The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-28
THE TARIFF QUESTION AND
POLITICS.

S. B. Archer secretary and treasurer of
an organization called the Tariff Commits
sion League, has opened an office in Chi
cago for the purpose Of interesting the
manufacturers of that city in the move
ment and promoting it in other Western
cities. 1t has already been worked up to
some extent in the East and several thou
sand manufacturing firms have been en-
rolled members. The object is to secure
the permanent removal of the tariff ques-
ton from politics and it's treatment as
purely business and commercial question,
as it should be. The Journal has often adj
vocated such disposition of the question.
but the conditions have never seemed IA
vorable for bringing it about and Con-
gress has never approached the matter in
fair and patriotic spirit. 1t is doubtful
If it can be induced to do so now At pres
emf the tariff question is practically out of
politics by reason of the enactment Of the
Dingley law, and for a few years at least
public sentiment in opposition to a change
of policy will be strong enough to prevent
any attempt to repeal the law. But the
embers of free trade will smolder and
when a new era of discomfort shall roll
the free-trade fire will break out again.
Then the people will regret that the tariff
question had not been permanently re-
moved from politics. Each successive
change in the economic policy of the gov
eminent is more disastrous than the pre-
ceding one because the business and com
mercial interests of the country are con-
stantly increasing in magnitude and COM
plexity, and the effects of such changes
are more widely felt. The feeling among
business men is very strong in favor of
removing the tariff question from politics
and placing it on basis that would in
sure steady adherence to d fixed policy.
During the years that the Dingley law
will be in force that feeling will grow to
such an extent that the business interests
of the country would protest very strong
ly against any attempt to repeal the law.
In order to forestall such an attempt it
might be wise to take advantage of the
present feeling in favor of permanence by
removing the tariff question from politics
and placing it on a business basis. The
best way to accomplish this would be by
the appointment of a tariff commission,
the members of which, carefully selected
for fitness, should hold Office long enough
to insure steady adherence to a fixed policy
for a long term of years. A bill for this
purpose was introduced at the last session
of Congress and is still pending. There was
a strong feeling in favor of Incorporating
the measure in the Dingey bill, and no less
than five different amendments for this
purpose were presented to the Senate
finance committee. The committee approved
of the principle, but declined to incorporate
it in the Dingley bill for fear of delaying
or endangering it's passage. 1t is said that
President Mckinley favors the proposition
and may recommend it in his next annual
message to Congress. An assurance that
there would never be another general tear
ing up and revision of the tariff by Con-
gress would be worth untold millions to the
country.