The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-12-05
THE TARIFF.
II IL . Subject That sta nds Apa ri from
the Trusts.

AttOCAteO
REDUCTION OF the tarif as means of reach
ing the evils OF the trusts which fall with
IN ne category I have described. Not
but the diversion OF our efforts In such a
direction would mean the banGonment OF
All intelligent attempt, to 60 away with
tons, many OF those which should GER
tainy De included In any proper scheme OF
rsgplatlon; would not be affected in the
save as such change lnterfered with the
general prosperity o. the country. The
only relation OF the tariff to big corpora
lions as a whole IS that the tariff makes
manufactures profitable, ard the tarifY
remedy proposed would be In effect simply
10 make MANUFACTURES unpl oftable. To
remove. the tarifr as punitive measure
directed against trusts would IL evitably re-
suit In ruin TO the weaker CONF ct ltors who
are struggling against them, Our aim
give foreign products the advantage over
eomesuc products. bur by proper regula-
chance; and this end cannot be reached BY
any tariff changes which would AFFECT un-
iavoraoiy al demestic competitors. good
OF the trusts stands apart from the cues
ton OF tariff revision.
Stability Of economic policy must always
be the prime economic neec ofthis country
This stability should not be fossllizatior
The country has acquIescec In the wisdom
&c clngly undesirable hat This system
should be destroyed or that there should BE-
violent and radical changes therein. Our
past experience shows that great prosper
ity In this country has always come under
protective tariff. and that the country
cannot prosper under ftful tariff charges
laws as whole work well, ars II business
has prospered under them and Is prosper-
irg, u Is better 10 endure for time slight
Appropriateness anc Inequalities In some
schedules than to upset business bv too
quick and too radical changes II Is most
earnestly to be wished that We couiG treat
frt er.fs.f f.....
business needs. Ii H. perhaps, too much 10
hope that partisan sh.p may be entirely ex-
but at least X can be mace secondary 10
the business interests OF the courfry-that
T.. 70 the Interests OF our people as 4 whole
Urquestonabiy these business Interests
Will best be served IL together with fixlsy
or principle as regards the tariff we COM
bire a system which will permit us from
pAcaiion OF he principle TO the shifting na-
iona neecs. We must take scrupuiouS
care that the reappi.cation shall be made
II such way that II VIII not amount 10
a cislocatior OF our system, the mere
threat Of which mot TO sneak Of the ner-
i,ormlaneel would produce paralysis in the I
hrst consideration In maxim these changes 4
would. or course. be TO preserve the prir-
tem-that IS. the principle Of putting Amer 4
ican business Interests at least on a fuil \
equality with interests abroad. ard OF al 4
ways allowing a sufficient rate Of DUTY 10
more than cover the difference bet werny me
labor cost here ane abroad, The weii-be-
re Of the wage-worker. like the well-be-
ing OF the tiller OF the soil. should be treat
cd as an essential in shaping our whole
economic policy. There must never be arv
cnange which will jeopardize the standard ,
American wage-worker
One way in which the readjustment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity ,
treaties IL Is greatly to be desired that !
such treaties may be adopted They can \
pe used 70 widen our markets and to |
give greater field for the activities OF !
OUT producers on the one hand and on 1
the other 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 d;srcgarded for the
sake OF the, maximum ~ good accom- /
the pending treaties, and II there seem
TO be no warrant for the endeavor 70 ,
execute others. or TO amend the pending
the same end-to secure recinrocitvn
should be met by direct legislation.
Need Of TariR Commission.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that needed change cannot with adj
vantage be made by the application ~
the reciprocity idea. then II can be made
outright by lowering OF duties on q
given product. II possible. such change
should be made only after the fullest
should approach the subject from a bust
ness standpoint. having in view both the
particular interests Affected and the COM
mercial wcll-beng OF the people as a
whole. The machinery for providing such
careful Investigation can readily be sup
piled. The executive department has al
ready at Its disposal met hods OF collect
ing facts and figures: and N the COM
gress desires additional consideration 70
that which will be given the subject by
its own committees. then a commission
OF business experts can be appointed
whose duty II should be to recommend
action by the congress after 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
ana how far these changes could go
without also changing the great pros
perity which this country Is now enjoy
ing or upsetting Its fixed economic pol
icy.
The cases In which the tarify can pro-
duce monopoly are so few as 10 con-
stitute an inconsiderable factor in the
question. but OF course X in any case
y be found that given rate OF duty
does promote monopoly which works
H.. no protcctonist would object TO such
reduction Of the duty as would cqualixe
competition.
In my Judgment. the tarir on anthra-
cite Goa, should be removed, and anthra-
cite put actually. where II now ~ nom
inaliy. on the free list This would have
effect 81 ALI save ir .r'xee. hi In