New-York tribune., 1919-03-20
First Need Is
New Tariff Act,
Says Gi11ett
Congress Should Pass 1t at
Earliest Opportunity to
Keep Cheap Goods Out
Country's Faith Shown
People Want Republicans to
Control Reconstruction,
the New Speaker Declares

Frederick H. Gillett, of Springfield,
Mass, chosen Speaker of the House of
Representatives by the Republicans,
while not presuming to say what legis-
lation shall or shall not be enacted,
briefly outlines the legislation he ia
ors in the following statement:
eff I do not mistake the temper of
the country, it has given it's mandate
to the Republican party because it has
faith in its constructive capacity to
deal with reconstruction.
"It wants unnecessary bureaus done
away with.
"It wants to stop the expenditure of
vast sums to lend scope to opportunism.
at desires general checking up Of
appropriations and limitation of them
to real necessities.
at demands broad and general legis-
lation which will meet all the exig-
encies resulting from the war, and pre-
pare US for the most splendid CONNER
cial and industrial development we
have yet experienced.
Need OF protective Iarln
ITO this end it is desirable that there
should be at the earliest opportunity
passed by the Republicans of the House
o protective tariff measure which will
provide moro abundant revenue and
prevent an inundation of foreign goods
produced by cheaper labor.
ord hio rfx
should be placed the entire response
bility for it's veto, at q time when
manufacturers need stimulation and
men and women in great numbers
need employment
"And to this end, also, we should
provide for the return, as soon as
possible, of the railroads and the tele-
graph and telephone systems to their
private owners under modified meth
cd of public control, in order that the
public convenience may be subserved,
investors be protected and initiative
retained.
"The military and naval establish
ments should be developed to conserve
American interests first and world in
terests afterward, for, after all,
American interests mean world in
terests, as exemplifed by the war
from which we have emerged so sue
ceSSIuiiy
Sane and. Progressive Action
"It would be presuming for me to
say just what legislation shall or shall
not be enacted. If have influence in
legislation it will be exerted to counsel
and suggest sane and progressive ac-
tion, according to the best traditions
of theaparty which gave Lincoln and
Mckinley. va
THE country is tired of Democratic
incompetency, extravaganza and waste.
The country wants no more of vague
Democratic phases which mean moth
ing-party shibboleths in order to
gain support, and specious promises
without intention of fulfilment. 1t be-
gan to learn severe lesson when the
cost of living was not reduced, and
when it was beguiled into disappoint-
ing administration by an insincere cry
of Thank God for Wilson, he kept us
out of war 1t proved that the lesson
had had its effect wnen it overwhelm-
ingly repudiated the behest of the
President to return Democratic Con-
that its patriotism was superior to that
of the Republicans. And during the
last winter it has discovered that it
must pay the cost of its lesson by hun
dreds of millions, and even billions
from its pocket, to compleete extrava-
giant Democratic projects
1.-The war is over. We are already
in the midst of a new era, with its
problems pressing for solution. 1t can
no longer be contended that one is
antiAmerican because he desires to
know the truth and to express his con-
vlctIon regarding the party in power