The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-06
REVISION OF TINE DINGHY TARIFF.


Republican statesmen are beginning
seriously to consider proposals of tariff
modification. President Mckinley has
given no intimation of his opinion on the
subject, and the master voice of the
present law was silenced some time
ago. One of the republican leaders most
pronounced in advocacy of a revision
that will have for guiding motive the
protection of consumers, is Congressman
Joseph w. Babcock, chairman Of the re-
publican congressional committee.
In fact Mr.. Babcock has devised a new
tariff bill, which has drawn upon him
the criticism of party colleagues, such
as S. E. Payne, chairman of the ways
and means committee. and John Dalzell,
second member of the committee. They
contend that Mr.. Babcock's proposition
to place certain articles of iron and steel
on the free list would work to the injury
of the small manufacturers and the
benefit of the trust, in that the tariff
schedules which favored the develop
ment of the industry are the only guar
antces of continuous competition.
Mr.. Babcock meets this argument with
| the statements that as a business neces-
| sity the small manufacturer must pro-
| duce his goods as cheaply as the large
| one; that the trust will buy up all the
small manufacturers, and that as an
| illustration of the law of se1f-protection,
| which will operate under these condi-
tions. the Pennsylvania Railroad COM
| pany has already bought a large steel
plant, so that it may oe in position to
make its own rails in the event of an in
fation of prices.
Congressman Babcock makes "a dis
tinction when it comes to a question OF
removing the duties from all trust made
goods. On this point he has no SYM
patty with the democratic idea, which
is essentially free trade. He says:
For instance. the greatest revenue
| producer we have is sugar, handled
and controlled by a trust, but, mas
much as protection is necessary for
| the cane growers of the south and
! the beet growers of the north, the
| tariff should remain. The theory Of
republican protection is and has
! been to build up our own institu-
! tons by protecting labor and ma
terial, so that in the end we might
as a nation become industrially, as
| WEI. as politically, Independent OF
the world. BY the practice of this
republican policy We are today not
only making all that we consume of
many commodities, but also are able
to manufacture some for less than
any other people. So 1t has come to
pass that some articles, the like of
! which years ago we imported nearly
all we consumed. We can today pro-
duce and undersell the world Now,
to the point: After we have builded
so well, and many of these indus
tries have become known, shan we
continue a tariff on articles ..Aat are
in fact like the products OF our
| farms, articles Of export? How can
sucn a policy be defended? Ii con-
gress maintains tariff on sucn arti-
cles the whole theory of protecuOn
falls to the ground. and 1t simply
| tnures to the benefit of those VINO
| may secure the control of any such
commodity, since by its AID they can
fix exorbitant prices in the domestic
market.
| When the tariff is necessary to thu
| protection of labor, Congressman Bah
cock would not touch a schedule. Hi
sole desire seems 10 De 10 take the tdiil
from all products the producers o
which derive none of the benefits of pro
lection. A readjustment of the tariff
law on this basis would be a labor o
exceeding delicacy, and. without a har
monious majority in both houses. Nigh
lead to disastrous complications,
The project of revision, if it is to b.
taken up. should be approached Will
great diffidence and caution, and no
without the sanction Of the administra
ton. which in economic successes, ha
been the most remarkable in the histor
of the country.
The Wisconsin congressman has n
apprehension lest an attempt to revis
the tariff law may disturb trade and un
settle business, because there is moth
ing to fear from a republican congress.
We cannot agree with him. as the ex
perience in the lower house OF 1890
still fresh in mind. On that occasion
with a narrow majority of % member
the Mckinley bill was compromised
the point of desperation by Ben Butter
worth's pugnacious attitude on the sui
sidiary question of reciprocity.
FoFNcn FnlIcAT0ns lNVAnlNG CHICAGO.