Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-21
A TARIFF INQUIRY
Probably by a Committee Of
Congress.
REASON FOR BELIEF
EXPRESSIONS OF PRESIDENT AND
PRESSURE OF PUBLIC OPINION.
Reciprocity Treaties Will Again oc-
cupy Much Attention-A Com
promise to Be Urged.
REASON FOR BELIEF

Republican representatives and senator's
in town and who have been here recently
are convinced Of the likelihood of legisla-
tion at the short session of Congress au-
thorizing an inquiry into the subject Of
tariff relations between the United States
and foreign nations. The inquiry will be
part and parcel of the general agitation
for revision of our own tariff schedules.
The subject will divide itself naturally un-
der two heads-the preservation Of the
American protective principle and retalia-
ton or compensation for the treatment &C
corded the United States by Great Britain
and Europe.
Whether the inquiry should be conducted
by mixed commission or by committee
of Congress is detail to be arranged. The
probability is that Congress, mindful Of the
spirit of the constitutional provision for
dealing with taxes and revenues, will re-
tain full control of the subject and not en-
list the advice of outsiders.
Party Exigency.
The reason for the belief entertained by
congressman that the inquiry will be en-
tered upon is found in the expressions of
the President and in the pressure of public
opinion. Party exigency will also enter
conference last summer between the Presi-
dent and prominent senators, there has
been a growing tendency in influential
legislative quarters to look with favor upon
tariff inquiry.
Curiously enough the reasons assigned by
the two tariff factions for favoring the in
quiry apparently are contradictory. The
|ultra-protectionists are for it because they
see in it a postponement Of the day when
the tariff is to be touched by the hand of
the pruner; the revisionists are for it, be-
cause they see in it the first step toward
ultimate revision. The tug of war will
come in the effort to carry out the report
of the committee.
In the meantime the campaign in behalf
of revision will be pushed to the utmost by
the republicans, who believe that in such
action rests the future welfare of the re-
publican party as a political organization.
Reciprocity Treaties.
Tariff reciprocity and treaties will occupy
great deal of the attention of Congress
this session. The Cuban treaty raises a
situation which now is acute that the
administration thinks the less said about
it and the less it is discussed in the public
press, the better for all concerned. The
weeks will show which way the cat hops.
Congress undoubtedly will have to give
deep and earnest attention to the question
of tariff relations with Cuba.
eign countries Will come to the front. The
tenor and purpose of these have been eX-
planned so often in The Star that it is un-
necessary to go over the ground again. The
opposition raised against them in the last
two sessions of Congress continues and will
be manifest again.
A compromise on the reciprocity treaties
will be urged by an influential group of re-
publican senator's, of whom Senator Aldrich
of Rhode Island is the leading spirit. His
plan is to adopt a system of maximum ard
minimum tariff rates. That IS, in brief to
give low rates to countries which favor the
United States and apply high rates against
countries which levy high duties on the
products of American farms and mills. The
best judgment in Congress does not seem to
take an optimistic view of the prospect Of
cleaning up the reciprocity treaties, outside
of the Cuban treaty.
Ways and Means Committee.
The makeup of the committee on ways
and means will have an important bearing
on tariff legislation after the present ses-
sion. That task Mr.. Cannon will probably
devote himself to during the next three
months in anticipation Of the succeeding
session and at least will receive sugges-
tions and opportunities Of men and fac
tions desiring to be represented on the COM
mittee.
In the republican membership of the
ways and means committee there will be
three vacancies and possibly four. Mr..
Russell of Connecticut is dead. Mr.. Hop
kins Of Illinois goes to the Senate, Mr..
Steele of indiana is not reelected and Mr..
Long Of Kansas Is candidate for the Sen
ate.
OF the remaining republicans on the COM
mittee, counting Mr.. Payne, Mr.. Dalzell,
Mr.. Grosvenor and Mr.. Metcalf ultra
protectionists and Mr.. Babcock, Mr.. Taw
ney and Mr. Mccall as inclined to revision.
leaves the balance of power in the ap-
pointment Of the three, possibly four, new
men on the committee. 1t is assumed of
course, that the tariff question will be ham
died entirely by the republicans without
connivance with the democrats.