The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-05
FORAKER INVITES A TARIFF DE-
BATE.

Senator Foraker pretends that he
isn't in harmony with the majority
of the leaders of his party in the
matter of a discussion of the tariff at
this time. He says that he would like
to have a debate on the tariff, and
| for that purpose he insists that the
Lodge bill, which provides for a great
reduction of the duties on imports
from the Philippines, shall be taken
up early this winter and put on it's
! passage.
Mr.. Foraker likes to be quoted in
| the newspapers, especially when he
says something that promised to at
tract attention. He is chairman of the
| Committee on the Pacific Islands and
Porto Rico and naturally wants to
bring into prominence matters which
are under his jurisdiction. There is
no probability, however, that the Re-
publicans will permit a general debate
on the tariff during the session of Con-
gress which begins next Monday. SEN
ator Aldrich of Rhode Island doesn't
want any such debate. and it seems
to be admitted that he is about the
whole Senate when it comes to decid-
ing what measures shall and what
shall not be considered.
on last Monday Senator Lodge I'M
dertook to bring a little matter, as
he called it, before the Senate. He
was told by one of the Democratic
senators that there was an under
standing that there should be no
matter considered until Dec. 16. Sem
ator LodEe said that he knew moth
ing of such an agreement, and half
a dozen other Republican senators of
the greatest prominence said the
same thing. Nevertheless, Senator
Aldrich had made such an agreement
and that, too, without consulting the
other Republican senators. Therefore,
it may be assumed that there will be
no debate on the tariff during the
coming session because Senator AL
drich doesn't want it. And as a mat
ter Of fact none OF the Republican
leaders, with the possible exception
of Senator Foraker, want a discussion
of the tariff pending the presidential
election.
The reason they don't is that they
know the tariff is a shelter of trusts,
and that trusts are not in favor at
present. They also know that the
people are waking up to the fact that
the protective system forces them to
pay much higher prices for the man.
ufactured articles they need than
they would have to pay if the tariff
We're on a strictly revenue basis. The
farmers know they have to pay more
for agricultural machinery and inn
PIGMENTS than is paid for the same
articles-articles manufactured al
most within sight of their homes-in
European countries. They are getting
tired of being taxed in that way, and
it only needs a little encourage
ment to induce them to rise in revolt
against the high protective tariff
which the Republican party insists
upon maintaining. That encourage
ment they would get if there should
be a general debate of the tariff dur
ing the presidential campaign.
Senator Foraker says that he doesn't
want to go through the presidential
campaign in gum shoes. He wants to
put on brogans, that is, he wants to
make a great deal OF noise so far as
the tariff is concerned. Nevertheless,
his party prefers gum shoes, and it
is doubtful if he is so anxious for
brogans as he pretends to be.