The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-10-05
THE TARIFF LEGISLATION.

The final passage and the signing
Of the Democratic partisan tariff revi-
sion will mark an era in the history of
the United States. According to Re-
publican theories, this revision ought
to bring disaster to the country. A
like revision did bring disaster to the
country In 1894, and in the year and a
half which preceded that revision, since
it was known that such revision was
impending. 1t is true, however, that
conditions now are so much different
from what they were at that time, that
like results are not to be expected; in
fact, the country receives this legisla-
tion with equanimity, whereas it re-
ceived the former legislation with dis.
may. The business world does not
find itself disorganized, routed, and in
distress by the passage of this bill, as
it did by the passage of the Wilson
German bill nineteen years ago. The
country is larger, wealthier, stronger
than it was then, and there has been a
very large discounting of such effects
as this present legislation may have
upon industry and business. At the
same time, there is a lurking feeling
that all Is not well, that the lcgis.
lation is largely experimental, and may
have evil effects.
We note the exultant speech made
by President Wilson upon his signing
Of this bill. He expects that it will
help to free the country from the grip
Of monopolies, but, as to this, prac-
tical test alone can determine 1t will
depend good deal on the sort Of mo-
nopoly that is meant when one speaks
the word. It is not likely to have any
effect upon tho meat monopoly, the
nopoly, nor on any general monopoly
which is firmly established and which
has it's ramifcations in foreign nations,
so that it can control the markets after
the passage Of this bill precisely the
Same as before. It is curious, there
fore, to see a man who ought to be
broad~minded enough to take in the
world situation make such extravagant
claims for this legislation as President
Wilson makes in his speech.
There has been good deal of ma
nipulation in prices pending the con-
sideration Of this bill; and the bonded
warehouses are clogged with imported
goods that have been held in anticipa-
tion OF the tariff reductions made.
These goods will now largely be re-
leased, and the Treasury receipts there
on will be abnormally heavy for
time.
We do not expect to see the cost of
living reduced by the passage of this
bill. The very monopolies which Pres
ident Wilson thinks the bill will crush
are in full control of the markets Of
this country and are likely to remain
so, and keep prices practically the
same as before, or even to advance
them. The spokesman Of the beef trust,
for example, stated that the price Of
beef will continue to advance. The
whole body Of Republican Senators
agree that the passage Of this bill will
not reduce tho price Of sugar. The
President of the Tailors' Association
In the United States announces that it
will not reduce the price Of clothing.
And so it goes all along the line. Those
who are in a position to know, deny
absolutely the claims that President
Wilson makes with respect to the pros
pective reduction In the United States
in the cost Of living, and the effect of
it in breaking up monopolies. And 30
the people will simply have to make
a note Of these conflicting opinions and
compare prices later on with prices now
and heretofore. By that comparison
they will know whether they have been
benefited or injured by the passage of
this bill.
BREAKING UP ESTATES.