Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-29
CONGRESS AND THE TARIFF.

i
, occupy THE Present Session of Con-
gress" is contributed to the December
Forum by II. Litchtield West, the dis
tinguished Washington Journalist, who
also discusses the probable fate of the
various measures to be introduced. On
one important subject he says:
The message OF President Roosevelt
will disclose how far he proposes so
commit himself and his party to the re-
ciprocity idea. The impression now cur
rent Is that he will favor it In general
terms while expressing opposition to
any action that will injure an American
industry, thus leaving it to the senate
to decide whether this injury is threat
ened. It has been suggested that recip-
rocity can be accomplished by general
legislation, but it would seem rather a
hazardous undertaking to frame gem
eral law upon the subject. If few spe-
cific treaties are shown to fall heavily
upon comparatively limited number Of
producers, a general law might we'll be
expected to create almost universal dis
satisfaction. The very suggestion of
such an enactment will arouse hostility.
1t is difficult to predict, at the threshold
Of congress, exactly how the republican
majority will steer clear of the Scylla
Of necessary foreign markets for pleth-
oric production, on the one hand, and
the Charybdis of incensed producers, on
the other.
The situation certainly offers ample
opportunity for wise craftsmanship.
Only few months have elapsed since
the manufacturers of agricultural inn
plements in the west We're startled by
the antagonistic attitude of Russia;
while lately We have heard rumblings of
exclusion tariff laws to be passed by
Germany and Austria in order to keep
out American goods, even as the manu-
facturers Of those countries are barred
from the United States. It would not be
remarkable IL the advocates of recipro-
city and the adherents of an undisturb-
ed tariff neutralized themselves into
non-action. Certainly the friends of the
tarin system as embodied in the present
law may be relied upon to oppose to the
utmost any encroachment upon that
system under the guise of reciprocity.
The tariff question is also destined to
come before congress In connection with
the bill Of Representative Babcock, of
Wisconsin, who created something of a
furry during the closing hours of the
last session by the introduction Of a
proposal to abolish the duty on steel and
manufactures OF steel. Mr.. Babcocks
measure is, primarily, aimed at the
trusts; for he has discovered that great
corporations are enabled to institute
monopolies and charge exorbitant prices
to American citizens thru the operation
of prohibitiye tariffs, while the same
products are sold cheaply abroad
When congress reassembles, Mr. Bah
cock will re-introduce his bill with addi-
tional sections relating to glass and tin
plate. He promises, IN fact, to wage
war against all trust-made articles the
manufacture Of which is protected by a
high tariff against foreign competition,
with consequent monopoly in this
country.
Mr.. Babcock has been both commend
ed and criticised. The high protection
lists condemn his premises and his con-
illusions, complaining with some bitter
ness that he is removing the corner
stone from the edifice which they have
so carefully erected. and which is, in
IdStt Tic odSISQ tCIiiplS Oi lic TcpuUlicdH
party. The commentator which Mr.
Babcock has received has not been con-
fined to any one section Of the country,
altho. of course, it Is most emphatically
expressed in the northwest, where tariff
reform has always been more or less
popular. In expressing the sentiments
of his own people Mr.. Babcock will en-
counter vigorous opposition. Already
nearly all the members of the ways and
means committee, to which his measure
must be referred and by which it must
be reported. have declared themselves
against any "tinkering with the tariff"
1t would not be surprising if the pro-
posed law slumbered Indefinitely in the
committees archives. despite Mr.. Bab-
cocks argument that if a monopoly
creating tariff is not reformed by its
friends, drastic revision, such as afs
f1icted the country during Mr.. Cleve-
lands second administration, will be at
tempted by the enemies of protection.
who would be swept into power upon a
wave of hostile sentiment.