The Washington times., 1912-10-29
SENATOR SMITHS PASSION FOR A
TARIFF FOR REVENUE.

The Democrats Of Maryland are interested In the
tariff views of their Senator'S especially in those Of
Senator Smith, who voted against free lumber stand
ing with Senator Aldrich the Payne-Aldrich tariff
BILL
In the light Of Senator Smiths action on that
BILL we are sure members OF his party must have
rubbed their eyes when on Saturday evening, at q
meeting in Baltimore, he announced his ideas Of the
sort Of tariff we ought to have.
Senator Smith Is an out-and-out tariff reformer
He stands with both feet on the plank in the Demo-
cratic platform which denounces unconstitutional
any tariff that is not levied for revenue only. That
surprised us and II may surprise many others. But
here Is verbatim report Of the Senator's statement
in regard to this great issue:
They know, and we all know, however dinicult the
principle may be to apply in detail and whatever differ
honestly arise In it's administration. this Gov
tariff duties whatsoever except purpose of raising
necessary revenue. All Democrats stand that i'm
perishabe principle. And, what is more. there was
never q time when the country was SO nearly one In
Its Endorsement Of that great fundamental truth.
Until this principle controls our tarin legislation
the tarin question will never be settled.
The wonder is how we'll Senator Smith controlled
his passion for tariff for revenue. When the
Payne-Aldrich tariff bill was under consideration by
the Senate, from March Is to August s. 1909, there
we're 3l rocalls on the various schedules. Senator
Smith did not vote at all on fy-six Of these calls
He began early in the alphabetical list Of schedules
to restrain his eagerness for throwing down tariff
barriers, not voting motion to admit free Of duty
all kinds Of agricultural implements or tools, car
penters and blacksmiths tools.
But when it came to lumber, which Senator Smith
is presumed to know all about, he actually shone
as tariff reformer On these schedules Senator Aid
rich was the bellwether for Senator Smith and
he had no more faithful follower. The junior Sem
ator from Maryland voted no on the amendment to
place on the free list lumber laths shingles bricks,
cement roofing, nails, carpenters tools, window
glass; troohng, white lead, etc. He was one Of the
FIVE Democratic Senators who voted no on the
amendment placing on the free list every kind Of
lumber dressed or undressed, finished or unfinished.
When Senator Smith so voted we knew he was
violating the wishes Of the Democracy of Maryland
VINO sent him to the Senate but we did not know
that he had also violated his conscientious belief
in the unoonstitutionality of tariff levied for any
thing except for revenue.
While the Senator's inconsistency is garing,
there is something much more significant in this
exposure Of what he says he believes and how he
actually voted 1t goes right to the root Of the whole
business of rif-makng under the present system.
II is business OF trade and barter II can never be
anything else until the voters break it up by COM
pelling the creation of tariff commission and are
then wise enough to stand back Of its recommends
tons and force their Congressman and Senators to
follow along the lines Of the commissions sugges-
tons.