The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-11-18
Babcock on Tariff Revision.

Representative Babcock of Wisconsin
believes that the tariff should be revis-
ed at an extra session of congress. Mr.
Babcock is member of the committee
on ways and means, and whatever he
says on the subject will have weight. In
an interview with correspondent of The
St. Paul Pioneer Press Mr.. Babcock
said:
81 have heard great deal of talk in
the last few days for reducing the tar.
if on articles where the duty is higher
than is warranted by the protection prin-
ciple, and for doing it in an extra session
of congress.
ut is about the only subject / have
heard discussed thus far in connection
with future legislation. l believe it will
be done. The northwestern states,
know demand some such action.
"The only way to handle such legisla-
ton is along the lines followed in
framing the Mckinley BILL" added Mr.
Babcock, who brought from President
elect Mckinley at Canton the first au-
thentic word after the 1896 election
that an extra session of congress would
be called. at goes without saying that
the task should not be attepted at the
short session. But it would require so
much time as to interfere with the regu-
lar business of the long session of the
fifty ninth congress, which will convene
next December.
Congress should be called in extra
session.. The ways and means commit
tee should give careful hearings before
framing the bill for the consideration of
the house. No other legislation should
be taken up, no other house committee
should be appointed. In my judgment
we should devote ourselves solely to that
topic and get it out of the way speedily
That was the program followed in 1897"
"How much on general lines would you
reduce the schedules?" was asked.
81 would not attempt to answer that
question:" he answered. 81 doubt if
there is any one man in the house of
representatives who could answer it.
Personally l have studied only one
schedule, the steel schedule, on which L
spent several months. The result of my
work was embodied in the revision bill.
which reintroduced in the house.
Il am an ultra republican and pro-
tectionist and would not reduce the du-
ties on any products below THE point
that covers the difference in the cost of
materials and the price of labor At
present the schedules in numerous in
stances are considerably higher than is
necessary to cover that difference.
"That is practically the only issue
that the democrats now have in con-
gress. They point to the high tariffs and
charge that these tariffs are manipulated
in favor of the protected interests"
Mr.. Babcock reiterated that he had
never urged reduction of the tariff as
a good way of striking at the trusts.
"In attempting that" said he, eve
should run in danger of striking at the
laborer, whom we wish to protect, rath-
er than at the corporation he works for
But l do hold that when we have a 100
per cent tariff where so per cent an
swers all the purposes of a legitimate
protection, the additional so per cent of
protection is likely to be manipulated for
the benefit of that protected interest,
rather than the consumers With the
tariff down to the proper point, any
general attempt to elevate prices will be
followed by importations from abroad"