Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1887 — TARIFF REDUCTION. [ARTICLE]

TARIFF REDUCTION.

A Movement to I nite the Democrats in Congress on that Issue. A Washington dispatch to the Philadelphia Times says : “For some days there has been more or less informal talk in administration circles on the tariff question. From intimations dropped in those quarters it may be announced that Secretary' Fairchild is seriously contemplating a movement with the approbation of the President and his colleagues looking to a concentration of the Democrats in the House of Representatives and the Senate upon a measure of tariff reduction. After careful inquiry it has been ascertained that every member cf the Cabinet is favorable to such a programme. After the experience of the past two Congresses the President is convinced that but one course remains open to the Democratic party, and that it is the formulation of a bill in consultation with such men as Randall and Carlisle and others representing the diverse positions of Democratic sentiment on the subiect, for the purpose of bringing them together upon some common ground of agreement. “The President has seen for some time that an issue will be made on the tariff, and has urged that it would be moie sagacious to get to work at once and prepare a bill to be submitted to Congress as a measure of administration policy than to let the question continue to play havoc as a firebrand in the ranks of the party. It is proposed to make the bill an administration question in the House, and thus bring it before the people as a distinctive is me upon which the Democratic party will stand in the next campaign. Judging from the present situation of affairs among the party leaders, it will take a large amount of pressure to bring the opposite views of Messrs. Carlisle and Randall together. It been suggested in Treasury circles that Kentucky whisky influence, the tobacco men, and the protection Democrats can only reach a basis of settlement by pooling their differences and evolving some sort of a compromise. If this should fail a bill will be prepared at the Treasury supposed to strike between these conflictirg interests. “Secretary Fairchild is very decided in his advocacy of reduction of i evenue from customs. He thinks a necessity exists for some act on of this kind, or will do to soon. The accumulation of surplus will now go on steadily, and will lead to formal action on his part before the Cabinet as soon as the first indications manifest themselves in the monetary operations of the people. The theory of reduction will be in placing raw materials,- like iron and wool, on the free list, and reduction of rates on certain manufactures. There is an idea, notwithstanding the ruinous importations at present rates, that certain manufactures of iron and steel can stand a reduction. Members of the administration believe there is a point at which modifications of the tariff can be made without detriment to American industry.”