The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-03-13
Wilson on the Tariff.

Unless President Wilson soon takes Q
definite position on the tariff, he stand;
in danger of being seriously misunder'
stood. He even runs the risk of letting
the situation in the House slip out of his
control. Congressional leaders do not
know where to find the chief of their
party ON this subject He has spoken
oftener and at more length about the
tariff than on any other subject. But
in their opinion, he has said less about
it than about any other, Some of them
have been pleased at the presidents non
committal attitude regarding the issue.
The majority undoubtedly are not.
The tariff has distinct practical
aspect. 1t cannot be dealt with in gem
eralities when legislation is on root.
There is no difficulty in formulating n
theory of tariff reduction which will cut
only those rates that are not needed
and leave every Legitimate business
man" in the enjoyment of protection
to which he is entitled. But when the
formulation of bill must be completed,
the question becomes acute whether to
put rate of 20 per cent. on raw wool
or to lose the Texas and Ohio vote by
cutting it off; whether to give the Dem
oeratic voters of Colorado the protection
they ask ON local products in the metal
schedule or to offend them by eliminat-
ing them. 1t is this problem that the
ways and means committee is now meet
ing. Every one knows that very strong
opposing groups have been formed both
in the committee and out of it with ref
erence to most of the important sehed-
H. 4tx,n
tariff revision group could win with the
presidents recognition and aid; neither
can win without. If Mr.. Wilson says
nothing, the tariff will be series OF
compromises, jumbled as in the past.
This has been the curse of all tariff
bills; there is no reason why the new
one should turn out much better.
1t is not true as many have supposed
that the ways and means committee has
given draft of its proposed rates to the
president for his approval nor is it even
true that such draft has been com
pleted. Mr.. Wilson is not, as mat
ter of fact, in very close communication
with the House leaders. a GOODNESS had |
grown up before he took Office and IL |
has not vet been dspelled. The cur |
rent month is the formative period Of /
the tariff bill and is therefore the time !
during which it is possible for the ex-
ecutive to exert his influence in giving |
direction to its provisions. If he formu
ates definite principle of revision,
makes it known to the committee in
,harge of the work, and secures for 1t
moderate and wide degree of publicity,
he will have every reason to expect the
success of his recommendations.
The time has come for wise and
,ober consultation on this subject be-
ween the president and the House lead
RS, for the purpose of safeguarding the
interests of the general public and avoid
ng the confusion that was characters.
c four years ago and is now threat
ming the party in control of the gov
rnment. Let this opportunity pass and
he president may thunder in the index
s much as he pleases during the re-
nainder of the tariff struggle but he
viii find the difficulty of securing
hanges increased in geometrc proper
ion.-Boston Herald.