Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-28
Let Well Enough Alone.

est in the revision of the tariff until
the thinkers began to threaten our IN
dustries. Then the rank and file of the
electorate gave the matter serious at
tention and the folks at Washington
were not long in finding out what
Maine people wanted. The reason for
the seeming apathy on the part of
Maine people in the first part of the
session is explained by the fact that
Maine people believed the Dingley tar
if bill was framed by men who knew
the subject thoroughly and that any
tinkering at this time coud not but
harm Maine industries.
Those who were more familiar with
the situation, those who read the news
papers and magazines and who kept
believed that the Dingley tariff was not
only best for Maine but that it was
best for the rest of the country, that
an entire revision of the tariff sched-
ules would do more harm than good.
We saw that this view has been taken
in Maine Only lately the rest of the
country has fallen into line and it is
reasonable to believe that in the light
that has been thrown on the Dingley
schedules through an effort to revise
them, the people would never consent
to another wholesale revision. There
may have been some demand IN the
last campaign for revision of the
tariff, but it now appears that the de-
nan6 received far more attention than
it merited. 1t was not a demand OF
anv representative proportion of the
people.
The Denver Republican, a paper
printed in the West, where we have
been told that the schedules best serv-
ing New England industries are most
severely criticised, says:
IF the extraordinary session of con-
gross would adjourn without date, nav
ing determined after grave consldera-
ton and debate and many paper eX-
periments that the Dingley tariff meas
ure now in effect cannot be improved
upon. the nation at large would heave
a sigh of relief and the treasury of the
United States would begin to refill.
This nation is prosperous. All that
is required to inaugurate another era
of trade expansion and national deVel-
opment is the knowledge that there is
to be no tinkering with the tariff
schedules. The individual merchant
and the great corporations are waiting
with equal Impotence for congress TO
get out of the way SO that advantage
of the last year or two when the panic
resulting from over speculation inter-
fered with business resulting from over
fered with business and revenue and
may be taken of natures benehcence.
Fruitful harvestS are promised IN all
parts Of the country, which will benefit
the national treasury as well as the in
dividual farmer and the nation gener-
ally. There is no need positively for a
and conservative body go
ing to extremes in taxation and Great
ing unnecessary friction in business
merely to meet a temporary as we'll as
a superficial shortage in the treasury
receipts.
During the twelve years in which
the Dingley tariff schedules have been
in effect they have served the needs OF
the nation very well with the exception
of the last year or two when the panic
resulting from over speculation inter-
fered with business and revenue anc
created a deficiency; but until then
the receipts of the federal government,
if anything, were too high and it be-
came a question of their disposition,
which affiuent condition led to extra
vagances that ought to be, if they have
not been already, righted. With proper
economy and the prosperity that can
not be longer delayed, the receipts I'M
der the Dingley bill would be sufficient
for the ordinary expenses of govern
ment.
Congress by this time ought to real
ize the trend of it's own conduct. 1t
began to smash the Dingley bill. but
with every days grace and with every
additional amendment there is an APP
proach to the existing schedules. For
the good of the nation, for the benefit
of the Republican party, Congress
ought to reaffirm the Dingley bill and
adjourn