The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-08-08
CHARGE OF sECTIoNALIsM.

The opinion expressed by Senator
Lippitt of Rhode Island in the debate
on the tariff bill, that this bill as
framed by the Democrats is distinctly
a sectional bill, is quite correct. II is
so manlfestly true that even the Demo
cratic Senators Of the West, like Sena-
tor Newlands of Nevada, have brought
precisely the same charge against that
bill. II is undoubtedly a sectional bill,
discriminating largely in favor of the
East and the South against the West.
But this is not what Senator Lippitt
meant He meant that it is a bill dis
eliminating against the cotton manufac-
turers of New England, and in favor
of the cotton manufacturers of the
South. There are two ways in which
this charge may be considered. First,
that il is clear discrimination against
New England, as Senator Lippitt
charges. BY this he means that the
discrimination is against the cotton spe-
cialties made by the mills in New Eng,
land and the favoring Of the goods
made in the cotton mills of the South.
So far as this charge is concerned, it
can be fairly offset by the fact that
the present tariff BILL framed chiefly
by Senator Aldrich, was distinctly and
amazingly favorable to the New Eng
land manufacturers. as against all 9th
ers in this country or in the world. In
some grades of cotton manufacture,
that bill increased the already e1orbi-
tant rates under the Dingley bill by 100
Senators would retort to Mr. Lippitt that
their bill merely takes away the dis
elimination that now exists in favor of
New England cotton manufacturers on
their specialties, the retort would be eff
fective.
Second, considering the Lippitt
charge on it's face, as being in favor Of
the Southern mills as against the New
England mills, there would seem to be
no great discrimination shown. The
cotton manufacturers Of the South have
an advantage to begin with, in that the
cotton is raised in their immediate vi
cinity, and they are thus able to get
their "raw material at first hand,
and at low transportation charges. SO
that if their cotton manufacturers are
put upon precisely the same scale as
those Of New England, they would still
have this advantage of local selection
and small transportation charge.
AS between the Southern and the New
England cotton manufacturers, there.
fore, there does not seem to be much
room for recrimination. IT is perhaps
natural 10 expect, since the cotton man.
ufacturers Of the South have had TO
contend against the tariff discrimina-
ton in favor of New England cotton
manufacturers for so many years. that
they should try TO derive a little ad.
vantage for themselves now, as com
pared with the New England cotton
mills, since they have control Of both
Houses Of Congress,
The Senate has very largely extended
the free list in the bin since il came
from the House. 1t has also reduced
duties III many respects. But of the
glaring scctionaliSm of the bill, New
England and the South being favored
as against the products of the West,
there can be no question al all, for this
favoritism is admitted by the Demo.
cratic Senators themselves, precisely as
charged by the Republican Senators. So
that as to this. there cannot he the least
question. Senator Lippitt s charge.
however, is quite on different basis,
aud, so far as can be seen, is not espe-
cially meritorious,