The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-05-10

a Question That 10 Going Ia Give
the Republicans . Great
Deal of Trouble.

-" ~ sioSc VI tnS IdsI -
the chairman of the republican con.
gressional committee, j. w. Eabcock,
introduced a bill to abolish the tariff
on iro md steel. This was lust
after the formation of the steel trust
was announced. This apparent lapse
OF Mr.. Babcock from the dogma OF
protection caused considerable talk,
and he was interviewed by the news
papers. In one of these interviews
he is reported to have said: ut
was TO forestall similar action
by a democrat" No action was
taken by the committee to
whom the bill was referred. Mr..
Babcock evidently did not expect
IL, he was merely playing to the gall
~leries; In fact, his bill did not abolish
the duty on iron and steel. it merely
pretended to. IL provided for the re-
peal of the iron schedule. but did not
repeal or change section 1893. which
provides for an ad valorem duty of
45 per cent. on iron and steel not spec
~ciically provided in the act. The
steel trust would doubtless be quite
satisfied with this 45 per cent. tariff.
Two or three democrats at the frss
session of the Fifty-sixth congress
had introduced bills repeating all du-
ties on trust articles. but the com
mittee on ways and means never con-
idered them. the republican majority
being opposed to such action. Mr..
Babcock, therefore. did not forestall
the democrats, who RI pledged by
their national platform against
trusts and the Dingley tariff, and will
certainly introduce a bill to that end
when the Fifty-seventh congress as
sembles. This will again try the
faith of those republicans who feel
that the trusts should be curbed.
II the steel trust is to be legislated
against, why not the sugar trust. the
tin trust and the hundred and one
other trusts and combines. But TO
do this would require nearly every
schedule Of the tariff law to be re-
pealed. and the whole fabric OF pro-
lection would be wiped out. This
would leave the republican party with
but Imperialism as a living issue and
with the greatest source of it's cam
paign funds cut off without a coun-
tervailing fountain to draw from.
; A large majority Of the republican
and representatives have re-
and are receiving. favors from
the trusts, combines and corpora
many Of them are owned bv the
trusts. and relief 10 the people from
them is unlikely and almost impos-
But there are other troubles for
The protectionists. The state DEPART
and the diplomats have become
Interested in the tariff discussion.
The countervailing duties on Russian
sugar has been met by that
country with a large increase of duty
American goods. so that door IL
against us. Germany and
France are also said to be Intending !
measures. and even many
u the English politicians are talking
he same way.
Then we have a colonial tariff qucs.
ion that must be settled and our new
possessions may soon be supplying
IS with sugar and some kinds OF to-
'acco. Free sugar from Porto Rico
nd the Philippines would cut of the
from that source. wipe ONT
ne American sugar plantations. and
rec tobacco would ruin the protected
connecticut wrapper grower.
The whole tariff is a complicated
nut frail structure, and. like the chill.
house OF cards, n finger or a
reath will cause a wreck. When You
ave local politics. loot and diplomacy
ii taking a hand and inherited faith
a the doctrine they have taught
heir rank and file to worship to be-
rare OF n cannot envy our repub-
can friends the job Of tariff revision
hey must soon enter upon.
The democratic plan OF tariff for
evenue will have to be adopted soon.
. - -