The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-12-05
THE TARIFF.
1t Is n Subject That Stands Apart from
the Trusts.

One proposition advocated has been the
| reduction of the tariff IS a means of reach
ing the evils of the trusts which fall with
| in the category l have described. Not
merely would this be wholly ineffective,
| but the diversion of our efforts in such a
direction would mean the abandonment of
these evils Many of the largest corpora
tions. many of those which should GER
tainly be included 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
general prosperity of the country. The
lions as a whole is that the tariff makes
manufactures profitable, and the tariff
remedy proposed would be in effect simply
to make manufactures improbable. TO
remove the tariff as punitive measure
directed against trusts would inevitably re-
suit in ruin to the weaker competitors who
should be not by unwise tariff changes. to
give foreign products the advantage over
domestic products, but by proper regula-
chance; and this end cannot be reached by
any tariff changes which would affect UNI
fa fay Al domestic competitors good
of the. trusts stands apart from the ques-
ton of tariff revision.
Stability Of economic policy must always
be the prime economic need of this country
This stability should rot be fossilization
The country has acquiesced in the wisdom
of the protective-tariff principle. 1t is ex-
should be destroyed or that there should be
violent and radical changes therein Our
past experience shows that great prosper
a protective tariff: and that the countrv
cannot prosper under fitful tariff changes
at short intervals. Moreover, if the tariff
laws as a whole work well, and if business
has prospered under them and is prosper
ing, it is better to endure for time slight
inso1venien rS and inequalities in some
quick and too radical changes 1t is most
earnestly to be wished that we could treat
the tariff from the standpoint solely of our
hope that partisanship may be entirely ex-
cluded from consideration of the subject
but at least 1t can be made secondary to
the business interests of the country-that
is. to the interests of our people as whole
Unquestionably these business interests
will best be served if together with fixity
bine a system which will permit us from
time to time to make the necessary reap
P dGa OF the Princple to the shifting ma
care that the reapplication shall be made
In such way that it will not amount to
q ahr aistoc ca L, OF our system, the mere
formance) would produce paralysis in the
business energies of the community The
nrst consideration in making these changes
would, of course, be to preserve the prin-
ciple which underlies our whole tariff sys-
tem-that is the principle of putting Amer
lean business interests at least on full
ways allowing a sufficient rate of duty to
more than cover the difference between The
iaoor cost here and abroad: The well-be-
ing of the tiller of the soil, should be treat
eG as an essential in shaping our whole
economic policy. 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. 1t 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 oWg e meeaed Tor protection among our
damage done may be disregarded for the
sake of the maximum of good accom-
PI PHI If it prove impossible 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.
Need of a Tariff Commission.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that needed change cannot with adj
vantage be made by the application of
the reciprocity idea, then it can be made
given product. If possible, such change
should be made only after the fullest
consideration by practical experts, who
should approach the subject from a bust
ness standpoint, having in view both the
particular interests affected and the COM
mercial well-being of the people as
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 a 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
schedules as they are affected by the
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 enioy-
ing, or upsetting it's fixed economic pol
icy.
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
1t be found that a given rate of duty
does promote monopoly which works
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 NOM
inally, on the free list This would have
no effect at all save in crises; but in