The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-18
EAST AND WEST CLASH.
nal Battle Over the
Tariff Bill.
THREATS OF RIVAL INTERESTS.

Tho West Wants High Duties on Raw
Materials and the East Wants Low
Rates-How the South Feels About
Protection.
WASHINGTON, April 17.-[Spccial T.
/. There is al almost unprecedented pressure
upon the finance committee of the senate
concerning the tariff bill. To n large OK
>tcnt the battle for higher or lower duties
Is sectional. 1t is the east against tho
west. AS rule New England makes the
! tariff laws in this country. The people of
New England long ago learned the lesson
chat II senators and representatives of real
influence arc wanted at Washington they
must be kept there for long time. No
matter how able n man is in order to &C.
quiro influence he must remain in congress
long enough to work his way upward He
must gain good places ON committees In
this way we have seen and now see New
England very powerful in the making Of
tariff laws. Having enormous manufac-
turing interests, New England contrives
to send to congress men we'll trained for
that work and to keep them there long
enough to attain commanding position
Tho state of Maine is n good example OF
this. Maine had more to do with the Mo
kinlcy bill than Mr.. Mckinley himself.
taking house and senate together 1t matl,,
tho Dingley bill, or had more influence
upon 1t than any other state Today tho
leading men on the tariff making COM
mittees are New nglandcrs-Dinglcy of
Maine in the house and Aldrich of Rhode
Island in the senate.
The East Versus the West.
AT the present time we arc having quito
battle between the cast and the west
The western senators have combined to
push upward the rates Of duty on WOOL
Z lumber, lead ores, fruits and other articles,
and to secure if possible duty on hides
Now England, from her manufacturing in :
tercsts, wants these goods as cheaply as
possible 1t is cheaper raw materials
which will enable her to compete in mid
die state, western and Canadian markets,
that she wants. Thus the west and Now
England are in % clash. The Republicans
cannot pass their tariff bill without all the
Republican votes, and therefore the temp
tation is strong to "hold up" the bill by
| threats to vote against it unless certain
! demands BIO complied with
Tho western senators have served notice
that they will consent to no reduction OF
the woollen duties. If any changes ara
made, they want an increase The New
: IcitShtiiticiS sCiNO HOliCC lnuU IL INC WOOL
. rates arc put higher they must have a
/ higher rate on woollcn goods. Tho west
has demanded duty on hides, too, but
New England opposes it and issues warn
ing that if any tax is put on hides she must
have compensation in higher duties upon
all the products of leather.
If the senate acccdcs to these various de.
inands, tho average rates of duty in the
Dingley bill will DO pushed out of sight
In the opinion of many Republicans they
arc high enough now. Toput them higher
would only invite popular condemnation
when the prices Of clothing and other ne.
ccssitics are put up mt the stores. Ono of
the most prominent members of tho senate
committee on finance said to me today
that he wished with all his heart it was
possible to make thoroughly scientific
thrift bill. "Thero arc men who know
enough of the conditions Of tratlca man.
pfacturing," he said, 'to be able to metc
out exact Justice to all. If we could go
ahead and do just what we know to be
right, Il law could be framed that would
raise revenue enough for the needs of the
government and that without laying any
heavy burdens upon any one or any inter
est. But they will not leave us alone They
are after us from morning till night. They
never give us Is moments peace. We are
threatened with loss of votes. We arc told
that unless wo do certain things wc can
never pass our bill. Other senators are in
tercsted by their constituents, and they
como around. First they coax, then they
threaten. Rival interests line upand make
life miserable for us.
Tho South Wants Protection.
There has been Il great deal of comment
here because southern senator's and repre-
scntativcs are taking an Unprecedented in
tcrcst in the tariff. They are demanding
protection for southern industries AL
most every day they are before the finance
committee proposing this or that amend
mert which has been asked for by some OF