, 1900-04-12
THOSE RECIPROCITY TREATIES
Absurdity of Creating n Tarin by Law
Only to smash by Means of Treaties.

Only to Smash by Means of Treaties.
We are not at all surprised to hear
that Germany finds fault with our
Italian treaty, nor shall we Wonder IL
Italy finds fault with the French treaty
and SO on throughout the list. No other
result was to have been expected from
such a system. To construct a tariff
adapted to the country's interests and
needs-a tariff which treats all foreign
nations on a basis of absolute equality,
and which can be understood and reck-
oned with by our producers inc ex-
porters on a basis OF simplicity and ac-
~curacy-and then to set about h
amendment and modification of b a
tariff in a dozen different and bewil-
dering directions strikes us as the most
notable modern instance Of the OPEN
ing of Pandora's box. 1t introduces
into our financial equation the factor
of a mischievous confusion. 1t lays
us open to the charge of favoritism
and discrimination. 1t sets in motion
the machinery of IN interminable and
pestiferous complication, at home and
abroad. 1t can give satisfaction, con-
tent and security nowhere.
The very idea of setting up a tariff
law only to honeycomb and dismantle
and emasculate 1t afterwards through
the medium of a swarm of special trea-
ties strikes us as Objectionable in the
last degree. If the tariff is imperfect,
~unsuited to our necessities and poll
cies, why not modify it in congress?
Why amend this schedule to satisfy
Germany, and hat schedule to placate
France, and so on to the end of the
catalogue, and conclude by satisfying
no one, not even ourselves? Section Z
of Article l of the Constitution Of the
United States provides that all bills
for raising revenue shall originate in
the house of representatives" 1t
goes on to say, however, but the SEN
ate may propose OIL oncur with
amendments as In other bills" Section
2, article IL, provides hat the presi-
dent shall have the power, by and
with the advice and consent Of the
senate, to make treaties. The ques-
ton. then, is whether we can, by call
ing these tariff arrangements with for
eign countries treaties" use article 2
of the constitution to nullify article 1
of the same instrument. Apparently
the arrangements under discussion did
not originate in the house of repre-
sentatives." Apparently their purpose
is to raise revenue" Thus we have,
under the operation of the reciprocity
clause of the Dingley act, a set Of laws
which refer solely to the raising of
revenue, but which have not originated
In the hOuse of re~nresentatiyps nor
been submitted to that body's 1udg-
ment and authority.
It is no part of our purpose, how
ever, to make free with the constitu-
ton. We recognize the monopoly of
the members from Podunk, Wayback
and Postum Fork in hat respect. But
it seems to us a very grotesque, not
to say ridiculous, situation, which puts
the house of representatives in the pre-
dicament of formulating a tariff which
somebody else can tear into tatters and
which subjects American producers
and exporters to the bewildsrinE IN
certainties of laws that reducs the
chameleon to a dull, neutral and I'M
changeable complexion.
In our opinion it would be well Tor
the senate to reject the whole lot Of
these absurd treaties" and for con-
gress to abolish the High Thingabob
Plenipotentiary Nonsense under which
they have been bred. We have a con-
gress to make tariffs for us, and for
eign nations should be left to approve
them or not, according to their fancy
and caprice.-Washington Post.