The Washington herald., 1908-09-04
Tariff Revision Certsin.


Whatever may be the outcome Of the
campaign. it is obvious that the sixty
hrst Congress viii be convened in extra
session next March. as both candidates
have promised an immediate attempt 10
realize in legislation the reforms for
which they stand. II is pretty certain
that tariff revision VIII be by all odds
the most important Of these Everybody.
it appears. is in favor Of revision Of
some sort Mr.. Payne, one Of the chief
Of the standpatters, has lately come out
strong for revision. and Of course Uncle
joe is an equally ardent tariff reformer.
The only questions undetermined are.
what principles shall guide the revision
lists, and to what extent and in what
direction shall revision be undertaken
The issue OF the campaign viii. TO some
degree. settle these questions
II the Republicans attempt revision
there is some indication that the new
tariff VIII be framed largely with refer
ence TO foreign tariffs and their effect
upon our export trade The maximum
and minimum principle will undoubtedly
be adopted, 50 as TO give our government
q wider basis than ii now has for tariff
agreements Of a reciprocal character. It is
possible that such agreements may salts
fy. IN q considerable measure. the demand
for revision proceeding from those man
la1s - l.-
benefited by the protective tariff. which
are seeking the extension OF their foreign
trade But how are the Republican Ts-
visers going 10 satisfy the opposing in
terests. which, Senator McCUmber pre-
diets. and with good reason. viii descend
upon Congress with contradictory de-
maads? The old contest for free raw
materials viii have 20 be fought all over
again. and the old controversy between
manufacturer and producer VIII be wsgsd
with the usual bitterness To aid them in
the solution OF the perplexing questions
raised by these contending interests. the
Republicans have no guiding principle
but that Of protection 10 home industry
There must be no abatement Of the pro
tective idea. Republican statesmen shout
in chorus On this theory al domestic
industry Is entitled to protection. and 50
any Republican tariff bin must be a
ho6ge-Podge Of compromise between con
fictlg interests. ali Of which insist that
they shall be preserved from foreign com
petition.
The Democrats. on the other hand
should they be commissioned TO revise the
tariff. have at least one or two definite
principles OF revision that may determine
the character OF q Democratic tariff bill.
al least in its earlier stages. One Of these
is that raw materials should be On the
free list. and another Is that the products
Of a trust should be unprotected And
more important than either IS the idea
that al tariff duties should be gradually
reduced, 50 that eventually they would
be on a revenue basis. Yet the Demo
cratic revisers would not be able to avoid
conflicts Of interest any more than the
Republicans. and he would be a strong
man who could drive a consistent tariff
blu, carrying reduction OF duties all along
the line. through a Congress bound TO be
composed largely Of Protectionists, even
If it were Democratic in complexion. No
wonder the leaders OF both parties hesi-
tate 10 reopen the troublesome practical
question Of tariff revision. They would
not have done 50 had not public opinion
forced them into It