The San Francisco call., 1897-04-15
TARIFF REVISION.

According to all reports from Washing
ton, there Is little prospect for speedy
action on the tariff bill in the Senate. 1t
seems that the measure as it came from
the House will be materially altered in
committee before it is reported to the Sem
ate. and there is likely to be considerable
difficulty in arranging the rates of duties
SO as to secure safe majority for it when
the vote is taken.
Demands for a change in the bill as it
came from the House are made by oppos-
ing forces. On one side there is desire
to reduce the rates levied on raw mate
rials, and on the other desire to increase
them. The East insists that there shall
be no duty on imported hides, while q
number OF Western Senators representing
States where the cattle industry is largo
ask for duty on hides sufficient to mate
rally increase the price which the Ameri-
can cat,le-raiser will obtain for the product.
There is also a strong demand in the
East for reduction of duties on citrus
fruits. raisins and other products OF the
kind. This desire will OF course be op-
posed by men from the States which grow
such fruits. The situation, therefore, is
full OF uncertainty, and it behooves the
people of California to be watchful of the
Dill In order that their interests may be
thoroughly protected.
The evenly divided condition of parties
In the Senate adds to the uncertainty of
the COMPROMISE which will have to be ar
ranged In order to bring about the passage
OF the bill. The majority for it is not ex-
pect-d 20 exceed two or three. This will
enable few men to hold the balance of
power when vote is taken, and il would
see m that those who are least regardful of
the importance of prom pit action and most
| resolute to have their own way will be in
position to almost dictate the rates of
duties on the articles in which they are
interested.
The outlook in fact differs very little
from that which confronted the Wilson
bill when it was sent to the Senate by the
Democratic majority in the House.
Fortunately for the country. the Repub-
lican leaders are men Of different charac-
ter from those who had charge of the
Democratic measure. They have been
accustomed to the administration of
business, while the Democrats had been
all their lives in opposition. The Repub-
leans therefore. may be expected to act
together with harmony and vigor instead
of wrangling and disputing with one
another as the Democrats did when con-
fronted with similar difficulties.
1t is upon the wisdom of the Republican
leaders and upon the tact OF the admins.
tration the people must rely at this
iuncture, and fortunately that reliance
can be made with confidence. The Dingley
bill as it came from the House is fairly
satisfactory to the country, and if COM
mercial and industrial bodies representing
the people and the interests of the various
sections of the Union vigorously urge its
adoption by the Senate, substantially in
the form In which it was adopted by the
House, the Senators may be induced to
abandon any attempt to materially alter
1t, and by enacting it at once. put an end
TO the uncertainty which now prevails
and prepare the way for speedy resump-
tlon OF com me-ce and industry.