The Washington herald., 1911-08-18

tween those of the two bills are adopt
ed and passed. except that. in some i'm
portant instances, rates are fixed In
the compromise at a figure higher and
in others at figure lower than were
originally fixed in either House. The
principle followed in adjusting the
amendments of existing law is. there
fore. not clear, and the effect of the
bill Is most uncertain
The Wilson tariff act, of 1894, while
giving the manufacturer free wool.
provided as high duties on leading
manufactures of wool as does the pres
ent bill. which at the same time taxes
the manufacturers of raw material at
20 per cent. Thus the protection af-
forded to manufacturers under the Will
son bill was very considerably higher
than under the present bill.
During the years in which the Will
son bill was in force. the woolen manu-
facturers suffered. Many mills were
compelled to shut down. These were
abnormal years, and it is not necessary
to attribute the hard times solely to the
tariff act of 1894. But It was at least an
addition to other factors operating to
in1ure the woolen business. 1t is the only
experience We have had for a genera
ton OF radical revision of this sched-
ule, and, without exaggerating its i'm
porsance, one pledged to a moderate
protection policy may well hesitate be-
1ore giving approval without full in
formation to legislation which makes
more radical reduction in the pro-
lection actually afforded to manufactur-
ers Of wool than did the Wilson act.
VIII Act in Time.
1T may well be that conditions of
manufacture in this country have changed
SO as to require much less protection now
for the manufacturers than at the time
Of the Wilson bill; but in view of the
possible wide suffering involved by hasty
action, based on insufficient knowledge,
the wise course, in my Judgment, is TO
postpone any change for the few months
needed to complete the pending inquiry.
when / have the accurate inforrn2-
ton which justifies such action, I shall
recommend to Congress as great a reduc-
ton in Schedule K as the measure of
protection, already stated, will permit.
The failure of the present bill should not
be regarded. therefore, as taking away
the only chance for reduction by this
Congress-
II have no doubt that IL were to sign
this bill 1 would receive the approval IF
very many persons who favor a reduc-
tion OF duties in order to reduce the cost
of living. whatever the effect on our pro-
tected industries, and who fail to realize
the disaster to business generally and TO
the people at large which may come from
a radical disturbance Of that part 9. busi-
ness dependent for its life on the continu-
ance OF a protective tariff. II fail to
guard as far as can the Industries Of
the country to the extent OF giving them
the benefit OF living measure Of protec-
ton, and business disaster ensues, shall
not be discharging my duty. II fail to
the reduction of excessive
duties to this extent, I shall fail In my
duty to the consuming public.
There is no public exigency requiring
the revision of Schedule K In August with
out adequate. Information, rather than in
December with such information. De-
cember was the time fixed by both par
ties in the last Congress for the SUBJ
mission OF adequate information upon
K with view to its amend
ment. Certainly the public veal Is bet
ter preserved by delaying ninety days
in order to do justice and make such a
reduction as shall be proper than now
blindly to enact law which may seri-
ously injure the industries involved and
the business Of the country in gen.
eral"
Underwood to Urge Bill.
Representative Underwood. of Alabama.
the majority leader, announced that i'm
after the approval Of the jour-
nal to-day, he would move that the wool
bill be passed over the Presidents veto.