The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-05-11
THE TASK OF REVISION.
food Reasons for Letting the Dingley
Schedules Stand Some
Years Longer.

A change in any portion OF the tartn
schedules would mean an o~verhauling
| Of them all. This would be a task OF
many months. Although work on the
| Mckinley and the Wilson tariffs began
In December, they were not enacted UNI
| til far along in the next year, only u
short time before the congressional
| elections. In each case. says the st.
| Louis Globe-Democrat, the party max
Ing the tariff revision was beaten Tor
| congress. A great deal Of dynamite Is
usually wrapped up in tariff overhaul
Ing schemes. The Republicans escaped
disaster in shaping the Dingley law.
They escaped for two reasons. Tarin
changes we're necessary at that time
because the Wilson act furnished Meth
err sufficient revenue to the government
nor protection to the domestic produc-
er. The Dingley law provided both pro-
lection and revenue. This is one rea-
son why the Republicans did not suffer
| from the dissatisfaction always caused
In some interests by changes in the
tariff schedules. Another reason was
that the changes were made in an extra
session which met soon after the In
auguration. This allowed the tariff q
year or more of operation before the
first election took place. By that timett
had a chance to show that 1t was accom-
plishing the objects of its trainers, and
was a benefit to the country.
When Mr.. Payne says that no tariff
revision will take place during this ses-
sion he means during this congress.
None can take place during the short
session, which begins after h con-
gresslonal election. Once in a ong
Will. tariff changes are made in tho
short session, but this is so rare an oc-
currence that it may safely be eiiminat-
ed as a possibility in the present in
stance. The three months session
which begins in December, 1906, will
have urgent work enough cut out for IL
to keep it busy. until the general wind
up comes on March 4, without going out
OF it's way to seek work that very few
persons are asking for, and that a large
majority of the people oppose. The Re
publican leaders, from the president
and Speaker Cannon down, want this
to be a business congress. Many i'm
pOfIduL QuCotIOho u ~ 10y
want legislation on all of them. In or
der to get this legislation congress will
be kept busy to the end of the term.
Tariff revision is a large task under the
most favorable conditions, ever with
the nearest election far in the distance.
1t would be a particularly embarrassing
subject In the present exigency, with a
congressional election certain to take
place before the final touches could be
put upon the new schedules If the worK
were started now. The Dingley act can
three years longer.
A personal letter, not intended for
publication, but which was used for
partisan Misrepresentation, has drawn
from Speaker Cannon of the house OF
representatives a statement as to his
position with regard to the matter OF
revising the tariff. The speaker meets
the question with characteristic frank
ness, and his u%tterances will carry
weight and significance in view of his
prominent position. His attitude in this
matter is similar to that of other men
If high standing and great influence in
the Republican party. There will be
general tariff revision when the people
clearly manifest a desire for it, but he
does not believe it will come during the
present session of congress, for no such
popular demand as would compel action
has materialized.
Speaker Cannon utters the words Of
truth and soberness and shows a cor
xao+ ,-pdarStapdinn Of tho eftttatSo-
when he afirms that nothing effective
can be accomplished except by a COM
plete revision of schedules, which would
be the result of such a compromise as
would command a majority vote of the
1856 members of the house of repre-
sentatives and Of the 80 senators. Even
then the outcome might not bo to the
advantage of the country. Says the
, speaker: "The enactment of such a re-
vision and the time necessary to aG-
, Just it t. conditions would halt produc.
ton, consumption and commerce for at
, least 12 months, ana when the COM
promise is enacted as a whole 1t will
probably not be an improvement on ex,
listing law" He concludes by saying
! that If the people actually want a re.
: vision they can express their wishes al
+ the coming congressional election and
their command will be obeyed. Mean
: while they are apt to think we'll before
they authorize the disruption of condi-
lions which in their entirety were never
more favorable to the laborer, the farm
er, the capitalist, the producer and tbs
consumer.
and it involves an appeal to the judg-
ment of the people, who, as the speaker
with sound American statesmanshir
k recognizes. are the tribunal OF last re
sort. There was a political convention