New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-10

! evidence that the Democratic party Is
headed as never before toward absolute
free trade. and that II will move in that
direction Just as fast as n can figure out
WAYS TO produce national revenues other
wise than by the tariff. Already propo-
sails are being made for raising stil more
revenue through income and Inheritance
taxes. with the view Of placing still other
items on the free list.
No Tariff for Revenue Only"
FOR eighty years with varying degrees
| of courage tho Democratic party has an
nounced Itself I'm favor Of "A tariff for
revenue only That was it's platform
promise in the national campaign last
year. This bill does not even hint at the
keeping OF that promise. tariff for
revenue only is one laid on articles the
| like Of which tho country imposing it does
not produce. Under protective tariff
law these things arc on the free list. In
the calendar year 1912 almost $1,000 900
600 worth Of such articles were imported
| into this country absolutely FREQ OF duty.
Such articles constituted - per cent Of
our total importations. BY placing these
articles on tho dutiablc list and removing
tho duty from all imports now dutiabic
except Injuries tho Democrats could
have given US what they promsed-a
tariff for revenue only
"Ovcr 5000. 900. 600 OF the articles now
dutiable are 'luxuries, which are dutiablc
under any system. by placing duties on
tho articles now free and leaving 'luxu-
could have raised all the revenue now So
cured through the custom house and at a
lower ratio Of duty They would have had
ample revenue without one atom of pro-
lection. and they could have done IL with
lower rates Of duty than now prevail
Moreover. they could then have reserved
the income tax for emergencies. But II
IS moro significant than appears on the
surface that OF this $1,000 900. 600 worth
Of Imports mono were placed on tho duti-
able list as a deliberate move toward a
tsriN for revenue only The few items
removed from the free list q the dutiabe
list were so transferred for entirely other
reasons.
The duties retained are laid on the
same items as in the existing law, In some
cases at the same rates but In most cases
at lower rates. though there arc "A few
cases Of increases In rates. The present
duties were laid 10 produce both revenue
and protection. Tho pending bill will adj
mittedly raise less revenue and afford less
protection II is drafted along tho lines
Of "A protective tariff law. because the
duties are laid on competing articles.
Whether or not the rates arc adequately
protective will he learned later by expert
encc. Tho invention of the term com
petitive tariff for the policy embodied in
this bill is another confession that tho
Democratic platform promise Of "A tarir
for revenue only is TO he indefinitely post
poned. IL not abandoned
''In form tho principal change in the
tariff is the substitution of al valorem
duties for specific duties. Adj valorem
duties have been condemned by every
President and every Secretary OF the
Treasury. regardless OF party, with the
single exception Of Robert Walker, Secrc-
tary of the Treasury IN Folks admins
tration and father OF tho tariff act Of 1916.
Crudties and Contradictions.
Tho bill contains many crudities and
contradictions that will no doubt be point
ed out during the debate I'm Congress:
such. for example, as placing -four on the
free list while retaining a duty on wheat,
the purpose being apparently to hold the
allegiance of the farmers and yet hit the
wicked manufacturers.
The country has never before been SO
well prepared To experiment with Demo
cratic tariff theories. For several years
the business men of the country have
been moving with great conservatism.
The country has not been undergoing any
fever OF speculation. The crops have been
unequalled. All the fundamental business
conditions are sound and strong. II the
Democratic party has the ability to give
us "A good tariff. and will revise the cur
rency laws along lines whose wisdom has
been demonstrated by long and varied
experience, and will succeed in restoring
our merchant marine. il will have demon
strated It's right to continued power And
business men. regardless OF party affil,a-
lions, earnestly wish IL success.
The President has rightly declared the
tarin To bc the most important OF all
pending national questions. The bill now
before Congress Is understood to be the
Joint product OF the President and repre-
sentative members OF both houses Of Con-
gress. II is definitely an administration
and party measure. The whole power OF
the executive Office is to be used TO pass
1t substantially unchanged. Whatever
may be the final form OF the tarin law,
" under It the country prospers, the Pres
ident and his party will deservedly have
the credit. II under II the country able
and eager TO move nightly forward,
should suffer. the people Will rlshuully
place the responsibility on the President
and his party"