Year: 1878

| NO TARIFF DEBATE NEEDED.


Probably Mr.. Woods Tariff Bill will die


easily But if 1t is not killed at once by strlk-
ing out the enacting clause, 1t may waste
great deal of time in Congress, and meanwhile
embarrass every kind of industry affected by
its provisions. The plan to push 1t through
Congress will be to yield one point to this IN
terest and another to that just sufficiently to
secure the requisite votes, and break up the
| present opposition. 1t is scarcely a secret that
the changes made in the bill by the Commit


tee on Ways and Means were of this character; ;


not meant to improve the bill in principle or


as whole, but simply to placate certain oppo-


nents and keep them quiet. Perhaps this pro-


cess can be carried further, by means of amend
ments, when the bill is brought up for debate,


and if its friends cling together while its oppo-
nents are divided, its success will be assured
Some hope, however, that such plan can


not he carried out, may be drawn from the
striking failure of the committees efforts to


conciiate one of the largest nterests-the iron


and steel industry. As the bill first came from
Mr.. Woods hands, it had seven paragraphs


concerning iron and steel; as 1t came from the
committee it had at least twenty-nne Each


of the new paragraphs provides n separate duty
for one or more classes of articles, thus utterly
abandoning the pretcnsc of simplicity in the
new tariff. Each change was made to subServe


some special interest of manufacture, which is
nreciscly the feature that Mr. Wood in his
speech ascribed to the existing tariff, and re-


garded as "immOral in theory


Intimations appeared in some newspapers
that the irOnmasters were now satisfied. These
general assertions were at once contradlcted by
the organ of that industry, but it was never
tbeless suspected that no great opposition To
the bill would come from that quarter, since
some of those most heavily interested had
been cared for specially. The opinion WAS
also promulgated that the iron and steel people


ought to be thankful that they had been
lightly dealt with, and, altogether, should ac-
cent the bill as a blessing. But those migrate
ful manufacturers refuse to be conciliated A


pamphlet has just been presented to Congress
! frc;H the American Iron and Steel Association,
| denouncipp the amended Wood Tariff in the


hcarticst terms, and declaring that it presents


"po claim to their confidence and regard" The


pretensions of the bill are mcrcilessly scanned,


and the fact is shown that no one OF the pro-
! fessed objects of the measure-nOt even an III


crease of commerce-wOuld be attained by


putting it in practice The criticisms on the
| separate features of the bill are not confined
! 70 matters in which the iron men are interested
! The pamphlet points out, fer instance, that


rice is charged with duty, but rice flour
| is admitted free wheat has a duty, wheat


flour none but rye and rye flour are both to


pay duty, while potatoes are free. The total


revenue last year from duty on rye flour


was only 40 cents, while from potatoes


it was nearly half-million dollars it might


puzzle even Mr.. Wood to explain why the


non-producing duty should be kept up, while
| the productive one is abolished. The analysis


of the proposed duties on iron and steel is, of


course, very thorough, showing that even with


tbe latest amendments the bill would work
| great damage.


There is danger that tho opponents of the


Wood Tariff may take too much comfort in


the expressions of opinion against 1t, which


came from all parts of the country when the
| bill first appeared. No doubt some Congress


men have been considering whether their
| clients may not be satisfied with the concessions


of the committee, or with such as may be


obtained by amendments if the bill comes up
| for debate The example set by the Iron and
! Steel Association is good one for other busi-


ness interests to follow. The opposition


should be continued against the measure as q


whole. TO amend, to debate, to tinker the
| tariff is to keep up an agitation which checi;s
| the revival of business and STILES enterprise
! The only safe thing TO do with Mr.. Woods


bantling is to apply the hatchet just behind
! the ears.