Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-03-19
The Dingley Tariff.
what is said of the New Measure, Pro
and Con.

and Con.
Opinions of the Dingley tariff bill vary
as widely as the points of view from which
they are expressed, just as might be ex-
pected. The New York importers are OPP
posed to it, largely on account of the in
crease of duties on wool and woolens Isl
dore Slraus of that city, member of the
firm of r. H. Macy Il Co., and a Demo
cratic eX-congressman, says that the wooden
schedule will advance the cost of the poor
mans clothing % to 30 per cent. He
thinks such proposal is breach of faith
toward himself and other gold Democrats
who voted with the Republicans against
free silver
Other sound money Democrats feel ag-
grieved because they believed that the new
tariff bill would be moderate protective
measure that would enable them to con-
tinue to fight with the Republicans against
the free silver heresy.
Even so good a Republican as Mayor
Strong of New York objects vigorously to
the bill because it makes the schedules too
high, particularly on wool and woolens.
Major Strong recalls that the Republican
party met defeat in 1892 and the Mckinley
tariff discussion, and he fears similar de-
feat in 1900 if there is return to similar
high tariff conditions. VIM. L. Wilson,
the Trainer of the present law, condemns
the bill in toto, as a matter of course.
Col. Albert Clarke of Boston, secretary
of the Home Market club, and one of the
most accomplished students of tariff ques-
ttons in the country, on the other hand
regards the Dngley bill as the best, fairest
and most skilfully drawn measure of its
kind which has ever been put together
But the Burlington News, a Republican
paper, says the lumber schedule of the bill,
If enacted as it stands. will absolutely de-
stroy the Burlington lumber industry, and
will yield no revenue to the government,
and benefit nobody in doing it. This be-
cause the duty of 81 a thousand on Cana
dian lumber, with retaliatory duty of -
per cent advalorem in case Canada imposes
an export duty on rough lumber, is simply
prohibitory.
1t is evident that we have need to wait
to see what discussion of the bill on its
way through Congress, and especially in
the Senate, brings forth. 1t is understood
that the bill is slated to 90 through the
House in about two weeks time and with
out amendment in any material form.
What will happen in the Senate is another
question. one Of the most watchful and
experienced of the Washington correspond
ents says:
THAT the bill will be materially amend
ed in the Senate there is every reason to
believe. II seems certain that when it
reaches that body the wool schedule will
Ice vigorously assaied in the finance COM
mittee, and that a number of important
notifications in the interests of the manu-
facturers will be made and offered on the
floor OF the Senate as committee amend
ments. Leaders on both sides OF the Sen
ate intimate that there is probability of
protracted debate, which will be freely par
ticipated in by Republicans, Democrats and
POpulists. The announcement by Senator
Pettigrew, that he proposes to offer an
amendment directed against trusts, gives
promise Of long debate upon the question
of the influence of combinations of capital
upon production and prices. The sugar
schedule is certain to be vigorously at |
tackled, and the duties fixed upon lumber |
will also be assailed by the Western sena-
tors. II will be recalled that the act of |
1890 to which Major Mckinley gave his |
name was very extensively amended in the |
Senate, the amendments, with scarcely an |
exception, being in the nature of a reduc- |
ton from the duties fixed by the House. |
Many of the Republican eenators do not |
hesitate privately to express their opinion /.
that radical notifications of the present /
bill will be essential to secure favorable ac- /
ton by the Senate, and look for large .
of amendments to be reported .
from the finance committee, and which /.
will be extensively increased during debate,
when amendments will be in order on the /.
floor"