The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-03

purpose, to be expended uHdef tHe uilee-
ton of the Attorney General.
TARIFF REDUCTION OPPOSED.
One proposition advocated has been the
reduction of the tariff as means of
reaching the evils of the trusts winch
fall within the category / have described.
Not merely would this be wholly in
effective, but the diversion of our efforts
in such a direction would mean the
abandonment of all intelligent attempt
TO do away with these evils. Many of the
largest corporations. many of those
which should certainly 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 pros
perity of the country. The only relation
of the tariff to big corporations as
whole is that the tariff makes manu-
features profitable, and the tariff remedy
proposed would be in effect simply to
make manufactures Improbable. To re-
move the tariff as a 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 adj
vantage over domestic products, but by
proper regulation to give domestic COM
petition fair chance: and this end can
not be reached by any tariff changes
which would affect unfavorably all do
nestle 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
fossilization. The country has acquesced
in the wisdom of the protective tariff
principle 1t 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 under a protective
tariff; and that the country can not
prosper under ftful tariff changes at
short intervals. Moreover, if the tariff
laws as a whole work well, and If bust
ness has prospered under them and is
prospecting, it is better to endure for
time slight inconvenience and inequali-
ties in some schedule than to upset bust
ness by too quick and too radical changes.
1t is most earnestly to be wished that
we could treat the tariff from the stand
point solely of our business needs. 1t is.
perhaps, too much to hope that partisan
ship may be entirely excluded from con-
sideration of the subject, but at least
it can be made secondary to the business
interests of the country-that is. TO
the interests of our people as a
whole. Unqucstionably these business in
terests will best be served if together
with fxity of principle as regards the tar
i'll we combine a system which will per-
NIT us from time to time to make the
necessary reapplication of the principle
to the shifting national needs. We must
take scrupulous care that the reapplica-
tion shall be made in such a way that it
will not amount to a dislocation of our
system. the mere threat of which mot
to speak of the performance would pro-
duce paralysis in the business energies Of
the community. The first consideration
in making these changes would, of course.
be to preserve the principle which under
lies our whole tariff system-that is, the
principle of putin American business in
terests at least ON full equality with
interests abroad. and of always allowing
cover the difference between the labor
cost here and abroad. The well-be
of the wage-worker. like the well-bein.
of the tiller of the soil. should be trea ted
as an essential in shaping cur whole
economic policy. There must never be
any change which will jeopardize the
standard of comfort the standard of
wages of the American wage workers.
RECIPROCITY TREATIES FAVORED.
One way in which the reimbursement
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
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 damage done may be diSregarded for
the sake of the maximum of good accom-
plished II it prove impossible to ratiiy
The pending treaties. and if there seem
to be no warrant for the endeavor to eX-
ecute others, or 20 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 are
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 a given product If possible, such
change should be made only after the
fullest consideration By practical experts
who should approach the subject from a
business standpoint, having in view both
the particular interests affected and the
commercial we'll being of the people a. q
whole. The machinery for providing
such careful investigation can readily be
supplied. The executive department has
already at its disposal methods of col
lecting facts and figures and if the Con-
gresS desires additional consideration to
that which will be given the subject by
its own committees, then commission
Of business experts can be appointed
whose duly 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
unhurricd and unbiased report of this
commission would show what changes