The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-12-04

practices which injurionsly 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
thereof and those engaged therein. !.
l earnestly recommend this subject to the
CONSIDERATION C Of the congress with view
provisions and effective in It's operations.
upon which the questions can be finally
aabu 9 nees that now raise doubts as to
ment. If it prove impossible to accom-
plish the purposes above set forth by such
a. law, then assuredly. we should not
as to secure beyond ! peradventure the
power sought.
The congress. has not heretofore made
any appropriation for the better enforce
ment OF the antitrust law as it now
STANDS. Very much has been done by the
department. Of Justice in securing the en-
f no1,ia Sa a. of this law, but much more
could pc done II congress would make a
special appropriation for this purpose, to
pc expended under the direction of the
One proposition advocated has been the
REDUCTION of the tariff as a means of
rea 4Si1 the evils of the trusts which fall
T Mt mer the eatggoT 1yys have described
tive. but the diversion of our efforts, in
such a direction would mean the aban-
L
away with these evils. Many of the lar
gest corpora tons, many Of those which
should certainly be included in any proper
fected in the slightest degree by a change
In the tariff save as such change inter-
fered with L., the general prosperity of the
to big corporations, as whole is that the
tariff makes manufactures profitable, and
the tariff remedy proposed would be in
eIIecC SIMPLY TO make manufactures I'M
90 q
punitive measure directed against trusts
would inevitably result in ruin to the
against them. Our aim should be not by
unwise tariff changes to give foreign prod
ucts the advantage over domestic prod
nestle competition a fair chance. and
this end cannot be reached by any tariff
changes which would affect unfavorably
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-
slllzation: The country has acquiesced
IN the wisdom q; of the protective tariff
that this system should be destroyed or
that there. should be violent and radical
that Our Ras
try has always come under a protective tar
iff and that the country cannot prosper
under fitful tariff changes at short inter-
walls. Moreover, if the tariff laws as q
whole work we'll and if business has pros
pered under them and is prospecting, it is
yeniences and inequalities in some sehed-
ules than to upset business by too quick
and too radical changes. It is most ear
nestly TO- be wished that we could treat
our business needs 1t is, perhaps, too
much to hope that partisanship may be
entirely excluded from consideration of
a 1aQS CT hn do
secondary to the business interests Of the
country-that is, to the interests of our
people as whole. Unquestionably these
together with fixity of principle as re-
CARDS the tariff we combine system
which will permit 1is from time. to time to
principle to the shifting national needs
We must take scrupulous care that the
reapplication shall be made in such way
that 1T Will not amount to diSlocation Of
our system, the mere threat of which, not
to speak Of the performance, would pro-
d d. FL paralysis in the business energies
ton in making these changes would Of
H t5s oTr whole tariff system-that is
ness interests at least on full equality
with interests abroad and of always al
lowing sufficient rate Of duty to more
labor cost here and abroad. The well be-
ing of the wageworker, like the we'll be-
ing tngo Of , the tiller Of the soil, should be
be any ehaage whicR viii e jeopar di aeH tSe
Of Gf ths of
One way In which the readjustment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
treaties. It is greatly to be desired that
be used to widen our markets and to give
greater field for the activities of our
producers on the one hand, and on the
ut hor md RI IN ofi c1,o
the lowering of duties when they are no
longer needed for protection among our
own people or when the minimum of dam
Of the max mum of good accomplished.
II it prove impossible to ratify the pend
Ing treaties e. les and If there seem to be no
ers or to amend the pending treaties so
that they can be ratified, then the same
s en- 5;o secure cure reeciproclty-should be met
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that needed change cannot with advan-
tage" be made by the application Of the
reciprocity idea, then it can be made out
right by lowering Of duties on given
product. If possible, such change should
be made only after the fullest considera-
ton by practical experts. who should ap-
proach the subject from business stand
point. having in view both the particular
interests affected and the commercial we'll
being Of the people as a whole The ma
chinery for providing such careful inves-
tigatiOn can readily be supplied. The ex-
ecutive department has already at it's
disposal methods of collecting facts and
figures, and if the congress desires addi-
tional consideration to that which will be
given the subject by it's own committees,
then 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 with
out also changing the great prosperity
which this country is now enjoying or
upsetting it's fixed economic policy.
The cases in which the tariff can pro-
duce monopoly are SO few as to consti
tute inconsiderable factor in the ques-
ton; but of course, If in any case it be
found that given rate Of duty does pro-
mote q monopoly which works i'll, no pro-
tectionist would object to such reduction
of the duty as would equalize competition.
In my judgment, the tariff on anthracite
coal should be removed and anthracite
put actually, where it now is nominally,
on the free list. This would have no effect
at all save in crises: but in crisis it might
be Of service to the people.
Interest rates are a potent factor In
business activity. and in order that these