New-York tribune., 1907-05-24
TARIFF REVISION.

Dispatches from Chicago giving Senator Hop
kins as authority for the statement that
Speaker Cannon If q Presidential candidate
will favor O revision Of the tariff at special
session Of Congress In 1909, coupled with the
vote Of the National Association of Manufacture
ers on Friday in favor of such revision. indicate
that there is a growing popular conviction that
the time is nearly ripe for the overhaung or
the Dingley schedules. Even If the Senator's
announcement does not officially and accurately
reflect the Speakers Intentions, his own dec
laration of belief in the expediency of revision
is highly significant.
Last Monday the Tribunes Washington cor
respondent called attention TO President RooSe-
velt'S desire TO have the present schedules
amended either in 1908 or 1909, and the advis-
ability of revision has also recently been urged
by Senator Allison. Senator Aldrich, ex-senator
SpoOner and his successor. Senator Stephenson.
By 1909 the Dingley law will have been In Oper-
alton twelve years-longer than the average life
Of an American tariff measure. These twelve
years will, moreover have seen a far more rad
ical change Ia the conditions Of industry, pro
duction and trade than has taken place-or
could have taken place-in the same length OF
time under any previous tariff. Though the
DingIey act was assailed as q restrictive meas
ure meant TO strangle foreign trade, it has in
practice permitted and encouraged a phenom-
enal increase in foreign exchanges. Under 1t
our imports as well as our exports have dou-
bled and the United States has become a domi-
nant factor IN international commerce.
It is plain that no charge of ineficiency can
be sustained against the Dingley tariff. 1t has
proved an unqualified success, and in so doing
has happily vindicated the validity OF the pro-
tectiye principle and allayed the angry preju-
dices long felt in the South and West against
the imposition Of tariff duties for purposes of
national development. But the very fact that
the Dingley tariff did its work so we'll and so
quickly has initiated against its survival
amended the statute book. 1t was passed to
fit conditions which no longer exist. 1t was a
bridge from one stage in our Industrial and COM
mercial expansion 10 another, and now that the
new stage has been reached we should be ready to
remodel the out-Of-date construction. tariff
must be changed to meet changing conditions, and
only the most myopc 'standpatter" will contend
that our trade and industrial relations in 1907
bear any close resemblance to our trade and in
duStrial relations ten years ago. The Dngley
rates are in many cases out of touch with pres
ent national needs, and both for purposes of rev
enue and for purposes of rational protection
could be altered to advantage. The great ma
jority of the voters in the country are now con-
WINGED that protection has been q wise and help
full policy. They want TO continue to apply the
pNInclple, .DuC IDeF want 10 see II applied In
telligenty, fairly and for the greatest good OF
the greatest number.
The time most generally favored for revising
the tariff is the spring Of 1909, following the in
auguration Of the next President One of the
reasons for the smooth and easy working of the
Dngey tariff that IL became law at an
extra spring session In 1897 and had q trying
out of a year and a quarter before the next cleo
tions for Congress. A minimum Of factiOus and
partisan opposition was thus encountered,
whereas with both the Mckinley and the Viii
son-Gorman tariffs, passed on the eve Of Con-
gress elections, bitter sectional and factlonal
anlmOsities were aroused and the economic pur-
pose Of both acts was overshadowed by the .po-
Htical. Tariff legislation should be as non-par-
tisan possible and should have q fair
chance TO Justify itself before 1t becomes the
subject Of campaign discussion. A Congress
can perhaps best cooperate TO frame
tariff which will represent most fairly the
wishes of the country and avoid the pitfalls Of
mere partisan opposition. Yet there are also
arguments against too great delay in carrying
through a revision Commerce and industry
might be checked by prolonged uncertainty as to
the terms and working of the new schedules
and a contraction in the business world might
result But whether revision Is to come year
sooner or q year later, the fact is clear that
the country is beginning TO think the time is
near at hand for overhauling the tariff of 1897