The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-12
FAILED TO AGREE

Il
The house republicans, at their fourth
caucus ON Cuban reciprocity last night
again failed to agree on the ways and
means committees 20 per cent concession
proposition. This was not unexpected,
but between now and next Tuesday, when
anot her caucus Will be held, it will be
well for the opponents of the concession,
especially those from the western and
northwestern states, to get together and
question themselves whet her they can at
ford to stand obstinately for an I'M
broken tariff wall, when there is evidence
that their constituents are to large; eX-
tent, not only not saverse to actualizing
the policy Of reciprocity, clearly defined
republican policy, but are rather positive
in their advocacy of the policy. These
same insurgents" while opposing re-
duction of a cent or mill on the tariff
rate per hundred pounds of Cuban sugar,
are not averse to tariff reductions on
other articles which are Unfortunately pro-.
tected far beyond the point where pIotec-
ton is actually needed. The Minneapolis
millers have no hesit alton in advocating
reciprocity treaties which would enhance
the value of their export trade. They
are in accord with the republican plat
form utterances which commend such
treaties as opening markets for our
surplus products. But MIR. BabcOck,
of Wisconsin, keeps bill in his
pocket providing for the reduction
of iron and steel duties, while opposing
any concession to Cuba. Other gentle
men admit that they want the duty on
wood pulp reduced and SO on. What a
farce for these men to avoW their deter
mination to keep the tariff wall unbroken.
The president is officially reported as
standing firmly by his earnest advocacy
of concessions set forth in his message
last December. He has declared that
this is can inherited problem" He has
no definite form of concession, but he has
stated that he would like any form which
will meet his recommended ion in his mes
sage. -
The rebate plan will not do. s- "
TO save the symmetry Of the face of the
tariff wall, it is proposed to collect full
ban raw sugar and then pay back to the
Cuban producers an amount in rebate
which will give them little profit that
Is, give them present Of the collectible
duties or a portion of them. This is not
only absurd but unconst itutional.
AS matter of fact, the storm is gath
ering about the unyielding extremists.
ISOLATION calls for free pulp and reduced
duty on paper. The leather men are
calling for a reduction of the duty on
hides or their free-listing. The millers
are calling for the negotiation OF reci-.
procity treaties as greatly beneficial to
ing the fallacy of unyielding retention of
the tariff wall at it's present height. Nc
Kinley convincingly pointed out the
changing Industrial and commercial con-
ditions and the necessity of intelligently
recognizing the change. He showed the
fallacy of the theory that nation can
prosper continuously by selling only and
not buying; taking but not giving. The
unyielding policy is positive restriction
of our export trade. By close trade re-
lations with Cuba, the United States will
gain as much as Cuba will and more, com
mercially. We are pledged to give the
Cubans a stable government. Such gov
eminent cannot be had without industrial
prosperity,-the successful movement of
the wheels Of commerce. In opposing the
rehabilitation of means to this end it is
evident that the anti-concessionists are
striking blows at our own prosperity.
What is needed to lift this country out
OF the harrassing and chronic tariff wran-
gle, is the establishment of a permanent
tariff bureau of the proposed department
of commerce, under charge of experts who
shall revise the tariff on strictly scientific
principles and reduce duties to AN amount
equal to the difference in producing cost
between the American and the foreign
produced article, and this difference will
be the legitimate measure of duty to
which the American manufacturer is en-
titled and to which the foreign producer
should be subject ed. This is the true
basis and principle of q protective tariff
and the sooner we come to'its adoption in
this country the better for the nation.