The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-06-20
A WRONG-HEADED SENATE.

The Tribune the other day fortified
its position that the Senate Finance
Committee, in raising instead of lower.
ing duties on manufactures, is betray-
ing the pledges Of the party, by quoting
President Taft's repeated declarations
during the campaign, that the tariff re,
vision called for in the Republican Ma.
| tional platform last year meant revision
downward. 1t is unquestionable that
the country SO understood that declara-
tion. 1t is certain that if any one had
opposed this idea during the campaign,
he would have been denounced as a
traitor to the Republican party 1t is
sure that if revision downward is not
made the popular demand for such re-
vision will be louder and stronger than
ever, and the battle will all have to be
fought over again, with the Republican
party on the defensive ON charge Of
breaking faith with the people, the
Republican President being the princi-
pal and most positive witness that it
did break faith
This is maintained also by the chief Re-
publican newspapers of this country, The
New York Tribune will not be charged
with lack of zeal in the Republican
cause, nor of doubtful party standing.
But 1t takes precisely the same ground
that we have taken, and fortifies its
position by a quotation from the ST.
Louis Globe Democrat, another stroug
Republican party newspaper. Both
argue against the Senate Finance Com
mittee S position, the New York Tri~
bune's editorial of June 18th, on this
question being as follows:
THE SENATES MISTAKE
One OF the most puzzing developments
Of the situation at Washington has been
the Inability OF the members OF the SEN
ate Finance Committee TO sec that they
are out of touch with the sentiment OF
The Republican party and the sentiment
tees tariff bill seems to have been
framed with singular disregard not only
ot popular opinion but Of ordinary poli-
teal caution. In dealing with a problem
like the tariff. affecting strongly organ
lied local interests. il is, of course diff
hcult for body as susceptible To local
special demands to the general advan-
tage. The Senate is moro or less par
tlculariSt In spirit and tendencies and Is
usually inclined to the narrower outlook
rs Their than tho broader. Yet. In the his
tory OF tariff making the upper house has
never had fairer opportunity than It
has had at this session to drop partlCu-
larsm and 10 exhibit a liberal and an
enlightened nationalism.
The Senate has followed. far. the
pnrsy negatiY9 ,I policy Of of neutrsIizins ne
Payne bill in the image OF the DinGey
law. II may be urged that 1t is the Sen
ate,s chief function to put on the brakes
House, which generally acts more in ac-
cordance with current popular impulses.
In the tariff struggle OF 1s9; the Demo
the Democratic House Of Representatives.
But conditions then favored such an OBJ
stTnefive rna,si n couTSe The conntrT va was
less measure forced through the lower
branch ny Mr.. Wilson and his associates.
The Wilson bill was a crude and an anna :
free raw materials at the expense of both
protection TO the American producer and
income to the Treasury. Its enactment
can industry and left the government
with y permanent deficit. The senate of
1924 had the good excuse for remodcling
the itouse blu and raising duties all along
the line that sufficient revenue had not
been provided and that American indus
Try Vas being harshly penallzed- Tile
Republican voters of the country were a
unit In indorsing the Senatc's action. and
large element In the Democratic party
was equally averse 10 taking chances
| with so wretched makcshift as the VIII
son bill,
The situation today Is entirely differ
ent The tariff bill passed by the House
| or Representatives was accepted by the
country AZ a moderate and rational pro-
| lection measure. No noticeable opposi-
ton TO IL developed in the newspapers.
republican or Democratic. 1t could have
been accepted practically without change
| by the Senate and made law with al
most universal approval. The Senate had
| produce sufficient revenue: for On the
Finance Committees own admission the