Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-13
AMERICAN TARIFF LAWS
THE CLAY COMPROMISE.
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

When the second session of the twenty
second congress met, in December, lSSZ'
the free traders were ready to Top off
forthwith every protective duty in the
tariff of the previous spring. A bill en-
bodying this principle was early brought
into the house. It's appearance there was
the signal for one of the most drarnat-
ic of all the battles that have been wag-
ed in the long-continuing tariff war. The
protectionists realized that they were out
numbered. but they resolved to stand like
the Spartans at Thermopylae. They were
angered to think that the action of a
single state could overturn their favorite
policy, just as Mr.. Roosevelt was an
gered when California threatened, by her
individual action. to precipitate trouble
with Japan. The protectionists accused
the advocates of revision Of being cow
ards before the state of South Carolina.
The low tariff people promptly resent
ed the imputation. They pointed TO the
fact that seven of the states had ap-
pealed to congress to put an end to pro-
lection, two of them the New England
states of Maine and New Hampshire.
Their spokesman asserted that 1t was
neither right nor just that taxes should
be imposed on states which believed them
to be oppressive and unconstitutional.
After a prolonged debate on the bill
reported to the house it was found that
is could not master the necessary
strength for passage. Then numerous
other propositions were brought forth,
but they suffered a like lack of strength.
At last a motion was made by a Ken
lucky member that all after the enacting
clause be stricken out. and that in lieu
thereof be substituted the bill drafted
by Senator Clay, which, it was under
stood, could pass the senate. This meas
ure was accepted almost at once, ano
passed the house with a substantial mar
gin.
This bill had previously been introduced
in the senate by Mr.. Clay, lin the hope
perhaps vaine hope-of reconciling con-
flicting opinions in this country on the
subject to which it related The bill
was drawn to be "a protective tariff that
leads to ultimate free trade and pro-
vided for a gradual reduction of duties
until 1912, when the last vestige of pro-
lection should be wiped off the statute
books and a complete tariff for revenue
only should then take its place. The first
reduction was not to take place until
nine months after the approval of the
measure, and all duties were to be
brought down to a horizontal level of a
per cent. by such gradual steps that II
would require nine years to complete this
reduction, thus giving every manufactu-
rer chance to adjust himself to the
new conditions.
The measure was unique among tar
in measures in that it sought TO tie the
hands of future congresses. In the years
that followed the plea was frequently
heard that the act amounted to an In
violable promise by congress to abide
by that measure. and that to Interfere
with 1t even to repeal the odious salt tax.
would involve bad faith on the part OF
the national legislature.
When the bill was brought into the
senate with the sanction of the house
upon it. Mr.. Clap promptly took the
floor as its champion. His speech was
perhaps the greatest conciniatory effort
of his life-a life which gave him rank
as the greatest of American conciliators.
He first referred to the dissensions that
had grown up because of protection. and
said he felt that all differences ought to
be harmonized and reconciled. Then he
asserted that protection stood in immi-
nent danger and drew an appalling pic
ture of the consequences that would fol-
low a sudden change to free trade. He
took the view that MS measure would
erect the change that seemed inevitable,
and would accomplish IL in a way that
would reduce to a minimum the evils Of
a change. AS for the permanency of the
measure, he thought the protectionists.
would not seek to reopen the question
for fear of a worse fate, and that the
free traders would not seek to overthrow
measure they had helped enact.
He said he felt that the manufacturers
could well afford to give the concessions
his measure exacted from them, in ex-
change for the nine and a half years OF
legislative peace and certainty they
would enjoy. AS to the assertion that
he was led to frame the bill by the multi
fication acts, he said that so long as
South Carolina threatened by force to
oppose the laws of the nation, he had
been an advocate of harsh measures; but
since he found that she meant only to
try TO accomplish her ends by law and
not by the sword, there was no longer
necessity for harshness. While he
thought the experiment was a rash, in
temperate, and even dangerous one, still,
1t was time for reconciliation and not
for extreme measures. He now believed
that South Carolina had been putting up
her fists merely to see what the United
States would do about it, and with that
view in mind he could no longer see that
he was yielding in the face of threats