The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1902-12-02

shifting national needs. We must
/ take rrrupuiouH care that The ~.
application shall be made In such a
way that u will not amount to .
dislneation 81 our system. the mere
threat Of which tnoi 90 speak Of the
performance would produce mar.
aiysIa In the business energies Of the
community. The firat consideration
Ia making these changes would. Of
course. b. TO preserve the pfinclpl.
Of putting American business inter
eHit at least ON full equality aith
Interests abroad. and Of always al
lowing a sufficient rate Of duty 10
more than cover the difference be.
tween the labor cost here and
abroad. The we'll being Of the waEe.
worker. like the wsii-belng Of the
tiiler Of the soil should be treated 40
an essential In shaping our whole
economic policy. There must never
he any change which Will Ieopardise
the standard Of comfort. the stand
ard Of wages of the American wage
worker
Reciprocity Treaties
one way IN which the readtus,.
ineat sought can be reached II By
reciprocity treaties. II IT, sreatly 10
be desired that such treaties may b.
adopted. They can be used to widen
cur market and to give a greater
Held for the activities OF our pro-
dnesfn on the one hand. aud on the
other hand 10 secure IN practical
shape the lowering OF duties when
they are no longer needed for pro-
lection among our own people, or
when the minimum OF damage done
may be diErcRafded for the sake OF
the maximum OF good accomplished
III II prove impossible to ratify the
pending treaties. and IL there seem to
be no warrant for the cndeavor to
execute Others. or to amend the
pending treaties SO that they can be
ratified. then the same end-to Sc
cure reclprocity-Hhou be met bs
direct legislation.
Wherever the tariff conditions are
such that a needed change can not
with advantage be made by the ap-
plieation OF reciprocity idea. then Il
can be made outright by a lowering
OF duties on q given product II pos.
Hible. such change should be made
only after tho fullest consideration
by practical experts, who should ap.
preach the subject from business
standpoint, having In view both the
particular interests affected and the
commercial well-hclnR OF the people
as Il whole. The machinery for pro-
vidinE such careful investigation can
readily be supplied. The executive
department has already at tie dis
posal methods OF collecting facts and
figures. ana II the congress desires
additional consideration to that
which will be given the subject by
IL own committees. then conffniF-
sion Of Business experts can be ap-
potpted Whose duty Il should by to
fecofnmapd action by tho conafess
after a deliberate and scien tflc es.
animation OF the various schedules
nc they Are affected by the Changed
and changing conditions. Tho I'M
hurried and unbiased report OF this
coWfiission would show what
changes should be made IN the var
iovs schedules. dhd how far these
changes could 60 without also
changing the great prosperity which
THE country II now enjoying. or up-
acting It's fixed economic policy.
pfSs9 as sassa oSsoEAsS sr .Ss g ' lsN af
conftllute ap inconslderahie factor
III the question: but OF course II IN
any case II be found that a given
rate Of duty does promote q monop-
oily Which works III, no proteotionial
would object 60 such reduction Of the
duty aa would equallxe competition
In my judgment the tariff on an.
thraeite GOAL should rs reQoyed and
anthfaelEe Npt eetually Where Il n, nov \,
q hominhlly on the free list. Thli
would pave no effect az all save y
crises. but In eriHep II might be o
service "a tina nAhDla-