Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-04
THE TARIFF.
1t Is Subject That Stands Apart from
the Trusts.

the
One proposition advocated has been the
reduction of the tariff as means of reach
ing the evils of the trusts which fall with
in the category, I have described: Not
merely would this be wholly ineffective,
direction would mean the aband comment Of
all intelligent attempt, to do away with
these evils: Many Of the largest corpora
tainly be included in any proper scheme of
regulation, would not be affected in the
slightest degree by change in the tariff
only relation, of the tariff to big corpora
manufactures mani Profitable. and the tariff
remedy proposed would be in effect simply
to make manufactures improbable. To
directed against trusts would inevitably re-
suit in ruin to the weaker competitors who
are struggling against them. Our aim
shoulG be not by unWiss tariff changes to
domestic products, but by proper regula-
ton to give domestic competition a fair
any tariff changes which would affect u n
faVorably all domestic competitors, good
and ih bad alike The question Of regulation
ton of tariff revision.
Stability Of economic policy must always
be the prime economic need Of this country.
The country has acquiesced in the wisdom
of the protective-tariff principle. 1t is ex-
ceecingly undesirable that this system
violent and radical changes therein. Our
past experience shows that great prosper
ity in this country. has always come under
cannot prosper under f1tful tariff changes
at short intervals. Moreover, if the tariff
laws as whole work well, and if business
has prospered under them and is prosper
ing, it is better to endure for a time slight
inconvenience and inequalities in some
schedules than to upset business by too
earnestly to be wished that we could treat
the tariff from the standpoint solely of our
business needs: It Is, perhaps, too much to
Guided from consideration of the subject.
but at least it can be made secondary to
the business interests of the countrywide
is, to the interests. of our people as a whole
Unques tionably these business interests
will best be served If together with fixitv
Of principle as regards the tariff we COM
time to time to make the necessary reap
pr,licat5ion Of the principle to the shifting ma
ara III aee rs musf take Scrupulogs
in such way that it will not amount to
dlslocation. Of our system, the. mere
threat of which (nOt to speak of the per-
formance) would produce paralysis in the
business energies of the community. The
first considerati ton in ma king these changes
would of course, be to preserve the prin-
ciple which underlies our whole tariff sys-
ten-that is, the principle of putting Amer
lean business interests at least on a full
ways allowing sufficient rate Of duty to
more than cover the difference between The
labor cost here anc abroad The well-be-
ing Of the wage-worker,, like the well-be-
ing of the tiller of the SOIL should be treat
eG as an essential in shaping our whole
eSo policy oil , There must never be any
of comfort, the standard OF wages of the
American wage-worker.
One way in which the readjustment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
treaties. It is greatly to be desired that
such treaties may be adopted. They can
be used to widen our markets and to
our producers on the one hand. and on
the other to secure in practical shape the
lowering of duties when they are no
longer needed for protection among our
own people, or when the minimum of
damage done may be disregarded for the
sake of the maximum of good accom-
the pending treaties. and if there seem
to be no warrant for the endeavor to
execute others, or to amend the pending
treaties so that they can be ratified, then
the same end-to secure reciprocity
should be met by direct legislation.
Need of Tariff Commission.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that a needed change cannot with ad-
vantage be made by the application of
outright out by BY lowering of duties s on
given product If possible, such change
should be made only after the fullest
consideration Dy pTdcIlCdI experts, VINO
should approach the subject from bust
ness standpoint, having in view both the
particular interests affected and the COM
mercial well-being of the people as a
whole. The machinery for providing such
careful investigation can readily be sup
piled. The executive department has al
ready at its disposal methods Of collect
ing facts and figures: and If the con-
gress desires additional consideration to
that which will be given the subject by
it's own committees, then commission
of business experts can be appointed
whose duty it should be to recommend
action by the congress after a deliberate
and scientific examination of the various
changed and changing conditions. The
unhurried and unbiased report of this
commission would show what changes
should be made in the various schedules,
and how far these changes could go
without also changing the great pros
perity which this country is now enjoy
Ing, or upsetting its fixed economic pol
The cases in which the tariff can pro-
duce monopoly are so few as to con-
stitute an inconsiderable factor in the
question; but of course If in any case
It be found that a given rate of duty
i'll, no protectionist would object to such
reduction of the duty as would equalize
competition.
In my judgment. the tariff on anthra-
cite coal should be removed, and anthra-
cite put actually, where it now is nom0
inally, on the free list. This would have
no effect at all save in crises: but In