Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-02
REDUCTION OF TARIFF.
Would be Intellectual to Remedy
Trust Evil.

The proposition advocated has been
the reduction of the tariff as q means
of reaching the evils Of the trusts which
fall within the category ] have des-
cribed Not merely would this be who'll
~ ineffective, but the diversion of our
efforts in such direction would mean
the abandonment of all intelligent at
tempt TO do away with these evils.
Many Of the largest corporations, many
Of those who should be included In
any proper scheme OF regulation, would
not be affected In the slightest degree
by a change In the tariff save as such
change interfered with the general pros
perity Of the country. The only rela-
ton of the tariff to big corporations as
q whole Is that the tariff makes manu-
features profitable. and the tariff rem
cry proposed would be IN effect simply
to make manufactures Improbable.
WOULD RUIN THE WEAKER.
To remove 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 for
elgn products the advantage over do
nestle products, but by proper regula-
ton 90 give domestic competition fair
chance; and this end can not be reached
by any tariff changes which would az
feet unfavorably all domestic compeu-
tors, good and bad alike. The ques-
ton Of regulation Of the trusts stands
apart from the question OF tariff revis-
Ion.
STABLE POLICY NEEDED.
Stability OF economic policy must al
ways be the prime economic need oil
this country. This stability should not
be fossilization. The country has ac-
quiesced In the wisdom OF theprotective
tariff principle. 1t is exceedingly un-
desirable that this system should be
destroyed or that there should be vio-
lent and radical changes therein. our
past experiences shows that great pros
perity in this country has always come
under a protective tariff; and that the
country can not prosper under ftful
tariff changes at short intervals. More
over, II the tariff laws as a whole work
well and II business has prospered I'M
der them and Is prospecting, II Is better
10 endure for q time slight inconvenien-
ces and inequalities In some schedules
than 10 upset business by too quick and
too radical changes.
AS A BUSINESS MATTER.
II Is most earnestly 20 be wished
that we could treat the tariff from the
standpoint solely OF our business needs.
II Is, perhaps. too much 20 hope that
partisanshlp may be entirely excluded
firm consideration OF the subject, but at
least II can be made secondary TO the
business interests OF the country-that
II. 10 the interests OF oru people as a
I whole. Unquestionably these business
/ interests will best be served II together
with fiyity OF principle as regards the
I tariff we combine a system which viii
permit US from time 10 time to make
the necessary reapplication OF the prin-
| ciple TO the shifting national needs.
MUST BE CAREFUL
We must take scrupulous care that
the reapplication shall be made In such
way that II viii not amount to dts
location OF our system. the mere threat
Of which mot TO speak OF the perform
/ ance) would produce paralysis In the
business energies Of the community.
The first consideration in making these
I changss would. OF course, be 10 pre-