The Dominion. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1913. WILL THE TARIFF BE DEFEATED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1760, 27 May 1913, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1913.

WILL THE TARIFF BE DEFEATED.

The latest cablegrams from Washington show that the Tariff Bill has reached a very critical stage in the United States Senate. The Bill passed the House of Representatives by a largo majority, but it was expected to meet with very strong opposition in the Senate, where the Democratic majority was only six. This majority has now been destroyed . by the defection of Senator Walsh, who has allied himself with Senators Ransdel and Thornton against the measure, and, it _ is stated, that unless he can be induced to rejoin his party, the Bill will probably be defeated. The loss of the three Senators named will cause great disappointment to the Democrats, as they thought they had a safe majority in tho Senate, and this would have given the ftarty full control of the Government for the first time during the_ last eighteen years. When tho session opened there were 51 Democratic Senators, 44 Republicans, and one Progressive. It was then anticipated that this state of parties would continue for the next two years, and some people were of opinion that before the end of that period the direct election of Senators by the vote of the people would have been provided for by an amendment of the Constitution. The Press (New York) recently pointed to President Wilson's exceptional opportunity in having a majority in both Houses from the outset, whereas, in only two years of their tenure of office, did Presidents Cleveland and Taft have the majorities in both branches of the Legislature. The latest developments, however, indicate that the now Presidents ma-

jority in the Senate id dwindling to nothing, and a crisis may now bo precipitated at any moment. Tho attack appears to liavo concentrated on the wool and sugar schedules. Tho present duty upon wool is about 35 per cent., and tho Bill proposes to place it on tho free list. In this way, about 14,000,000 dollars will bo lost to tho revenue, and by taking tho duty off sugar 50,000,000 dollars will bo sacrificed. Sugar will not, howover, bo placed on the free list for three years, but an immediate 'reduction of '25 per cent, is provided for. On one occasion Senator Alduicii described the wool sclicdulo na tho keystono of the protective arch, and the secretary of the National Woolgrowers' Association has declared that free wool will "destroy a 580,000,000 dollar industry in the Western States"; while, as regards sugar, a New Orleans paper Btatcs that "the fight for the preservation of the sugar industry is a life-and-dcath struggle, which takes precedence over all party affiliations." In reply to such assertions as these, the Baltimore News declares that tho wool and sugar industries "arc not worth to the country, in the broad social and economic sense, as much as it costs to maintain them." Generally speaking, the supporters of tho Biil contend that it will bring about a very considerable reduction in the cost ,of living, and, although some industries are bound to suffer, the people as a whole will be materially benefited.

How will British trade bo affected 1 This is the aspect of tho question which naturally has tho greatest interest for our own Empire. It is stated that British manufacturers are of opinion that the proposed tariff would stimulate all branches of commerce. Sir Charles MacAra, President of the International Master Cotton Spinners' Association, states that tho reductions will enable England to do a much larger trado in America; and the London Daily Chronicle says an enormous market will be opened in tho United States for imports both of raw materials and manufactured articles. "Wool and meat from Australia, lumber from Canada, potatoes from Ireland, manufactures from England—what a destroying avalanche it must appear to ' protectionist minds l How they must tremble for the future of American industries." The big fight which tho opponents of tho new order of things are making in tho Senate shows that they are doing their utmost to avert the avalanche. If they succeed in defeating the Bill, or in altering it to such an 'extent as to frustrate its main purpose —what then 1 It is impossible to speak with certainty, but it has been stated that as soon, as tho Prcsidont 'is convinccd that the Bill is not going to be passed in good faith, he will appeal to the country.