The times., 1897-03-17
A Destructive Tariff.

Just in the proportion that the Dingley
tariff bills joyf ully acceptable To the trusts,
monopolies and other leading Republican
influences, it is obnoxious To the ideas and
United States If the sole purpose OF the
measure had been TO antagonize every Dem
ocratic belief and practicein connection with
proper fiscal legislation, the work could
not have been done more thoroughly. nor
with more brutal frankness in disclosing
contemptuous indifference TO the faith,
views and duty of political opposition
which, nevertheless, holds the fate OF the
bill in the hollow Of its hand
The protective tariff scheme as presented
in Congress on Monday fairly reeks with the
odor OF trust and monopoly jobhcry. 1t is
a bill of the trusts, by and for the benefit of
the trusts. 1t is not one for revenue. and
if ever it should become law, would not be
found to produce revenue. Among hun
dred ugly features, IL contains several of
Specldl import TO Democrats
1t wipes out free wool. a thing that the
Democratic party fought for daily and in
eessantly through long years of discourage
ment and finally won, to the solid salts
faction Of the country outside OF few
local interests and manufacturers. Free
wool 5 in the interests OF this nation, even
if regarded from protective standpoint,
because we do not, and SO far have been
unable to, produce the equivalent of the
imported article, or anything like it. 1t
could not, therefore. in jure American wool
growers. Under protective tariffs imported
facture, enhance prices to the consumer,
and nothing else. 1t is vicious and intoler-
able legislation
II may be more SO ia degree, but not in
character, than the twin proposition to
levy duty on imported lumber The highest
considerations of national economy and the
welfare of posterity demand the conserya-
ton OF our fast disappearing forests The
once great pine region of the Northwest
is nearly a thing of the past As long
as we can supply the necessities of markets
formerly depending upon that area from
the vast timber regions Of Canada,
the standing timber of our own country
will be conserved to that extent But
the Dingley bin would soon drive the
Northern and Northwestern lumber indus
try southwark to eat up the only great
forest resources of the States east OF tile
Rocky Mountains. In time, Canada might
thank Us for this, but we are not sup
posed to be iegislating in the interest of
tie Dominion, and, meantime, the destruc-
can timber is known to be at least 80
per cent greater in any given year than the
possible increment of growth in the same
time. The protective feature of the
wood schedule, as to lumber, makes it
robber tariff in more senses than one
The Maritime Exchange. OF Philadelphia.
In memorial to the Congress, has demon
str;ited clearly that the proposed discrim- |
mating duty on goods imported in other |
than American bottoms must result in |
commerce from our Atlantic sea- |
ports to the harbors Of Nova Scotia and |
Canada. Our shipping and commercial |
classes thereby would be parafyzed, but |
belonging to important Republs- |
can Inagnates would have the benefit OF |
an enormous carrying trade by rail from |,
ports to points in the United
States
All and singular the bin is bad and
Vicious, and We are unable to see how