The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-03-24
RETRoCRESSloN or TARIFF
Not Much Done by Republicans in
Line with the Mckinley
Idea.

A4Cas
When the secretary Of the treasury
decided that il was within the scope
of his authority TO allow a drawback
on foreign wheat 10 be made into
iour in this country and then export
ed, and more particularly when the
correctness OF his action was affirmed
by the authoritative opinion OF the
attorney general. there was very gen
rral satisfaction that a way had
been found whereby the great flour
manufacturers could maintain their
foreign trade despite the short crop,
and there was no particular regret
that a precedent had been established
and a rule adopted whereby manufac-
turers in other fields might obtain the
advantage Of this liberal Interpretation
IF the drawback law.
But the senate has interviewed. Mr..
Hansbrough offered an amendment
to the agricultural appropriation bill
%rorbidding the application Of the draw
back provision of the Dingley law To
the manufacturers of wheat. and the SEN
ate passed il. The house has still 70 act
but an enumeration of the republican
members from agricultural districts,
coupled with the number who are OPP
posed TO any change OF tariff conditions,
either by legislative enactment or ad-
ministrative order. will leave 10 doubt
as TO the results. SO far as congress is
concerned our foreign trade may be all
lost and nothing would be done 10 pre-
vent It. if the s~acredness Of the tariff
were to suffer.
This curtailment Of the drawback law
will mean the loss Of not less than 10 per
cent. OF our export trade in -four and
ne manufacturer from their knowledge
Of market conditions abroad and the eX-
tensiye arrangements that have been
made In England and Germany TO import
wheat instead Of -four. think hat once
the trade is lost they will never get II
back.
The action Of the senate shows how
the tariff theory has changed since
Blaine. Mckinley and pingley. all OF
whom were most conspicuous advocates
Of protection. formulated and ratified IN
speech anu message the theory Of reel
procity and pronounced the belief tina
A tariff and the development of foreign
trade were not only not inconsistent but
rightly regarded. import duties could bt
made 10 increase our foreign commerce
enormously. Since that time we seem Il
have retrogressed. The reciprocity the
Dry. declared by Blaine. the reciprocit,
programme established by Mckinley an
legally formulated by Dingley and mad
an apparently inseparable part of tn
law. which bears his name. have al
been nullified by senatorial action orin
action. Treaties have been smothere'
or amended into innocuousness. and n
effort has been spared 10 make the taril
law now in force a forceful embodimen
Of false pretenses that in the applica
ton il not in the adoption. was nothin
more than a creation 10 deceive an
mislead. In his speech az Buffalo jus
before his death. Mr.. Mckinley said:
The period Of exclusiveness is pas
The expansion Of our trade and con
merce is the pressing problem. Con
mercial wars are Improbable. A polio
OF good will and friendly trade relation
will prevent r~eprisals. Reciprocit
treaties are in harmony with the spir
of the times measures Of retaliation al
not.
IF ~perchance some Of our tariffs al
Z no longer needed for revenue or to e.
courage and protect industries
$ home. why should they not be employ'
4 TO extend and promote u marke
I abroad?"
When il was throttling the reciproci
: treaty with Newfoundland. lately, u
senate majority apparently forgot tn
it belonged to the party Of McKinle
nIafpa and DinglCy