El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-13

stead of lower, as Mr.. Aldrich had an
nounced in the beginning it would be-
So strenuous was the work done by
Mr. Aldrich that his health was i'm
paired and early in June he had to
go away, leaving the bill in charge
Of senator Allison of Iowa The bill
was passed on July 7, and the confer
ence committee of the two houses at
once took up the consideration of the
S72 senate amendments Four-fifths
of these were accepted by the house
and on July "a, the conference report
was adopted, the bill was passed, 1T re-
ceived the signature OF president Nc
Kinley and became a law. 1t remained
on the statute books for Is years, the
longest time any tariff act ever ex-
listed without amendment of any kind
Passes ut OppOrtune Time.
The passage of the three preceding
tariff bills that Of 1888. the McKin-
ley bill and the Wilson bill had been
followed by immediate disaster to the
party in power. But as the Dingley
bill was passed in an extra session,
and became a law more than year
before the next election, instead Of
only a few weeks as was the case Of
the Mckinley bill and the Wilson bill,
there was sufficient time to give it
an actual trial before taking the YER
dict Of the people at the polls In the
meantime returning prosperity and re-
viving industry had allayed popular
discomfort, the free silver sentiment
began to recede, and the administra-
ton became immensely popular on ac-
count of the successful war against
Spain, waged in the spring and sum-
mer Of the election year. 1898.
AS it was the congressional cleo
lions of 1898 reduced the Republican
majority in the house to %, the lowest
number of any congress IN the IS years
from 1895 to 1911. But at the same time
the Republican majority in the senate
was substantially increased. and the
Democratic party was reduced to
condition most accurately to be de-
scribed in the phrase OF president
Cleveland, as one OF innocuous desue-
tude.
Proves Successful Measure.
Judged by its long life, and its sue
cess both as revenue producer and
as a protective measure, the Dingley
bill was perhaps the most successful
essay in tariff legislation ever made
As was the case with the Mckinley
bill. while the Dingley bill was per-
fected in detail by senator Aldrich, II
was conceived in general scope and
plan by the chairman of the ways and
means cOumllIee OF the HOQSc-
Nelson Dingley probably was the
best equipped man to deal with the
tariff problem from the protectionist
angle who has ever occupied the po-
sition he held with such success. He
was born in 1892 and he studied law
in the office of Morrill, and Fessenden,
both members OF which firm served in
the senate representing the state OF
Maine. Mr.. Dingley began his poiiti-
cal career as the editor Of the Lewis
town Journal He was rewarded by
being sent TO the legislature. where
he served several years. He was twice
elected governor. and then. in 1881.
was lected TO congress TO succeed VIII
liam P FRYE who had been promoted
to the senate. He served from that
| time until his death in January. 1889.
In the first year OF the Mckinley ad-
miristration he declined a proffered
appointment of secretary of the treas
ury. preferring TO continue his service
IN the house to the alluresnents Of q
cabinet position
Great Revenue Producer.
The law which bore the name Of
Dingley was the greatest revenue pro-
Queer in the history of American Gus
toms laws. Notwithstanding the fact
that its duties were the highest ever
imposed. and in many instances its
protective character was such as TO