The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-12-05

the several states through regulations
and requirements operating directly upon
ass
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
adJudicated that now raise doubts as to
ment. II 1t prove impossible to accom-
plish the purposes above set forth by such
shrnE taen saSS not
power sought
The congress has not heretofore made
any appropriation for the better enforce
ment OF the antitrust law as II now
stands. Very much has been done by the
forcement of this law. but much more
could be done II congress would make a
the 6sr Of the
One proposition advocated has been the
reaching the evils Of the trusts which fall
within the category nave nol 1eS SGefpec.
tiVe bat the wS diversion Of our eorts in
such a direction would mean the aban-
Comment of all intelligent attempt to do
gest corporations, many of those which
should certainly be included In any proper
setea In Of the change
in the tariff, save as such change inter-
fered with the general prosperity Of the
to big corporations as whole Is that the
hriH makes manufactures profitable, and
the tariff remedy proposed would be in
effect simply to make manufactures un-
profitable. To remove the tariff as a
punitive measure directed against trusts
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 eannSt be reached by any tariff
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 he prime s efonomc need Of this
silization. The Country A has aeau GS seed
in the wisdom of the protective tariff
principle. It is exceedingly undesirable
that there should be violent and. radical
s chhangesn therein rent Our past experience
III and that the country cannot prosper
under fitful tariff changes at short inter-
whoe works well and he as
pered under them and is prospecting, 1t is
better to endure for q time slight incon-
uies than to upset business by too quick
and too radical changes. 1t Is most ear
nestly to be wished that we could treat
much to hope that. partisanship may be
t the subject but at least It can be made
secondary to the business interests of the
country-that is, to the interests Of our
business interests will best be served II
together with fixity OF principle as re-
ganTd dS the tariff we icon combine P system m
make the necessary reapplication Of the
principle to the shifting national needs.
reappIication shall be made in such a way
that 1t will not amount to dislocation OF
our system, the mere threat of which. not
duce paralysis In the business energies
Of the community. The first considera.
ton in m making these changes would Of
underlies our whole tariff system-that is,
the principle of putting American busi-
with interests abroad and Of always al
lowing sufficient rate OF duty to more
than cover the difference between, the
Ing Of the wageworker, like the well be-
ing of the tiller Of the soil should be
Wsoie economic policy. There must never
be any change which will jeopardize the
standard Of comfort, the standard 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
a greater field for the activities Of our
other hand to secure in practical shape
the lowering of duties when they are no
longer needed for protection among our
age done may be disregarded for the sake
OF the maximum OF good accomplishing.
II 1t prove impossible to ratify the pend,
warrant for the endeavor to execute 9TH
| ers or to amend the pending treaties 80
end-to secure reciprocity-shouid be met
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that a needed change cannot with advan-
tage be made by the application Of the
reciprocity idea, then II can be made out
right by lowering OF duties on given
product. II 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 well
being Of the people as whole. The ma
| chinery for providing such careful inves-
tigation can readily be supplied. The ex-
ecutive department has already at Its
| disposal methods Of collecting facts and
figures, and II the congress desires addi-
tional 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 1t 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 an inconsiderable factor in the ques-
| ton; but, of course, If in any case 1t be
found that a given rate OF duty does pro-
mote q monopoly which works Ill. no pro-
| tectionlst would object to- such reduction
| Of the duty as would eoualize competition
In my Judgment, the tariff on anthracite
coal should be removed and anthracite
| nut actually, where 1t now Is nominally,
on the free list. This would have no effect
| at all save in crises; but in crises 1t 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
| inc needs of the seasons and of widely
separated communities. and to prevent the
| recurrence of financial stringencies which
| iniuriousy affect legitimate business, IL
is necessary that there should be an ele-
| ment of elasticity in our monetary sysss
| TEN. Banks are the natural servants OF
| commerce, and upon them should pe
placed, as far as practicable. the Duruel
| of furnishing and maintaining crcula-
| ton adequate to supply the needs OF our our
diversified industries and OF our uoInestlcc
and foreign commerce, ana the ISSUE ~ %
this should be so regulated that Suin-
cient supply should be always aNiliabie