The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-05
MEANS COMMERCIAL WAR.
Bou. Alexander NJ. Dockery's Opin.
ion of the Dingley Tariff.

Hoa. Alexander NJ. Dockery has given
hisviev Of the Dingley tariff bill
The Dingley tariff bill, he says, is
without precedent in the history of pro-
tective legislation. 1t is a most extreme
| illustration OF the pernicious principles OF
paternalism. The protective Industries ofthe
country have secured this in It's various
schedules to an extent that surpasses even
thehgh rates ofthe McKinleylaw. Indeed,
it is alleged that most of the important
schedules We're, in fact, dictated by the
interests subserved. 1t is also claimed that
the committee, at the outset of the prepare
tlon or the bill, sought 20 makeita moderate
protective measure, but the manufacturers
who contributed to the campaign fund of
the republican party in the last election
insisted upon the pound of flesh, and the
result is a tariff bill carrying higher rates
than any prior bill in our history. The
average rate OF taxation under the Nc
kinley law was about so per cent; the
average rate under the Wilson law, less
than 40 per cent, while the average rate
OF taxation under the Dingley bill exceeds
o. per cent, and imposes $1l3000,000 Of
additional taxation upon the people.
1t cannot be claimed this extraordinary
additional income is necessary TO balance
receipts and expenditures, because the de-
ficiency in current revenues during the last
fiscal year was but about $4,000, 900,
and during the last three years has aver
aged about $40, 00O, 900. If, therefore,
the Republican party sought to make good
the deficiency in current income, it was
only necessary to moderately increase the
rates OF taxation TO secure this additional
revenue. The Committee on Ways and
Means, however. have exceeded the legiti-
mate demands of the Treasury, and inn
posed the amount have just stated. One
claim made by the committee TO justify
this extraordinary increase of taxation is
the alleged necessity OF increasing the
gold reserve from $I0O, 200 900 to $780,
100000
/ am unable to make critical analysis
OF the schedules of the bill The unprece-
denied manner of its preparation, consid-
Grafton and passage precludes the posiibil-
ity of close scrutiny The debate, however,
developed the fact that the schedules of
the measure were framed more with a view
OF protection than with a view of secur-
ing the necessary addition TO I he revenue to
III seems To nave
been framed on the theory OF adjusting
the outstanding campaign obligations of the
Republican party tits obviouslya measure
which, in its effects, will encourage and
foster trusts and monopolies, and the coun-
try Will not fail IT, note the fact that the
Republican House sought by parliamentary
quibbles and technicalities to prevent the
consideration OF all measures looking To
proper Limitations upon the power o. trusts.
Every proposed effort to admit, free of
duty, articles manufactured and controlled
by trusts in this country was confronted
with points OF order, which, without excep-
ton, were sustain ed by partisan rulings Of
the chair IVA defiance OF the weiestablish-
ed rules OF the House. The united Repub-
lican vote was finally cast against mo-
ton TO recommit the bill, with di rections 10 J
report provision that would have effect |
ually eliminated trusts from our industrial |
system, in.so far as they are the result or |
protective legislation.
The Diugiey bill means Commercial war, |
and 1t remains TO be seen whether the |
United States can accomplish the impos- |
sible feat of selling to every nation Of the |
world, while refusing to buy from any