Evening journal., 1909-06-01
Tuesday, June /, 1909
TARIFF COMMISSION.

r T is more than probable that the movement Tor
4 the creation of a permanent tariff commits
sion will be the outcome Of the present wrange
in Congress over the tariff bill. The struggle in
the Senate has become contest OF Senators
attempting 20 get all they can for their own
states. The tariff bill that was supposed to
represent the sentiment of the country as ex-
pressed at the polls was adopted,by the House
1t was then sent to the Senate where It IS be-
ing made over. After the House and Senate
have conferred, agreement will be reached
on some sort OF law We have already been
months in considering the matter Business has
been delayed while the struggle is being waged
IA struggle in which the interests are trying to
hog everything in sight
The tariff debate in the Senate has caused
remarkable shaking up In the political parties.
The most surprising development has been the
attitude of the Southern Democrats. More than
half the Democratic Senators have voted against
the plain declarations of their national party
platform. They have utterly ignored the prom
ises Of their convention. They have abandoned
their position as the party OF opposition and be-
come an unorganized mass dickering with AID
rich or any other leader for a mess of pottage.
The afhlaton between Senator Aldrich the
leader of the interests, with Senator Baily the
Democratic leader is one of the features of the
session 1t is similar to the deals and afhlia-
ton between leaders and important men of both
parties of the Delaware Legislature when some
legislation affecting the special interests in this
State is under consideration. There is a drop
ping of party lines and a rushing together Of the
friends of the special interests of both parties.
While the Democratic party has been divided
there has also been a division in the Republican
party in the Senate. A considerable number of
Republicans. called the Progressves have re-
fused to wear the Aldrich yoke. They are those
who represented the Taft idea and the spirit of
the National platform of their party.
In connection with the making of the tariff it
.,f a,
peNion Of the Senate In that body, according
TO one classification and estimate, are ten farm
ers, four merchants, twenty-seven corporation
lawyers forty lawyers without special leanngs,
twenty-one bankers and holders of bank stocks,
eleven manufacturers nine holders of lumber in-
terests Twenty-Five Senators are rated mill
lionares and ten are called poor men. In the
long list we notice Senator rated the rep'
resentative of the great mass of wage workers
in the country, the real wealth producers. Al.
most all the Senators come from the ranks OF
the manipuators of wealth. In this respect how
different is our country from most of the older
countries. Every European parliament has a
large percentage of the direct representatives OF
the wage earners. Here our wage earners seem
content 10 have themselves represented in the
Senate and in the House, too, by men closely
affiliated with the special interests who protect
the inSuests to the detriment OF the public in
geaeral
The situation as developed by the present fight
over the tariff makes it clear to us that sooner
or later the demand will be imperative for the
r1eation of a permanent tariff commission com
posed of scientific men, experts in the tariff
who will recommend a tariff bill that will be for
the best interests of the entire country and no,
for special region. The present debate in Con
gress has shown beyond question that protec
tive tariff is to be the permanent policy OF th'
country. The next step will be to consider thu
best means to secure the best tariff. People arr
coming to believe that the tariff is not ques
ton to be left entirely in the hands Of poltica
leaders and especially those political leaders wh
are representatives of the trusts and special in
terests and not of the people.