The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-04-14
QUESTION OF THE TARIFF.
Little Probability of Any Revision
Which Will Be of Benefit
to the People.

The senate, it will be remembered,
authorized an inquiry by one of its com
mitteeS into the question of revenue.
Much good may be accomplished by this
inquiry provided it be conducted in the
right spirit II is not, however, well to
expect too much from committee pre-
sided over by Senator Aldrich says the
indianapolis News Ond). We know
that he is often spoken Of as a tariff
expert. and so he is in one sense. He
knows how to get what he wants in the
way of protection for those whose inter
ests he has at heart. That he will control
the committee may be taken for granted
for does he not control the senate? In
recent interview Senator Allison, the
second member of the committee. said
that nothing would be done till Aldricb
returned from Eurone. This may be sim
ply the manifestation of proper court
esy TO the head Of the committee. At any
rate the delay will not be long, for Aid
rich is expected home May /.
But we are not sanguine Of any i'm.
portant results from a committee that
will be dominated by Aldrich. He is q
corporation man and nothing else. lie
looks on the taxing power of the govern.
ment as something which private indi.
yiduals ought to be allowed TO use for
their own benefit. He has no concep-
ton OF government as a great public bus
mess. to be conducted solely in the inter.
est of the public, and without a thought
Of private interests. To him the pull
is q legitimate influence in politics. lie
is a tariff expert in the sense that he
knows how to trade oneinterest against
another. how to get tariff favors foi
manufacturers, and how far it is safe
TO go in this business Of dispensing
charity. But as a statesman and econo-
mist we do not think he is to be highly
esteemed.
AS long as the senate is constituted as
il Is al present we do not look for any re-
vision Of the tariff that will greatly ben
eiit the people. But it may be that the
senate committee will unconsciously
give TO the public some important and
greatly-needed information. We are
sure that an honest investigation would
show that there are few industries in the
country that, even from the protection
list point of view. need any protection at
all. IL would appear that other indus
tries are protected far beyond their
needs And the inquiry would further
show that as a result, the revenue of the
government suffers very greatly. We
could greatly increase the revenue
stimulate trade and commerce. benefit
many manufacturers. reduce prices. and
at the same time give all needed protec-
ton. by cutting many Of our present ex-
orbitant duties in two. We believe that
a fair investigation. one conducted
without any purpose 10 make out a case
would make all this ahundantly clear
But such an investigation we are not
we fear likely to get from the senate
committee Senator Aldrich will go into
the work with the idea that as little
change as possible be made in the tariff
His aim viii le not so much 10 get az
the facts. as TO take care" of certain in
dus,ries Ia our opinion the president
will have as great difficulty in securing
any real revision Of the tariff as in secur-
ing any real regulation Of the railways