The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-19
WHY REPUBLICANS FEAR A TARIFF
COMMISSION.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

WHY REPUBLICANS TBAh ~ AaI1'r
COMMISSION.
The vital subject of tariff reform Is
not to be referred to n commission OF
unprecedented experts. On the con-
trary, each house of Congress has in
trusted the inquiry to a committee OF
its own-the Senate, to the FINANCE
COMMITTEES: the House of Representa-
tiyes, to the Ways and Means Commit
tee.
This disposition OF the subject is not
a favorable augury for that revision
which the economic needs of the coun-
try require 1t indicates, however. that
the Republican Congressman have
learned from the past how inexpedient
1t is, even dangerous, to suffer their
own outcome OF tariff revision to be
contrasted with that of a competent
commission.
The tariff bill of 1883, enacted by u
the amount of protection, had to stand
this ordeal. A commission appointed
in Difference to an almost universal
demand for tariff reform had recon-
mended bill which reduced the then
existing duties about 20 per cent. IN
an average. Congress rejected It, ig-
nored its reforming design, and passed
q totally different bill that inflicted
upon the country still higher duties.
But the contrast between what Con-
gress did and the we'll considered, mod
crate measure of reform recommended
by the commission was glaring. 1t
gave the Democrats and other advo-
Gates of real revision an opportunity
to point directly to the difference be.
tween serious effort to afford relief
and partisan juggling In favor of
special interests.
In the following year, 1854, Grovor
Cleveland was elected. the first Demo-
cratic President in twenty four years
The Republican leaders of TODAY
possibly remember this episode in tariff
history, and are determined that 70
rational, carefully arranged schedule
OF rates shall be at hand either to
plague them or to arouse undue hones
on the part of the public.
II there is dissatisfaction with what
congress, unaided and alone. shall pro.
ouce IN the way of tariff revision, crit
icism will. at least, be confined TO
general principles; it will, not have q
tangible and better measure to lana
''u'''iohal force to. its complaints,
sooiHERN FOREST RESERVES IN
SIGHT.
Speaker Cannon has at last relen+od
or been subdued. for the Appalachian
FOREST reserve bill has been allowed
10 escape from the COMMITTEES on or; /.
culture and be reported on the floor
OF the House of Representatives.
No bill that is conceivable from a Re-
publican Congress is Of more irnport-
ence to the ,pecplet Of the South than
this measure. = Under the terms of The
bill Sl,5oo.o0o is appropriated for this
purpose Immediately. Thereafter from
July /, 1909, to July l. 1918. there is
80 ILLS purpose all the
moneys received from the use or re-
sources OF any national forests, That
Is, the national income from national
forests everywhere Is made applicable
to the ACQUISITION and development of
forest reserves in the White Mountains
Hnd in the Alleghanies of Pennsylvania.
Virginia and North Carolina
This beneficent action will greatly
serve to. protect the hardwood forests
OF the South and keep open the water
courses, which, under ordinary methods
of numbering. become clogged by
easily washed down soil
1t is estimated that one cubic mile of
solid matter is annually discharged
into the Gulf of Mexico by the Mis-
sissippi River; and by parity of reason
ing, the James and Savannah Rivers
also are being made to carry out to
sea the most valuable soils on their
watersheds. Forest reserves can be
made agricultural preserves, and
under the guidance of Secretary VIII
son and Chief Forester Pinchot this de-
parture should prove profoundly bene-
fetal TO the industries and water
courses of the entire South,
=--------=---=---1,,----
SAILING INTO HISTORY.
The eye of the whole country turned