The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-15
Q Che Senate by b. Ing postponed 10 ths next

When the 18th Congress met President
Monroe recommended, rs he had to the pre-
ceding Congress, review Of the tariff for the
purpose of making it more protective. The
revision and modification which followed was
the most important work of the session, and
the discussion on the subject occupied more
than two months in the House. and is one of
the most important in the history of the sub
Jeet. 1t passed the House April 1G. 1924. by a
small majority, 107 votes being in the affirma-
tive to 102 in the negative.
The Senate made some changes. but the diff
ierences were finally settled in the Conferences
| Committee and on the final passage of the bill
| tue senate adopted 1t by q vote of % to
~ In this measure we see important adj.
vances over any duties fixed by previous tariff
| bills. The duty on cotton cloth was fixed at
333 per cent. on wooden goods at 80 and 33I per
cent, and on iron manufactures at from 3 to
| cents pound. As before Mr.. Clay aud Mr.
| Webster were ON opposite sides of the ques-
ton, the former being its chief ad vocate, and
the latter its chief opponent. While New
England had already become an important
manufacturing region, these interests were still
not the controlling one, and the people of
this section were therefore divided on the
question, with large majority against the
measure, believing that il would be injurious
to navigation.
The measure was passed practically by a
combination between Pennsylvania and the
Western States, with the assistance of Rhode
Island and Connecticut, which were distinct
lively manufacturing communities: the South
was almost solidly against the bill, while the
grain-growing States were in favor of it, be-
lieving that it would indirectly benefit agri
culture.
The tariff was brought forward az a politi.
cal issue in Gen. Jacksons campaign for the
Presidency in 1928. He had been a member
of the Senate when the bill of 1924 was passed,
and supported it, and the public therefore
counted him among the advocates of high pro-
tective tariff. There were indications, how
ever, that those sections of the country which
favored free trade would almost unanimously
support him, and this naturally gave rise to
doubts in the minds of his Northern friends as
to what his tariff policy would be in case he
was elected.
In January, 1928. therefore, the State Senate |
OF Indiana politely requested him by . resolu-
ton to state explicitly his views on the oues-
ton Of the constitutionality Of protective
tariff. Jackson responded that he was in favor
OF careful and judicious tariff to pay
our National debt, to afford means of
defense and to give proper distribution to
our labor. The letter which Jackson wrote,
and which was quite lengthy, was complete
and explicit enough to satisfy the protection
lists, and the woollen manufacturers who had
not been satisfied with tho tariff of 1924 were
They believed that he would favor
q bill to revive this industry, which had not
as had the cotton mills, under the
existing law.
An effort had been made in 1927 to pass what
was called "The Woollens Bill" and it went
through the House Feb. 10 of that year by vote
Of 100 to 90, but it reached the Senate too late
for action that session, and was laid on the
table BY the casting vote Of Vice. President
Calhoun. The people wero very much exas-
perated at this failure. and Convention was
called to meet at Harrisburg, Pa, to consider
The question and memorabilia Congress
The result of the agitation was manifest, and
when Congress met in December, 1927, the :
subject of tariff revision was taken ND, and
after an all-day debate resolution was adopted
4
nittee on Manufactures to ascertain and re.
port such facts as would be useful to the House.
The report was made month later, and with
{ bill to revise the several acts imposing ,
luties on imports. The debate on the bill began
March 8 and ended April %. This bill proposed
o increase duties on iron and steel, and on I'M
wool the duty was fixed at 2
ents pound. with an additional duty of 40
'er cent. ad val0rem, to be increased at the (
ate of per cent per annum until it amounted
o so per cent. There was compensatory duty
IN manufactured wooIlens
The Annals Of the discussion show repeti. !
ion Of former arguments as to the constitution
lily and general effects Of the protective sys.
EN-. The sections were arrayed against each !
Their in much the same manner as in 1924, the
outh being especially antagonistic to protec- J
ion. The bill was passed by the House April
5 by vote of 100 to 81. The bill was de. {
ated in the Senate for three weeks, Mr.. Web Il
ter now taking the affirmative and declaring :
hat New England was for protection. The
outhern Senators declared that the tariff was A
o advantage to them-that their wealth was o
rather than increasing. !,
The bill finally passed the Senate by vote =
26 to 81, and in due time it was signed by II
lie President One result of the struggle over y
le tariff at this period was the famous attempt
notification on the Fart of South Carolina -
! 1882 under the leadership of John c. Cal. =.
GUN. The subject was constantly up before
'ery Congress and divided the attention of 81
lie Nation with the questions connected with s;
e banking and currency system In 1888 &C
II was passed for the gradual reduction of the &c
riff, which resulted also in the gradual clos m
g up of factories and shops and the with
avail of capital from investment in industrial p
terprises. Imports increased and revenues ~
II of, and imitation of prices and expansion an
currency proceeded. The result was the
'ancal panic of 1887, which Frustrated the Y.
lole country, from the General Government ce
wn to the common laborer. The revenue of n,
9 Government was reduced to such an extent o.
at loans had to be called for both at home du
d abroad. Under the PROSTATE condition of
ings the ad valorem duties had fallen to L.
out 90 per cent, and ruin ruled rampant ex- 10
pit among foreign manufacturers, who found ~
Q American market thrown open practically So
10 for their benefit. ics
When Congress met in December, Is41, it VIZ
. generally admitted that something must a. a.
done to increase the revenues of the country. on
fa revisiSie of the tariff was begun. The CHI