The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-12-03

practices which injuriously AFFECT inter-
state trade can be prevented under the
power Of the congress to regulate com
merce with foreign nations and among
the several states through regulations
and requirements operating directly upon
such commerce. the instrumentalities
thereof and those engaged therein.
l earnestly recommend this subject TO the
consideration of the congress with a view
TO the passage Of a law reasonable In its
provisions and effective In its operations
upon which the questions can be finally
ndJudicated that now raise doubts as to
the necessity OF constitutional amend
ment IL II prove impossible TO accom-
pllsh the purposes above set forth by such
law, then assuredly we should not
shrink from amending the constitution so
as TO secure beyond peradventure the
power sought.
The congress has not heretofore made
any appropriation for the better enforce
mcnt of the antitrust law as Il now
stands. Very much has been done by the
department OF Justice in securing the en-
torcemtnt of this law, but much more
could be done II congress would make a
special appropriation for this purpose to
be expended under the direction of the
one proposition advocated has been the
reduction OF the tariff as means OF
reaching the evils Of the trusts which fall
| within the category / have described.
Not merely would this be wholly ineffec-
tive. but the diversion OF our efforts in
such a direction would mean the aban-
away with these evils. Many Of the lar
| gest corporations, many Of those which
should certainly be included In any proper
| scheme of regulation, would not be af-
| fected in the slightest degree by a change
| In the tariff. save as such change inter-
| fered with the general prosperity Of the
| country. The only relation OF the tarin
| TO big corporations as a whole Is that the
| tarin makes manufactures profitable. and
| the tariff remedy proposed would be in
| effect simply TO make manufactures un-
al. saHHn
| punitive measure directed against trusts
| would inevitably result in ruin TO the
| weaker competitors who are struggling
| against them. our aim should be not by
| unwise tariff changes to give foreign prod
ucts the advantage over domestic prod
ucts, but by proper regulation to give do
nestle competition a fair chance, and
this end cannot be reached by any tariff
changes which would affect unfavorably
all domestic competitors. good and bad
alike. The question OF regulation Of the
trusts stands apart from the question Of
tariff revision
Stability OF economic policy must al
ways be the prime economic need Of this
country, This stability should not be fos-
siiZation. The country has ucquesced
in the wisdom Of the protective tariff
principle. II is exceedingly undesirable
that this system should be destroyed or
that there should be violent and radical
changes therein. our past experience
shows that great prosperity In this coun-
try has always come undera protective tar
under htful tariff changes at short inter
walls. Moreover II the tariff laws as a
whole work well and II business has pros
pered under them and is prospering, II Is
better to endure for time slight incOn-
veniences and inequalities in some sched-
ules than to upset business by too quick
and too radical changes. II Is most ear
ntstly to be wished that we could treat
| The iariff from the standpoint solely OF
| our business needs. IL Is, perhaps, too
much TO hope that partisanship may be
| entirely excluded from consideration Of
the subject but at least II can be made
| secondary to the business interests Of the
counlry-that is to the interests OF our
| people as a whole. Unquestionably these
| business interests will best be served II
together with hxity OF principle as re-
| cards the tariff we combine a system
which will permit us from time to time to
make the necessary reapplicauon OF the
| principle to the shifting national needs.
| We must take scrupulous care that the
reappliCation shall be made in such way
| that II will not amount to dlslocation OF
| our system, the mere threat OF which, not
| to speak Of the performance, would pro-
| ducc paralysis in the business energies
| OF the community. The first considera-
tion in making these changes would OF
course be 10 preserve the principle which
underles our whole tariff system-that Is,
| the principle OF putting American busi-
ness interests at least on full equality
with interests abroad and of always al
| lowing a sufficient rate Of duty TO more
| than cover the difference between the
| labor cost here and abroad. The well be-
/ ing Of the wageworker, like the wei be-
| ing OF the tiller of the soil. should be
| treated as an essential In shaping our
| whole economic policy There must never
| be any change which will jeopardize the
| standard of comfort, the standard or
| wages, OF the American wageworker.
| one way in which the readjustment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
| treaties. IL is greatly to be desired that
| such treaties may be adopted. They can
\ be used to widen our markets and TO give
/ a greater field for the activities OF our
producers on the one hand, and on the
| other hand 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 dam
age done may be disregarded for the sake
| OF the maximum of good accomplishing.
II II prove impossible TO ratify the pend
ing treaties and II there seem to be no
ers or TO amend the pending treaties so
that they can be ratified. then the same
cnd-to secure reciprocity-should be met
by direct legislation.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that a needed change cannot with adNan-
tage be made by the application or the
reciprocity idea, then II can be made out
right by n lowering Of duties on given
product IL possible such change should
be made only after the fullest cOnsidera-
tion by practical experts. who should ap-
proach the subject from business stand
point having in view both the particular
interests uUeGlth ana liit tpiHiltiNlil NNii
being Of the people as whole. Inc ma
chncry for providing such careful inves-
tigation can readily be supplied. The eX-
ecutive department has already at lts
disposal methods of collecting facts and
figures, and II the congress desires addi-
tional consideration to that which Will be
given the subject by its own committees
then a commission of business experts can
be appointed whose duty 1t should be TO
recommend action by the congress after
a deliberate and scientific examination OF
the various schedules as they are anected
by the changed and changing conditions.
The unhurried and unbiased report OF TINS
commission would show what changes
should be made In the various schedules
and how far these changes could go Win
out also changing the great prosperity
Which this country Is now enjoying or
lpsetting its fixed economic policy
The cases in which the tariff can pro-
duce a monopoly are so few as TO consti-
tute an inconsiderable factor in the ques-
ton: but, OF course, II in any case II be
found that a given rate OF duty does pro-
mote n monopoly which works Ill, no pro-
tectionist would object to such reduction
cf the duty as would equaliZe competition.
IN my Judgment. the tariff on anthracite
coal should be removed and anthracite
nut actually, where IL now Is nominally,
on the free list. This would have no effect
at all save in crises but in crises II might
be Of service to the people.
Interest rates are potent factor IN
business activity. and in order that these
rates may be equalized to meet the vary
ing needs OF the seasons and OF widely
separated communities, and to prevent the
recurrence Of financial stringencies which
iniuriously affect legitimate business. II
is necessary that there should be an ele-
ment of elasticity in our monetary sys-
tenn Banks are the natural servants OF
commerce. and upon them should be
placed. as far as practicable, the burden
Of furnishing and maintaining a clrcula-
tion adequate TO supply the needs OF our
diversified Industries and of our domestic
and foreign commerce. and the issue OF
this should be so regulated that sum
cient supply should be always available
for the business interests Of the country.
IL would be both unwise and unneces-
sary at this time to attempt TO recon-
struct our financial system, which has
been the growth OF century. but some