New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-27
NO TARIFF REVISION.
SO Mr.. PAYNE DECLARES.
Tells Mr.. Mccall Present Congress
VIII Not Change Schedules.
LFrom The TrIbun. Rureau. ]


Washington, March 26.-There will be no tariff
revision by this Congress This is the declara-
ton made by Representative Serene f. Payne,
floor leader OF the House and chairman Of the
Ways and Means Committee I'm a letter to
Representative Mccall, Of Massachusetts,. one
of the tariff revision leaders Of that state Mr.
Payne, who, chairman Of the WAYS and
Means Committee, Yields power in controlling
tariff questions in the House, declares that be-
cause Of the approaching elections Congress is
not prepared to review the tariff schedules in
mat calm, judicial frame of mind so neces-
sary TO the proper preparation Of a tariff act"
Inc DlngIey bill he says, is the most successful
tarih measure ever enacted and in the nine
years Of its operation the country has enjoyed
unparalleled prosperity. He insists that the
larlH should not be tempered with. and says this
Is the view Of the majority Of the party
MT McCaLs letter TO Mr.. Payne is as follows:
My Dear Mr.. Payne: Referring to our CONVEX
~ Irjc o.CeLnlng revision of the tariff desire
ihtahlng clear the attitude Of the Republican mem
ton Of the qeleg9tion The decla5a-
PpcQtHfcans adopted by their State Convention on
After announcing adherence to the policy Of pro-
~ In J ana opposition to tariff changes tending
lover the wages of American labor" the platform
urges the Senators and Representatives from Mas
Sdchusetts TO -contiEEe to press upon their party
associates I'm Congress from other states the wis
pose of revision and REIMBURSEMENT" This declara-
uo9 was at least not Inconsistent with the last
nauona! republican platform which, referring to
the tariff, declared that rates of duty should be
readjusted only when conditions have so changed
and that ITO Republican Congress and Re
publican President this great question safely
be intrusted."
Republican President and Congress strongly Re-
publican in both houses. If revision is not to be
unlikely that it will be secured during the life OF
the present Congress. for the next session will be
sage Of the appropriation bills. On behalf, there
5e+e 81 me b, RePu3nGaE mganeTs from MassaGnu,
the enactment Of the existing duties conditions
have 50 ohanged that the public interest demands
me TO make the request, I ask consideration Of
the tariff by the Committee Ways and Means
with view to its revision and reimbursement Sin
cerely yours, S. W. MCALL.
Mr.. Payne replied as follows:
Ny Dear Mr.. Mccall: Yours Of the 21st inst
declaration Of the Massachusetts platform and
also Of the national Republican platform. am
IN the national platform that rates OF duty should
changed that the public interests demand their
alteration The question now presents itself as to
question can oniy be settled pTaoSay by the con,
and responsible for the legislation While there IS
group Of members Of the House who believe that
group OF groups who believe the changes demanded
should be changed in regard to other items in the
scIeduleS' ILlnk you VIII agree VIII NE SIldt
majority Of the Republicans IN the House DO not
concur IN the opinion that there should be a gen.
erRl revision of the tariff
While there is a minority Of Republican members
who concur that the tariff should be amended in
some few items there is smaller minority who
believe that any effort 10 change the tariff should
Our people have not forgotten the dishonest but
plausible claims that were made by our opponents
the final passage Of the Mckinley bill and the un-
fortunate results of that election The resulting
change OF policies was especially disastrous to the
business ana TABOR interests or the country through
the years that followed. Surely we ought not to
repeat that experiment in the year 1906
schedules in that calm. judicial frame of mind so so
necessary to the proper preparation Of a tariff act
at a time so near the coming Con Rressionai a1eo-
ever enacted. It's practical results were evident
% the, country during the eighteen months that
mat the people have continued the policy Of that
Dill 70 the present day. II would be Unfortunate
ShOul4 any pTeclpltate action in the future result
In the United States
While It is true that some Improvement could we'll
De made In the rates under the Dinglev hill II Wag
probably as free from defects at The sims 80 tts
passage as any new law which could noW he an
acted. During the nine years Of it's operation the
prosperity which at the present time is simpv mar
Nelous. We may well hesitate to take anv chance
OF lnte1rruptIng the business Of the country BY a
general revision Of the tariff and we SHOULD never
enter upon ii until satisfied that such a re-
VISION Will accomplish results far OutweghinR am,
Wei grounded apprehension OF business depressfor
and consequent evil results which would Come eve
temporarily from such revision ~
e.. cannot therefore agree with your delegation
gress TO enter upon a consideration on The taTiY
with view TO It's revision and djustment while
ms IIs IS my indyidua opinion have reason 10 be
neEe that II is also the judgment OF a decided ma
Jortiy OF the Committee on Ways and Means Sin
0SIeiy yours SERENO E. PAYNE.