The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-04
mo TARIFF TINKERING" SAYS
HANNA.

Representative Babcock. of Wisconsin,
who wished to remove the tariff on all ar
ticles controlled by trust and all arti-
cles that can be manufactured here and
sold abroad cheaper than any other man
ufacturers can sell, has written a letter
to friend that states his contention
strongly. We quote:
After we have builded so we'll, and
many of these industries have become
giants such as the world has never before
known, shall we continue a tariff on arti-
cles that yield no revenue, need no pro-
lection, and that. in fact, like the prod
ucts Of our farms, are articles of export?
How can such a policy be defended? If
Congress maintains tariff on such arti-
cles, the whole theory of protection falls
to the round, and it simply inures to the
benefit of those who may secure the con-
troll of any such commodity since by it's
aid they can fix exorbitant prices in the
domestic market. l maintain that it is a
part of the policy of protection to protect
the consumers"
The Wings of the old school based their
advocacy of protection solely and wholly
and exclusively for the building up Of
Infant home industries" Mr.. Babcock
seems to stand where they stood in a
day when twenty per cent. was as high
as they would levy any tariff. If Henry
Clay could read the Mckinley or Dingley
tariff--drawn to further enrich giant in
a, trio -bo no cd
protection than would Andrew Jackson
or Thomas Jefferson.
Mr.. Babcock states the truth when he
says that the tariff granted to the steel
and like trusts "simply enures to the
benefit of those who may secure the con-
troll of any such commodity, since by its
| domestic market" and then he makes a
| declaration which will give the high pro-
| tectionists an ague: II maintain that it is
| part of the policy of protection to pro-
| tect the consumers" He is the first pro-
| tectionist certainly from the adoption OF
| the Morrill, high tariff law, who ever ad-
. mltted tnat the consumer was euIlticu W
any consideration whatever.
| Mr.. Babcock has furnished some sound
arguments to the opponents of the present
trust-made tariff law. But that is all.
He will accomplish nothing. The trusts
are making millions by the provision
which Mr.. Babcock shows amounts practi-
cally to subsidies. They control the Re-
publican party They nominated Mr.. Nc
| Kinley. They put up the dough" that
secured his election. Hanna promised
them that they should be allowed to tax
| the people to reimburse themselves. He
never makes a promise except to men who
lare willing to pay for special privilege
and he keeps his promises, and Mckinley
ratifies his contracts. Already, in an
| swer to Mr.. Babcock's suggestions, Mr..
Hanna has officially declared, There will
| be no tariff tinkering." And there will
be no legislation along the line suggested
by Mr.. Babcock, unless the elections in
1902 should brighten the Republicans into
a cheese-paring pretense of reduction.
The trusts are in the saddle. They
control the Republican party. Will they
give up the millions and millions annual
ly that they extort from the tax payers
under the Dingley act? The man who
thinks so knows very little of human ma
lture. The only hope of carrying out the
reform suggested by Mr.. Babcock lies in
a sweeping Democratic victory in 1904.