Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-30
DOUBTS ITS FEASIBILITY
REPRESENTATIVE RUSSELL ON TINE
BABCOCk TARIFF BILL.
Believes That IL Would Involve the
oNerhaulfnE of the
Whole Subject.

cannot understand how il would he
feasible to exempt from tariff protection
pus'-made articles, proposed in the
bapcock bill, remarked Represent ativs
Russell, member Of the ways and means
committee, today. The slightest change
IN the tariff would mean the overhauliag q.
the whole subject. and this the business
interests OF the country do not want. IL
congress at the next session desires 10
dabble I'm the revenue there are certain
Things that 1t might undertake 20 very
great advantage. Our internal taxes upon
spirits and in particular the alcohol which
Is used In the arts, are very excessive.
Inc present rate of 81 10 gallon on al
cohol Is Tar away above the revenue point
some OF the best economic experts believe
that io cents gallon would yield a great
yea. ueal more revenue, besides relieving TAXA
tloh upon important industries. 1 am In
IaNor OF free alcohol for use in thu arts
ano am not discouraged as to reaching a
feasible scheme for bringing that about.
But whether we get free alcohol for tho
aits or not, We ought certainly to have
alconol with the tax so lowered as To make
IL Yield the most revenue
Ineh there are many crudities I'm the
administrative tariff act which Congress-
ought TO correct. IL the ways and means
committee desires to go into this subject.
as hope IL will, 1 can see many p1ints
o,la i II might investigate to advantage. But
any general orerhauling of the tarin [ do
not look Tor. There is no sentiment SO
Tar as Know, In Congress or the country
Whlch demands such 4 thing 1 do moi he
heNe the Babcock bill will be seriously
considered"
Regarding the reported western santi-
ment said to be working in the direction
OF a lowering of the tariff through fear
that unless something of the kind is done
there VIII be retaliation on the part of for
eign countries, Mr.. Russell said:
This is good subject to talk about
every once and awhile. When politics are
uull and there is no war on hand somebody
begins to write about a proposed revision
OF the tariff. L notice several interesting
Things about these agitations. The manu-
LECTURERS who believe the tariff should be
reduced, so far as / have been able TO
learn, desire that II should be done ,tpon
the commodities that somebody else pro-
duces. The duty upon the particular arti-
Gle which they manufacture they think IL
not liable to provoke any European retalia-
ton. II there were a lowering on the
other fellows goods they would generally
favor it, and the signs of the times. they
think rather point in that direction. but
in their own line they see no such tenden-
cies. As corollary to this / notice in all
the letters that / see in regard to such
European retaliation against us unless We
have more reciprocity that In each instance
the news of this threatened disturbance 20
our trade comes from some business con-
nections of ours or somebody with whom
We are doing business in New York etc.
In each instance II is somebody else than
the writer who backs the story. Hence Il
looks to me as IL preconcerted movement
were on foot by the agents of foreign COM
panies, eager to break down our tariff sys-
TEN, to spread the idea abroad that a tariff
any t-hand evidence worth considering
that 1t is"