Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-21
BRIEF RECORD OF ALL THE BILLS
CONGRESS HAS PASSED.
FIRST WAS SIGNED JULY 1873
RECORD WILL BE BROKEN BY THE
ONE NOW PENDING.
VIII Become "A Law Sooner After In
nuguration Than Has Any Previ-
Gus One Since the First
Difficulty of Passing
Tariff Bills.

Washington. June 20.-(SpeciaL) People
who are complaining of what they assume
TO be the slow progress of the tariff bill
will probably be surprised 10 know that no
administration since that of Washington
ever placed upon the statute books a tariff
measure within as brief a period of its in
auguration as viii that of President Nc
Kinley. 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 hap
pen. President Mckinley will have an op-
portunity to attach his signature to gen.
eraI tariff measure earlier in the history
of his administration than has any presi-
dent since George Washington signed the
first tariff act on July 4, 1883.
This remarkable record, which is like
" to be made with reference to the present
tariff bill, is made more remarkable by two
facts: First, that every years develop
ment of our commerce and manufactures
adds to the complications and difficulties in
framing a tariff measure, and second, the
fact that the party in control of the ad-
ministration controls only one branch OF
congress. II has seldom happened in the
history of the country that general tariff
measure has been placed upon the statute
books when congress and the administra-
branches by a single party, and that it
should be possible to pass a tariff measure
so Immediately following such hotly con-
tested campaign as that of six months ago,
with one branch of congress controlled by
those who were pitted against the Repub-
lican party in that contest, Is the more
remarkable Indeed, a study of the history
of the tariff legislation in the United States
would not have warranted, year ago, the
prediction that a protective tariff bill could
have passed a congress which was not con-
trolled 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
criticise what they assume to be the slow
progress Of the work upon the tariff bill,
10 run briefly over the history of the tar
if legislation OF the country from the be-
ginning down, as connected with the va
rious administrations.
The first tariff act placed upon the statute
books was signed by George Washington,
July 4. 1859. Not only was it the first tariff
act under the constitution, but the first
protective tariff measure. indicating In its
pre-. mble that lit is necessary for the sup
port of government, for the discharge OF
the debts of the United States and the en-
couragement and protection OF manu-
factures that duties be laid on goods wares,
merchandise imported = etc. The consider,
alton of this act occupied but two months.
time as Washington was not inaugurated
until April So and the work upon the tar1n
bill did not begin, of course until after that
time. This tariff act was, of course, very
brief the space occupied being probably
less than one-twentieth the bill now under
consideration. Several other tariff meas
ures We're adopted during Washington ad-
ministration, most of them being an in
crease upon the rates named by the hrst
measure.
March 4. 1871. did not sign the tariff bill
enacted under his administration. which
increased the rates of duty on sugar, mo-
lasses. wines, etc. until May l3, 1900, over
three years after his Inauguration.
jefferson, who was inaugurated March 4,
1901. did not 9ttach his signature to gen
eral tariff measure until March 26, 1904
the bill passed at that time having for its
object an increase in the revenues to sup
ply funds for the war with the Barbary
powers. This act increased the ad ValOrem
rates. and on the following day a similar
act increasing the specific rates was signed,
both of them being more than three years
after JeffersOn's inauguration.
Madison was fnaugurated March 4, 1909.
and the first important tariff, to Increase
duties 100 per cent on account of the war
with Great Britain, was signed July l, 1872,
more than three years after his Inaugural
tion. He also signed a general tariff act
April o. 1916, three years after his second
Inauguration.
Monroe was inaugurated March 4. 1917.
and signed his first and only general 'ariff
act May % 1924, more than seven years
after his first Inauguration.
John Quincy Adams was inaugurated
March 1, 1926, and signed a general tariff
act May l9, lS2S more than three years aft
er his inauguration.
Jackson was inaugurated March 4, 1920.
and signed his first general tariff act July
IA, 1892 more than three years after his
inauguration, while the Clay compromise
reduction act was signed March ., 1888.
Van Buren's presidential term, which be-
gan March 4, 1871, was not marked by the
enactment of any important tariff legisla-
tiOn.
William Henry Harrison. who was inau-
gurated March 4, 1S4l, issued on March II
n call for a special session of congress TO
tion that the subjects to be conside cred
were the financial difficulties of the gov
ernment. The tariff act finally passed by
the congress which that proclamation
called into special session did not become
a law until August 80. .1S42, or fifteen months
after the date named for the beginning of
the special session.
POlk's term of service began March 4
1S45, and the walker Tariff" which was
the special tariff feature Of his term. did
not become law until July 30 lS46-si yteen
months after his Inauguration as president.
The Taylor administration, which began
March >, lA9, did not witness the enact
owing to the fact that the Democrats con-
trolled the house of representatives. during
the first two years of the term and both
branches Of congress in the second half
y.
1888. signed, on March g. 1857, the last day
of his term as president, the only general
tariff measure enacted during his four
years in the White House.
buchanan, during his four years, which
began March 4, 1857, signed no general
tariff legislation until March 2, 1851, two
days before the close of HIS term This
act, signed two days before his retirement
was the morrill, tariff act, a thoroughly
protective measure, whose passage was
made possible at that time because of The
fact that large number of the Southern
Democratic members of the Thirty-sixth
congress had Withdrawn, leaving congress
in the control Of the Republican party,
which thus placed tariff act upon the |
statute books two days before the inaugu-
President Lincoln. who was tnaugurated
March (. 1851, signed his first general tariff |
act on August Of that year and this was
followed by the passage in July. 1862, and |
June 3, 1854 OF other tariff measures TO |
" ElCh his signature was attached.
Grant. who became president March 4
1869 signed. on July A. 1870. his first gem
aral act relating to revenues, by which the
internal revenue taxes were reduced, this
being followed by another reduction on |
June 6. 1s72- |
President Hayes, who was inaugurated |
March 4, 1872, signed no general tariff leg
s!ation. the house being Democratic in the |
first congress under his administration and |
both branches Democratic in the latter |
half of his term.
The Garfeld-Arthur administration |
which began March 4. 1881. did not witness |
the enactment of any general tariff lepfs-
lation until March 8. 1883, two full years |
after the inauguration.
Clevelands first term was not marked by |
the completion of any general tarif Iegis- |
Iation. the Mills bill, which passed the |
house in 1855. failing in the SEN |
ate. which was so colsely divided polite |