Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-11

II e an Interesting fact that the two
greatest deficit-prOducing tariff laws the
United States has ever had followed one
rnon the heels OF the other. Men VIII
ever differ as TO the direct cause OF the
failure OF both measures 10 produce inc
necessary revenue. but the remote cause
vas a characterization in the framing OF
both. The Mckinley bill put sugar on the
free list and gave a bounty 10 domesuc
sugar. The two items resulted in loss
10 the right side Of the treasury balance
OF over S50OO0.0o0 a year. The Wilson law
set up an income tax provision Whlch
Vas turned down by the supreme court,
and that resulted in deficit under tne
operation Of the Wilson tariff II IS s1a
ted by StsnwOOd. most impartial ana
thoroush OF all the tariff historians, but
Who confesses TO protection leanings.
that the Wilson tariff woafd have pro-
duced a surplus after the first year but
for the overturning OF the income TAX
BY the highest court
He likewise assumes that the cause OF
the vast proportion of the deficit under
the Mckinley law was due TO the falling
on OF imports after the election OF ar.
Cleveland in anticipation Of the low rates
90 be had under the forthcoming tarin
revision. but he adds that even then
there would have been no deflcit mao
sugar not been placed on the free hsl
under that law
The country might well have prepared
itself for the sort Of tariff law that MT
Cleveland would not honor with MS
signature. from the course which events
took at the Democratic national eonven-
ton OF 1850. The conservative wing OF
the party dominated the committee on
resolutions which brought in as milo
q demand for tariff revision as one could
wish to see But the convention would
have none OF It, BY a vote OF 5o4 10 81
II turned down the proposed plank, ana
went after protection and the Mckinney
law hammer and tongs- II was the most
radical tariff declaration ever made by
any responsible party.
The events of the year following the
election OF Mr.. Cleveland constitute the
most remarkable series of transactions
in the history OF American tariff legis-
Iation. Possessed Of a large majority Ia
the house and a comfortable margin Ia
the senate the Democrats were forced 70
make such a remarkable series Of con-
eessions 10 members of their own party
that the Wilson tariff law emerged from
the legislative mill loaded down with
protection
There is a story of a dealer in herring
who was asked whether he was for pro-
lection OF free trade. He came out I'M
nuaIifediv for free trade on ev-
--erything but herring. There were enough
men OF this stamp among the DEM
ocrats OF the fifty-third congress to pre-
vent the passage of any consistent low
tariff measure Even as the bill was re-
ported TO the house by Mr.. Wilson it was
not entirely satisfactory TO him. He SAID
he had found that not all who marched
braveIy in the parade were found in line
when the musketry began to rattle, and
that friends of reform had fallen away
when a definite low tariff schedule was
presented But after il reached the house
the bill was amended upward. a process
that was continued in the senate The
number of Democratic speeches in favor
OF some specific item OF protection is one
OF the remarkable things about the meas
ure The whole Louisiana delegation IA
vOred a duty on sugar. The Troy shirt
and collar makers did not lack for cham
pfons who made protection on shirts and
collars the condition Of their support FOR
the completed measure Some OF ths
southern Democrats wanted duty on
coal and iron ore. and a western free
trader said the bill suited him except that
be wanted a duty on silver-lead ore. which
was produced in his district
The low tariff press OF the country grew
insistent for immediate action after
Cleveland was inaugurated- One paper
longed for the day when the American
laborer could sleep under a wool blanket
once more instead Of one of shOddy. Tar
ff reform started out bravely. At the
extra session called TO consider currency
matters. the ways and means commit
Kasaw Ion
tariff man-Crisp, OF GeOrgia-was made
speaker. William l. Wilson. low tariff
man OF the Cleveland school. was made
Chairman OF ways and means.
The committee gave a month for hear
fngs They had treasury officials 10 as
sist in the preparation OF the bill. Fo1
this they were roundly criticised by the
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