The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-01-13
.FlVORS FALLING TARIFF
hd1e Grlggs Strongly Urges
That Revision Be Downward.
CONSISTENT TARIFF REFORMER

n..sn.t Believe in RObbing Many to
wake One Man Rich. Has Not
,,+orod His Position to Suit the
nomands of Long Staple Cotton
Growers and the Producers of Mo-
,asses and Tobacco.
7,bn Corrigan, Jr., the special rep
sentative of the Atlanta Constitu-
tion in Washington, sends that paper
the following:
oT am decidedly opposed to the
protective tariff; I am not in favor
81 robbing hundreds of thousands of
mon to make one man wealthy" said
7ndge J. M. Griggs in discussing the
rocent hearings before the ways and
means committee of the house, of
which he is a member.
1ndge Griggs is a consistent tariff
rovisionist. He has not altered his
rosition in the face of the demands
of the long staple cotton growers for
protective tariff, or of the pro-
h dncers of rice, sugar, molasses or
tobacco. He has persevered even
when the opposition developed in
Georgia and the south to the pro-
Dosed reduction on lumber duties.
If it is possible to secure a thor
ough and honest revision of the tar
if downward Judge Griggs announces
that he will support the attempt. If
+ is apparent that the principle of
Drotection is to be continued he will
then attempt to secure protection for
the long staple cotton men, the lum-
Der men, the rice, sugar and mOlasses
men, and attempt to fix a tariff on
imported lumber and imported hides.
However, he inclines strongly to the
idea of a simple revenue tariff, with
only incidental protection.
The new tariff bill which will be
introduced at the extra session, to be
called next March, is now being
framed by the republicans in confer
ence. That it is no easy task is
evident from the comments of the in
dividual members.
we wish you had the job" said
leading republican member of the
ways and means committee to a dem
ocratic member today.
The problem of harmOnizing con-
ficting views on the tariff question is
more serious than that of reaching
an agreement on the money question.
Each individual member has his own
particular views, and in most in
stances is directly interested in hav-
ing some particular duty retained,
since it means the loss or gain of
fortunes to his constituents.
Attitude of Democrats.
A conflict of opinion among demo-
Gratis as to the most desirable course
TO pursue has also developed. On
one side there is a desire to frame a
tariff bill which will be unitedly sup
ported by the democratic members.
others believe it would be better
politics to stand ready to urge
amendments to any bill the republi-
cans may bring in. 1t has already
been announced that an opportunity
Will be allowed for the introduction
OF such amendments.
representative Clayton is for a mi
horlty bill. He believes that the
WORK OF framing such a measure
would make the democratic members
more conversant with the intricate
details of the subject and better
equipped to wage a fight on the floor.
me democratic members of the ways
ana means committee have been en-
uFely excluded from the caucuses at
winch the republicans are shaping up
a bin.
On the other hand, Representative
nay OF Virginia is decidedly opposed
10 democratic tariff bill The ad-
vantage of individual action is that
gacn democratic congressman will
oe Ieft free to urge amendments en-
Ipood}lng specific schedules in which
ms constituents are interested and on
U VI schedules vote with his party.
mus the semblance of party regu-
latIty. will be maintained.
me need for some such arrange
4eht Is already apparent. During
Jne nearing before the committee
representative Frank Clark of Flor
t tu. appeared to urge a protective
oaI Ill Tor the benefit of the peanut
slo"ers. Tobacco, sugar, molasses
ana Iumbermen each pleaded for
'"[,1 on their particular porduct.
me democratic leader at the extra
I5ESSlon will be Champ Clark. He
m mas as yet given out no intimation of
WHAT line of policy he expects to
discussion.