The Washington herald., 1909-03-28

The period from 1857 10 1890 represents
one OF the most important stages IN
American tarin history. TIE beginning
OF that period saw protection first made
such a strict party issue that lines were
drawn with absolute rigidity. The man
who did not agree with his party on the
subject Of the tariff wzs 10 be considered
q political hereto. The end OF that
period saw protection urged as a perma-
nent rather than a temporary policy.
Prior 10 the debate on the Mckinley bin
Gated that doctrine as a temporary ex-
pedient They desired 70 use IL as an
agency 10 nourish the infant industry
into the manhood that stands alone and
fights its own battles without let OF
hindrance. In the happy phrase Of Pres
ident Garfield. they were FOR a .'protec-
tive tariff that leads 10 ultimate free
trade"
But that doctrine was now 70 be ab2n-
doned and a permanent policy Of prOtec-
ton 20 be substituted The Democrats
twitted the Republicans for leaving their
old position. and promptly moSed into
the camp the Republicans had deserted.
The Republicans made honors easy By
replying that the Democrats before the
civil war and Immediately afterward.
had fought all forms OF protection They
asserted that the Democrats virtualiy
admitted now the benefits Of temporary
protection. a thing which they had
vehemenuy deHied in the past
When the Flfty-hrst Congress was or
ganized the Republican majority was so
small and the rules so liberal 90 the MI
nority that the bitterest parliamentary
campaign in history had 10 be fought
out before Speaker Reed could get a
hrm hold on the helm. Il was only by
the creation Of rules that were denounced
by the minority As arbitrary, revolution
a-y. and unjust that he was able 20 make
the House bridle-wise and a steady
puller He. justified his rules by saying
that they were born in necessity. The
Democrats denounced them with al the
vehemence they could command: yet IN
the very next Congress. when they were
in control, they were prompt in applying
the Reed rules 20 those who had origin
aliy adopted them. and the Republicans
now kicked as hard as Tho Democrats
had before
A number OF Democratic members were
unseated early in tie session. and the
Republican contestants awarded seats.
This gave the Republicans q safe work
ing majority. The House then under
took the serious business % passing the
Mckinley law. The WAYS and Means
Committee Of that Congress was one OF
the ablest the House has ever had. IN
its membership was a future President.
a future Secretary OF the Treasury. a
future justice Of the United States Su-
preme Court. six future members OF the
United States senate. and as many more
who were destined 10 be governors or
their respective States Former Speaker
Carlisle was also a member.
The COMMITTEES reported two measures
one relating 70 the administration OF the
tariff laws and one q general revision OF
the tariff The former created the gen
erai board OF appraisers. still IN exis-
tence. The latter was The Mckinley bill.
the basis Of which was the Aldrich mas
ure. which the Senate had passed as it's
substitute 70 the Mills bill In preparing
A..AAAAA.AAAAH
impress on the country that it was do
ing what the Democrats had failed % do
In the preparation OF TIE Mills bin The
charge was made that the committee
opened its doors 20 the manufactures.
but had failed 70 give the consumers a
hearing Even the Democratic members
OF the committee denied this charge. and
the statement was made that even the
crank was not turned away until he had
been heard.
The Mckinley bill was fun of novel fea-
lures. embOdying more new departures in
tariff legislation than any other measure
Of its kind ever passed by Congress Il
was the first tariff bin 20 provide for pro
tective duties on all agricultural products
and the first % place unrefned sugar on
the free list. From the foundation OF the
government sugar had contributed more
10 the customs receipts OF the nation
than any other single item OF tariT taxa
tion. Instead Of retaining a tariff on
sugar. thus getting an income from fl,