The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-02
AS 70 THE TARIFF.
Reduction or Removal of Duties Will
Do No Good.

Reduction or Removal OF Duties VIII
Do No Good.
One proposition advocated has been
the reduction of the tariff as means
of reaching the evils of the trusts which
fall within the category 1 have describ-
ed. Not merely would this be wholly
ineffective, but the diversion of our eff
forts in such a direction would mean
the abandonment of all intelligent at
tempt to do away with these evils. Many
of the largest corporations, many OF
those which should certainly be includ-
ed in any proper scheme of regulation,
would not be affected in the slightest
degree by change in the tariff, save
as such change interfered with the gem
Aral prosperity of the country. The
only relation of the tariff to big corpor-
Rtions as a whole is that the tariff
makes manufactures profitable, and the
tariff remedy proposed would be in eff
feet simply to make manufactures un-
profil abba To remove the tariff as
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
products the advantage over domestic
products. but by proper regulation to
give domestic competition a fair chance;
and this end can not be reached by any
tariff changes which would affect unfa-
vorably all domestic competitors. good
and bad alike. The question of regu-
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 fossilization. The country has ac-
quiesced in the wisdom of the protective
tariff principle. 1t is exceedingly unde-
sirable that this system should be de-
stroyed or that there should be v:O1ent
and radical changes therein. Our past
experience shows that great prosperity
in this country has always come under
a protective tariff; and that the cOun-
try can not prosper under fitful tariff
changes at short intervals Moreover,
If the tariff laws as a whole work we'll
and if business has prOspered under
them and is prospecting, it is better to
endure for a time slight Inconvenience
and inequalities in some schedules than
to upset business by too quick and TOO
radical changes. 1t is most earnestly 10
be wished tfat we could treat the tariff
from the standpoint solely of our bust
ness needs. 1t is, PERHAPS too much to
hope that craftsmanship may be entirely
excluded from consideration of the sub
ject, but at least it can be made sec
ondary to the business interests of the
country--tnat is to the interests of our
people as a whole. UnquestiOnably these
business interests will best be served if
together with fixity of principle as re-
CARDS the tariff we combine system
which will permit US from time to time
to make the necessary reapplication of
needs. We must take scru0ulous care
that the reapplication shall be made in
such a way that ii win not amount to a
dislocation of our system. the mere
threat of which mot to speak of the per-
formance) would produce paralysis in
the business energies of the community.
The first consideration in making these
changes would. of course. be to pre-
serve the principle which underlies our
whole tariff system-that is, the Drinci-
pie of putting American business inter-
ests al least on "A full equality with inter
estS abroad and of always allowing a
sufficient rate of duty to more than COW
er the difference between the labor cost
here and abroad. The well-being of the
wage-Worker like the well-being 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 stand
ard of comfort. the standard of wages
of the American wage-worker.
RECIPROCITY TREATIES.
One way in which the reimbursement
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 peODle. or when the
minimum of damage done may be dis
regarded for the sake of the maximum
of good accomplished. If it prove i'm
possible to ratify 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.
Wherever the tariff conditions ere
such that a needed change can not with
advantage be made by the application
of the reciprocity idea, then it can be
made outright by a lowering of duties
on given product. If possible, such
change should be made only after re
fullest consideration by practical ex-
perts who should approach the subject
from a business standpoint, having in
view both the particular interests af-
fected and the commercial well-being OF
the people as = whole. The machinery
for providing such careful investigation
can readily be supplied. The executive
department has already at its disposal
methods Of collecting facts and figures;
and if the congress cesires additional
consideration to that which VIII be Civ
en- the subject by its own committees,
then a commission of business experts
can be appointed whose duty il should
be to recommend action b. the congress
after a deliberate and scientific exami-
nation of the various schedules as they
are affected by the changed and chang
ing conditions. The unhurried and I'M
biased report of this commission would