The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-06-02
The Tariff in the Senate.

The tariff bill is up in the Senate
aud is sweeping forward to its pas.
sage on a full tide of debate. Sen.
ator Aldrich, who has the measure in
charge, opened the discussion with an
elaborate explanation of the measure
and the amendments to the House
bill recommended by the Committee
on Finance. 1t was listened to by
the Senate with profound attention,
aud will be read by those who did not
hear it with deep interest. 1t is un.
necessary to discuss here the details
of the pending measure. 1t is sufIi.
clent to say that when the bill finally
reaches President Mckinley it will
be measure be can approve of and
which will satisfy a majority of the
people of the United States, for it
will be a measure constructed and
enacted in their interest, and not in
the interest of foreign manufacturers
and producers. Its effect upon
American industries will be revivify.
ing. The vote of 20 yeas, "a nays
on an attempt to lower rates shows
the temper of the Senate. The bill
will pass.
Already prosperity, as has been
demonstrated in these columns, is ad-
vancing at steady pace. but once
the tariff bill becomes law and its
operation begins to be felt, prosperity
will become so general and pro.
nounced that even the most confirm.
ed and vociferous calamity bowler
will be silenced.
The decision of the Republicans to
settle their differences as to particu.
lar schedules, duties and other fea.
lures Of the bill outside of the Sen.
ate is wise. 1t will enable them to
present solid front to the common
enemy Each of the amendments
proposed and every paragraph which
provokes differences of opinion
among the Republicans will be SUBJ
mitted to managing committee com.
posed of the Republican mem bers of
the Finance Committee and three
other Republican Senators. From
this committee there is to be right
of appeal to a caucus of ali the Re.
publican Senators who have agreed to
support the action of the co m mmittee,
or, in the case of an appeal, the de.
cision of the caucus Thus it will be
difficult to form combinations with
the opponents Of any protective leg.
islation either for or against any fea.
ture of the bill as it stands or amend.
ment thereto. Another very valua.
BILE point of this agreement among
the Republican Senators is that it
will tend powerfully to shorten de.
bate and to hasten the final vote in
the Senate. Remarkable progress
was made yesterday, aud there is no
reason to look for delay.
The first days consideration of the
measure confirms the view heretofore
expressed by the Inquirer that the de-
bate will not be along the lines of the
general theories of protection and
free trade, but will be directed to
particular features, schedules and du.
ties. This was shown no less in Sen.
ator Vests remarks than 10 the ex.
planation of Senator Aldrich. The
fact is that the Democrats are divided
on the general question of protection
vs. free trade Not all of them &C.
cept British free trade not all Of
them reject American protection
Yesterday two voted out.and out for
the Republican rate, as did two Pop.
ulists, Que Silver Republican, while
two Silver Republicans did pot vote
at all.
That the Democrats are sadly di.
vided is shown by the fact that in the
/ House five Southern Democrats voted
for the Tariff bill as reported by Mr.
Dingley. Besides this, five Southern
Democratic Senators are avowed pro,
tectionsts to the extent at least O.
, protecting the products of their OWL
States. A short step forward from
this position weuld land them in the
Republican camp. These are facts
that restrain the ardor of the advo
} Gates of British free trade in the Sen
ate.
The stock market has begun to re
spond to the improved conditions
and, altogether, the outlook is bettel