The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-07-30
OUR TARIFF HISTORY.
NO PRESIDENT SO PROMPT AS
M'KINlEY.
His Tariff Law Will Be On the Statute
Books Earlier than That of Any
President Since Washington-Facts
Which Should Silence Croakers.
Good Progress Made.
Special Washington correspondence:

| Special Washington correspondence:
People who are complaining of what
| they assume to be the slow progress of the
tariff bill will probably be surprised to
know that no administration since that
| of Washington ever placed upon the stat
ute books a tariff measure within as brief
| a period of its Inauguration as will that
of President Mckinley. There is every
reason to suppose that the tariff bill will
go upon the statute books before the end
of July, probably much sooner than that.
If this shall happen, President Mckinley
will have an opportunity to attach his
signature to a general tariff measure ear
lier in the history of his administration
than has any President since George
Washington signed the first tariff act on
July 4, 1889.
This remarkable record which is likely
to be made with reference to the present
tariff bill is made more remarkable Dy
two facts: First, that every years devel-
opment of our commerce and manufac-
lures adds to the complications and diff
culties IN framing a tariff measure, and
second, the fact that the party in control
of the administration controls only one
branch of Congress. 1t has seldom hap
pened in the history of the country that
general tariff measure has been placed
upon the statute books when Congress
and the administration were not controll-
ed in all their branches by a single party.
and that it should be possible to pass
tariff measure so Immediately following
such hoty contested campaign as that
of six months ago with one branch of
Congress controlled by those who were
pitted against the Republican party in
that contest, is the more remarkable. In
deed, study of the history of the tariff
legislation in the United States would
not have warranted a year ago the pre-
dlction that protective tariff Hill could
have passed a Congress which was not
controlled in both its branches by the Re
publican party.
1t may be of interest. both by way of
presentation of some tariff history and
also of satisfying those who are inclined
to crltcise what they assume to be the
slow progress of the work upon the tariff
Dill. to run briefly over the history of the
tariff legislation of the country from the
beginning down as connected with the
various administrations.
The first tariff act placed upon the stat
ute books was signed by George Wash
ington, July 4, 17S9 Not only was it
the first tariff act under the constitution,
but the first protective tariff measure, in
dicating in its preamble that sit is neces-
sary for the support of government, for
the discharge of the debts of the United
States end the encouragement and pro-
lection of manufactures that duties be
laid on goods. wares. merchandise import
ed, etc. The consideration of this act
occupied but about two months time. as
Washington was not inaugurated until
April 80, and the work upon the tariff
bill did not begin. of course. until after
that time. This tariff act was of course
very brief, the space occupied being prob
ably less than one-twentieth of the bin
now under consideration. Several other
tariff measures were adopted during
Washington's administration, most of
them being an increase upon the rates
named by the first measure.
John Adams. who became President
March'4. 1897. did not sign the tariff bill
enacted under his administration, which
increased the rates of duty on sugar. mo-
lasses, wines. etc. until May ID, 1900.
over three years after his Inauguration.
Jefferson. who was inaugurated March
4, ISOl, did not attach his signature tn
general tariff bill until March &c. 1904.
the bill passed at that time having for its
OBJECT an increa Sc in the revenues to SUD-
ply FUNDS for the war with the Barbary
powers. This act increased the ad va
lorem rates, and on the following day.
similar act increasing the specific rates
was signed, both of them being more than
three years after Jefferson's Inaugural
ton.
Madison was inaugurated March 4.
loO9. and the first important tariff. +.
increase duties 100 per cent on account of
the war with Great Britain. was signed
July L, Iol2. more than three years after
his inauguration. He also signed a gen.
eral tariff act April q. 1916. three years
after his second Inauguration.
Monroe was inaugurated March 4. 1917.
and signed his first and only general tariff
act May %, 1924. more than seven years
after his first Inauguration.
John Quincy Adams was inaupurated
March 4. 1925. and signed a general tariff
act May 10. 1928. more than three years
after his inauguration.
Jackson was inaugurated March q.
1873. and signed his first general tariff
act July IA. 1882, more than three years
after his inauguration. while the CLAW
compromise reduction act was signed
March 2. 1888.
van Buren's presidential term. which
began March A. 1887. was not marked
oy the enactment of any important tariff
legislation.
William Henry Harrison. who was in
augurated March 4, 1871. issued ON
March II a call for a special session of
Congress to begin May 81. indicating nv
the proclamation that the subjects to he
considered were the financial difficulties of
the Government The tariff act finally
passed by the Congress which that proc.
lamation called into special session did not
become law until August 80, 1912. or
hfteen months after the date named for
the beginning of the special session.
Folks term of service began March 4
lS45, and the Walker tariff" which was
the special tariff feature of his term did
not become law until July 80. 1916. sir
teen months after his inauguration as
President
The Taylor administration, which began
March 8, 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 dnr-
ing the first two years of the term and
both branches of Congress in the sooo,d
half of the term