New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-19

'"'i - N' 'onNluce tntif constituencies of
their fealty. rather than as am indication
Of their purpose TO oppose their party
when the final vote is taken. only the
Louisiana Senators have actually crossed
the tariff rublcon. which is free sugar.
and they alone find that the specific dis
advantages outweigh the general adj
vantag"s Of the Wilson Underwood bill
Problems To Be Met.
Admitting that the tariff bin is as good
as passed. there are problems which even
the most fair-minded statesmen believe
will arise in its wake 10 haunt the tri-
umphant majority Aside from the more
obvious questions whether the Democratic
bill will reduce tho cost Of living retard
or stimulate trade. cripple Industry and
reduce wages which are the subjects Of
perpetual controversy between the two
parti's-there are other questions which
must be answered. some Of these are:
l. the tariff for revenue policy to he
based on the fixed principle Of the differ
ence in wage at home and abroad. o. Is
u Ia give way altogether 10 system of
DHcct taxation as eNemplfed ia the in
come tax?
Is there to be- any definite method Of
hXing the measure of revenue tax for pur-
poses Of revenue?
How is the colonial policy Of the United
Statcs to be modified to tit the new tariff
policy?
Concerning the first problem it is as
serted. particularly bv the Louisiana Sem
ID H..
declaring for free sugar has departed
entirely from the principle Of tarin for
revenue. Sugar in nearly all countries is
the commodity on which revenue tax is
collected. BY abandoning the indirect
sugar tx. which has led To the develop
mcnt of a thriving industry i'm the United
States. the Democratic party is charged
with abandoning the tariff for revenue
principle entirely II 1t is 10 be aban-
doned IN that case why. il is asked. may
1t not 20 further and tax directly Injuries
or articles used only b% certain classes
Of the people of the United states?
IN framing tho Wlson-U Underwood bill
the Democrats have concentrated on them !
selves the fire Of all factions OF Repub- |
leans senator La Toilette has charged |
that there IS nothing to be commended In |
the way tariff bills have been framed in
the past or I'm the way Democrats have
framed the present bill. By his sixteen
questions which he wanted To have the
Finance Committee put to protesting
manufacturers he aimed To discover the
exact difference in labor cost between the
United States and competing countries.
In advocating this plan Of inquiry he as
serted that this difference in labor cost
should measure the amount of protection
to be afforded.
Haphazard Instead of Systematic.
The Democrats. however. have proceed
ed on no such systematic basis If ccr-
tain industries are destroyed or Eampered
they will be called To account for ham
perng or destroying them. and not de-
ytroying others or for favoring some and
not favoring others. Even if the present
bill achieves its purpose. the question Of
the method of tariff revision will be Just
as acute as ever. and one of the charges
that will he made against the Democrats
will bc that they have revised the tariff
in haphazard instead of systematic
way.
with respect to the effect OF the Demo
cratic tariff reduction on the American
colonies, 1t IS declared. the obvious an
swer is that there must he n radical
change in colonial policy. II is cortended
that the Wilson-U Underwood bl. will be-
disastrous to Porto Rico Hawaii and the
Are they 10 be compensated. |
the Republicans ask. or are they To be-
turned adrift to work out their own des- |
TIMES? When representatives of cigar |
makers of the country appeared before T,
the Senate Subcommittee 10 ask that
cigars. limited number of
which are now admitted free. be- placed |
on the same basis as other cigars Sena- !
tor Williams made the significant sug-
sestion:
so long a. the Philippines are under /
our flag We must treat them a. We would |
our own country Help MS to get rid Of /
them. and we will settle the question of
free cigars
If the United States is To deprive the |
colonies ofC the advantages Of reciprocal |
trade with the United states. it is asked. !
is there TO be some other pond of union. !
or are they To he left To their own de- !
vices I'm their march of development? II /
Is probabl, that these questions will come
10 the forefront as soon as the effects
Of the Democratic tariff revision are felt.