West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-01-08
A TARIFF COMMISSION
1t Is a Scheme TO Delude Voters
Until After 1904.
COULDN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING

A Desdiocked Commission would
Just suit the Republican Machine.
Mt. nabcock L. n Fair sample OF
the Republican rarin Reformer.
no You Like nimf
Tho protectionists themselves do not
seem To be able to agree on th<Ccrson.
mel OF the tarIff commission they are
so anxious To see congress authorize.
One school thinks nonpartisan com.
mission would bc most available aud
another school will only approve OF a
bipartisan commission IL is difficult
TO see how any commission can bc SO
lcctcd that would report satisfactory
bill or amendment To the present Ding.
Icy law unless II agrees politically
with the majority OF congress that has
to finally approve the changes. III n
commission was composed OF one half
protCctionists nud the other half tariff
rcformers II could never agree ON
the changes that should be made In
fact the protcctlonists desire no change
unless II Will Increase the present
rates. History shows that the Rcpub.
llcans have always reformed the tariff
upward. nonpartlsan commission Is
hardly possible II those appointed nre
skilled IN the lntrlcacics az the tnrlff,
for any one who has investigated lts
complications must have decided
bent either toward protection ~ tarln
FOR revenue or free trade.
If such commission consisted OF Ave
men. two protectionlsts and two tarIff
rcfornlvrs and the nth member was Sc.
lected as u nonpartlsan--thnti In, neither
protcctlonist nor n tariff rcformer--
what would rcsultp The nonpartisan
member must agree on n report which
either the one side or the other consid-
cred desirable or no majority report
would bc forthcoming, or IL he could
not ngrcc with either side n deadlock
would result.
Is not deadlock what the Ropub.
licnns dcslreg
Can you lind Republican who does
not declare TINT the principle OF pro-
tcctlon must be preserved in any modl-
hcatlon of the present tariff law2
These Republican congressman who
have been elected IN the western states
by constituencies which strongly fa-
vorcd abollshing the protection TO trust
productions have declared. while prom
ising relief from the cxactons OF tho
trusts, they still adhere 60 protection as
the most fundamental doctrine OF their
party. Is not the commission plan pro.
posed 60 prevent action until the excite.
mcnt subsidies or TO trust that other is
sues will In the meantime arise and the
thoughts OF the voters In the tariff re-
form constituencies can be concentrat.
cd upon them to the exclusion OF tariff
reform?
The fight FOR supremacy In tho next
congress viii be settled by the election
of speaker. and the only candidate
so far mentioned who has shown any
sign of turin reform sentiment Is
Chairman Babcock, and his reputation
for II rests OH the bills ho introduced
20 amend the steel and iron schedule.
AS Mr. Bnbcock did not demand that
these bills should be considered by the
ways and means committee, his reputa-
ton ~ tarin rcformcr rests OH
very slim foundation, and Il was tho
commons talk Of political circles in
Washington that he only introduced
the bills 10 be on the record I'm the right
direction. without any idea Of taking
nny decided stand IN behalf OF Hpch re-
form and in fact did not favor II.
His election by the ultra protection
majority OF his party 90 the important
position OF chairman OF the congress
slonal committee TO manage the cara
paign and the fact that all tho docu-
monts issued by the committee made a
bold stand for extreme protection
make II clear that tariff reform Will
fare bndly I'm bis hands.
All the other candidates mentioned
for speaker nre strong protectionists.
lt Is impossible therefore 10 over
come the facts tlint point TO the tariff
commission ns means to gain time
and postpone consideration OF tariff
reforms until after the presidential
election.