Weekly Independent

THE TARIFF BILL.

The dispatches say the tariff bill has passed the Senate and is now in the House. It was engrossed Saturday and referred to the Ways and Means Committee with instructions to non-concur in the Senate amendments.

What the fate of the bill will be in the House is difficult to tell, but we do not believe that it will ever become a law as it passed the Senate. It surely will not if the Democrats of the House are true to the principles of their party as expressed in the Chicago platform.

The House should insist upon placing sugar, iron and coal upon the free list and putting the rate down to a revenue basis on all dutiable articles.

If the Democrats of the House will do this they will force the Democratic protection combine in the Senate to loosen its hold on the purses of the people or become responsible for the defeat of all tariff legislation during this session of Congress.

This seems to be too much to hope for from the Democratic majority in the House, when we remember it has to kick the Chicago platform to smithereens and repeal the purchasing clause of the Sherman law during the extra session last year.

If they do not carry out the principles of their party now, from present indications, it will be many years before they have full control of all the departments of the Government again.