The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-06-11
POIiCQ| Comment.
Facts Concerning the Tariff.


sue II his canvass for the Democratic
nomination for the presidency. lets
himself be carried a trifle further than
calm judgment should permit. For ex-
ample, in a public address delivered at
Houghton, Mich. he made this extraor-
binary statement:
In spite of statutes which declare In
,, dustrial trusts and combinations in re-
straint of trade illegal, in other words to
be statutory outlaws in the land, the gov
eminent to-day maintains a tariff system
avowedly for the protection and profit OF
the enterprises in which these trust out
laws are interested and engaged
This is not only extravagant, but it
is grossly at variance with historical
fact. The protective tariff was born
on this continent more than two CEN
turtles before the trusts were dreamed
of. Turning back to colonial days, we
find the government of Massachusetts
enacting, in November, 1858, general
import tax, serving at once for revenue
and protection. The Continental Con-
gress was committed to the principle
of general tariff on imports and did
its utmost to obtain uniform action OF
the States to this end. On April s,
1889, James Madison introduced in the
first House of Representatives a bill
taxing imports for the support of. the
government, for the discharge of debts
OF the United States and the encour-
agement and protection of manufac-
lures" The measure was passed and
signed by President Washington.
Does Governor Johnson believe that
President Washington, James Madison
and the first Congress were playing
into the hands OF trust outlaws or
would he so characterize the pioneers
who laid the foundations of American
trade and industry?
In 1892, we find Congress increasing
duties from an average rate OF S12
per cent TO 1912 per cent. In 1872, ON
account of the war, duties were in
creased 100 per cent, and in 1916 fur
ther increase of AZ per cent was made.
In the same year Mr.. Dallas intro
duced tariff bill of strictly protective
character, which was opposed by Dan
lei Webster and other Eastern repre-
sentatives, but which passed both
houses by large majority and became
a law. Clay, Calhoun and Lowndes
were strong supporters of this meas
ure. Would Governor Johnson class
these men as instruments in the hands
Of trust outlawsT
There followed the protective tariff
bill of 1924, with average duties of 81
per cent and the bill of 1923. with a Al
per cent rate, which Webster favored
and which prompted several Southern
States to deny the power of Congress
to lay duties for protection.
Free trade hardly dared to show its
head until 1881, when a national free
trade convention met In Philadelphia,
while a month afterward a counter
convention of protectionists was held
in New York. Then came the enact
ment of the tariff bin of 1882, in which,
while some duties were repealed, the
protective features of the previous law
were retained.
Clay's compromise bill broke the con-
tinuity by providing for gradual re-
duction of duties. but in 1871 Congress
firmly reasserted the protective princi-
pie, general tariff act, wit rate of
33 per cent, being enacted. Modifying
measures followed in 1916 and 1851,
~ st.
tariff one-third was passed, and subse-
quently Congress remained faithful 10
the protective principle except during
the brief period when the Democracy
had control and passed the Wilson BILL.
Never has the principle of protection
been more stubbornly asserted than il
was during the long period that elapsed
between the passage of the first tariff
bill and the organization of the first
trust.
Before descanting further upon the
tariff and its beneficiaries, Mr.. B-y-
ans distinguished rival should again
consult his history books.-Pittsburg
Chronicle.
Congress Is No Layymal<inS Machine.
Much stuff and nonsense is icing
printed about - do-nothing Congress"
One would suppose that Congress is
merely a lawmaking machine. and the
more laws it grinds out the more eff
Gent 1t is. What tommyrot,
The duty of Congress is to provide
for the welfare of the country. In the
discharge of this duty Congress has to
reject as well as approve legislative
proposals.
The truth is that Congress often con-
fers more benefits upon the country by
rejecting foolish bills than by enact
ing wise ones
Congress during its recent session at
tended to all the regular business of
the country. 1t left no great service
without attention and provision. 1t
did not do some things that some of
us think ought TO have been done But
it refused to do many things which
were a menace to the nation.
Congress during its recent session re-
1ected every eHort 10 undermine the
established liberties of the people. 1t
rejected a multitude of proposals for
foolish and destructive legislation. IT
refused to assail the Constitution, to
barter away principles for campaign
funds, or to enact class laws for politi-
cal effect.
In the amount Of revolutionary, I'M
constitutional, and subversive pro-
posals that it prevented from becom-
ing a burden and curse to the Ameri-
can people this Congress stands forth
with illustrious distinction.
1t has done what was necessary for
the country i'm affirmative legislation.