Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-27
Mr.. Dalzell on the Tariff.

Mr. DaIzell of Pennsylvania spoke with
unusual effect in the House yesterday.
Both sides of the chamber followed him
with fiattering attention. and were amply
repaid No speech of the session, SO far.
ranks it. and none to follow is likely to
Go SO. 1t was all the weightier for the
entire absence of rhetoric, or picture.
being closely reasoned deliverance brist-
ling with facts and plain illustrations.
AS Mr.. DalZell is a standpatter-one of
the foremost champions of that side of
the tariff question-that paragraph of the
speech relating to the tariff possesses
much value. Said the member from Pitts
burg
Personally | do not believe that there
is any necessity for a general revision
of our tariff laws. i believe. however.
that it is well to recognize the claims
of those who think there should be re-
vision, and / am inclined to believe that
unless there should be change of senti-
ment in the meantime the republican con-
ventiOn, when it meets next June. will
promise that the subject will be con-
sidered. If the republican party shall
prevail in the next election, | believe
the tariff will be revised at special ses-
sion of Congress following Immediately
upon the Inauguration of the President.
when revised. it will be in strict ac-
cOfOdnCe WIN the republican theory u
protection, so as to furnish ample pro-
lection to every American industry and
the wage of every American workman.
If there are now duties that are no longer
needed for protection. they will be re-
duced or dispensed with. If there be
places where such protection as l have
described does not exist. either by rea-
son of the absence of duties or by reason
of their being too low. in the one case
duties will be added and i'm the other
will hp Increased In other words
the tariff will be revised up or down. as
may be necessary to make it really pro-
tective.
OF course, the tariff is to be revised lin
strict accordance with the republican
theory of protection applied both to
manufactured products and to wages.
There has never been any other sugges-
tion from any truly representative re-
publican source. Protection not as an
incident. but as definite object, has al
ways been. and is today. the recognized
shibboleth of the party. Promises made
in the name of that cry have always been
redeemed after victory. and legislation
fashioned on them has always redounded
to the great advantage of the country
But note this in Mr. Dalzells predic-
ton: THE tariff will be revised up or
down, as may be necessary to make it
really protective The revisionists can
conceive of no duties that are now too
low. Evidently Mr.. Dalzell can. and
does. So that at Chicago, and in the next
Congress if the republicans prevail in No
vember, the standpatters will have some
thing to say on this point.
1t is not to be forgotten either that the
government needs. and will continue to
need. a large revenue. Our expenses are
heavy. and cannot be reduced safely in
a material sum on any line. A reduction
of customs duties will mean the necessity
of finding the money elsewhere And
where? The Supreme Court has decided
against an income tax. and while the
member who cast the deciding vote has
retired. it is not safe to assume that such
legislation would pass muster before the
court as now constituted.
Taxation is a big and complex ques-
ton. and we have it with us now in its
most difficult aspect. Mr.. Dalzells warn
ing should not escape the leaders of the
revisionists