The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-02
1T MEANS H SAME.

III LIE oAME.
1t seem to be tolerably we'll settled
that the president will call a special
session of the fifty-ninth congress
next spring for the purpose Of enact
ing legislation affecting the tariff. In
stead Of a revision, however, there is
to be an amendment, or rather a SER
les Of them, as several schedules are
said to have been selected for con-
sideration. Possibly to many it may
appear as a difference of expression
without any difference of objective,
as the result aimed at will be prac-
ideally the same. But the representa-
tives and senators who have come to
be known as "standpatters" profess
to see a material difference between
the two terms and most Of them have
agreed to amend, but lot revise the
tariff. By conserving to this they have
saved their pride, while at the same
time accepting an opportunity to re-
cede from a position in which they
are no longer sustained by a majority
.sof the party whom they represent.
Call it what you may, it is down on
the books that the tariff is to be re-
adjusted in accordance with the best
judgment OF it's friends. Experience
has demonstrated the economic sound
ness of the protective tariff given the
country under the provisions OF the
Dlngley bill, but the time is at hand
w he. some OF it's schedules may be
geyisel-that is amended-with goou
results all around. There is to ba 10
general disturbance of the law, but a
simple REIMBURSEMENT OF some OF It's
details. The president in his call Tor
the extraordinary session, it is said.
will call special attention OF the o n
gross to the schedules which, in lis
opinion, need r~eadjusting. These are
to be selected only after careful con-
ference between the president and rep
resentatives of all shades OF revision
opinion. The most uncOmpromlsln5
ssstandpatter'' and the radical who de-
mands a sweeping change OF the en-
tire tariff law will be given a hearing.
From this diversity of belief and opil-
ION a conservative, middle course will
be selected by the president as he
ba SIS OF his recommendations to CON
g.ess. Conferences already held show
that little difficulty will be experience
ed in arriving at a Satisfactory agree
ment between the president and the
leaders of the two houses, so that
when the call for the SPECIAL session
shall issue a substantial understand
ing will exist and the fear of a gen
eral disturbance of business affairs
throughout the country need not be
entertained. The president is making
ii clear to all with whom he a thus
far conferred that it is not his inten-
ton TO WELD an axe when he comes
to the tariff, but simply 10 ask thar
changes be made in schedules that
have been particularly subject 10 crit
icism during the last four years and
which he. believes should be
"amended," thereby relieving the
party of some of the charges now
making against it, as we'll as comply
ing with the dictates OF sound eco
nomic Judgment.
In spanking of the tariff, it may no;
be amiss to say that Secretar.
Shaw's advocacy OF a system of draw
backs is not being received with un
bounded enthusiasm by that wing o
the party which believes the tariff
should. be subjected to a REIMBURSEMENT
1t is pointed ou that the only resul
which would accrue would be to max
it possible for the manufacturer t
sell cheaper in the foreign market
than he does now. The domestic cor
sumner would not be benefited by it i
the slightest. On the contrary,