Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-30
The Burning Question.

Inc burning Question.
II has become characteristic of the
Chicago Tribune 10 follow its obliga-
ton TO its party after an election has
been held by returning TO its duty TO
its conscience. The Tribune is at
heart. and always has been. a free
trade paper and nov that il has helped
elect a president and congress on d.
rectiy opposite principles. it takes up
what To il il the burning question
OF the hour before the country.
iIanifestly il is revision of the tar
iE." says the Tribune The people
viii not be content with a 'stand-pat'
policy. They demand justly that
Something be done in the direction or
correcting the inequalities OF the pres
ent tariff.
1t is Ubiquitous and an abomina-
tiOn. II has undue protection and IA
vcritism for certain classes. At the
expense OF consumers. who are COM
posed OF all classes.
There are three ways in which tar
in revision can be approached One
is by the appointment Of 4 tariff com
mission. This means delay. Ii is the
fGvorite device for putting off consid-
Grafton OF the question. No commits
sion can be appointed more competent
than members OF the two houses To
frame a new tariff law. The report of
a commission. when made. carries no
authority and has little influence with
congress. Members are usually preju-
diced against il. because they feel
that they are the ones on whom the
constitution has conferred the deter
minatiOn of such questions as arise
in the revision of n tariff. and that
congress confesses its impotence when
IL delegates duties of this nature to
anybody outside itself.
Another method it 10 have the
committee on ways and means of the
house and the finance committee of
the senate authorized TO frame a bill
next spring and summer and report
il 10 congress at the regular session in
December Manifestly this is a good
method when the committees are i'm
partial. but both of them are so loaded
down with nigh tariff experts that a
satisfactory report could scarcely be
expected.
The best method would be 10 have
i committee composed of a TeasOna
BILE number of Qualified members of
both houses appointed by their pre-
siding officer to consider the matter
and report al the proper time. There
will be no great advantage in spe-
cial session. as the subject would have
to he referred TO a committee after
the session had begun. and that com
mittee could not prepare a report hur-
riedly.
The special committee cannot be
appointed in advance Of the organiZa-
ton Of the two houses New mem
beers should not be excluded from CON
sideratiOn by the speaker or the eau
Gus in making appointments on such
committee. but new members who
have not been formally sworn in can
not BE- appointed prior TO the meeting
of the two houses.
still another plan. which COM
mends itself To the uproariOus spirits
of the high tariff experts. is that which
WAS described as the 'stand-pat poll
cy. Every attorney of the special in
tercsts in congress will hail this plan
with enthusiasm and give IL his I'M
qualified support Bui The tariff
ought not 90 stand pat II l. a col
lection Of incungruities. inequalities
and denominations. It's iniquities must
go The republican party must modi-
~ IL or see its own majority and in
fiuence in the country materially modi-
fed at the next election. The people
of this great. free country have no in
tention of submitting indefinitely TO
the oppression of the money power.
the manufacturing power. or any other
representing solely special interests
and privileges"