THE TARIFF.

Senator Vest has been making several speeches
each day, In the discharge of his duty as parti-
san objector for the Democrats. and has sue
ceeded in showing that he knows as much or
prices as an ordinarily instructed mule does
Of comic sections. 1t Is exQuisitely funny, or
lamentabe. or both. to find him vociferatinS
that this or that duty will plumber the people
Of sundry millions. when persons reasonably
Informed are aware that the only question Is
whether foreign importers shall be enabled 10
sell Mt one price or another In the best market
of the world. The debate waxed hot on many
such points, without the slightest relation 10
facts Except for the circumstance that IL
would kill most of their speeches. it might pa!
the Democrats to have in their employ COM
petent observer Of prices.
The Senate has finished the liquor schedule.
without the advance In the duty on brandy,
which would yield much larger revenue, ana
the cotton schedule. without other than purely
partisan opposition to the duties proposed
These are essentially the duties of the present
tariff, except that higher rates are added only
on the finer qualities of goods not formerly
manufactured here to any extent AS usual, this
effort to expand American production into new
fields met with united Democratic opposition,
and the Republicans were only supported on
test vote by Senator McEnery, of Louisiana.
All the Democratic Senators who voted for
duty on raw cotton voted against duties to
promote the manufacture Of cotton here in adj
vanced lines. which only shows that they are
infants In the business of industrial develop
ment. and will probably gain some information
with experience. What a nice time cotton-grow-
ers would have in this country II only the
coarser forms Of manufacture were made profit
able. But the South comes forward, though
not with speed.
The declaration of Senator Allison when the
tea duty was reached that the committee hoped
70 he able TO secure revenue enough without
it. is highly encouraging sign. 1t proDaply
indicates that the beer tax and the increase OF
internal tax on tobacco will not be imposed
unless the committee fails to obtain from the
Senate the adoption Of duties deemed sufficient
10 yield the required revenue. In that as
spect an opportunity was missed when the
Senate duty on liquors was adopted, ana IN the
fax and linen schedule there was room Tor som"
Improvement. But the veteran from Iowa who
is now in charge of the bill, owing TO the sick
ness of Senator Aldrch. has shown himself
abundnntly able to explain and defend the
recommended lions Of the committee. even when
he has had occasion to dissent from senator
Aldrich. as In regard to the diferental duties on
sugar: and in dealing with the wooen sched-
ule and the provisions regarding gloves and
leather and some other sundres he Will have
further opportunity to show something OF his
strength.
The Democratic Senators have nothing 10
gain by delaying this important measure, Tor
the people are admonished by the daily press
reports that the Republican Senators DO not
waste any time in unnecessary discussion. 1t
may be noticed that Democrats of the eX-
IRENE freesilver sort have made themselves
conspicuous by exhaustng weeks of time in
arguments and proposed amendments In the
Senate, which they well knew would have no
ether result 1t is possible that they may have
occasion to explain to constituents of both par
ties why they made hundreds Of motions which,
they knew would be voted down, and insisted
upon purely partisan speeches which could
not influence a single vote at time when the
business of til, whole country was impatiently
waiting for some settlement. 1t has been n
wapton waste Of time, but has helped to show
the country what Senators are disposed to care
nothing for public interests If they have some
partisan end to serve.