Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1902-02-21

over the tariff situation. In fact they
are out OF harmony. The lack OF perfect
concord WIS first manifested by the
failure OF the senate to ratify the reel.
procity treaties negotiated by the late
President Mckinley. who was himself u
high priest in the temple Of protection.
lie saw plainly, however, that We had
got beyond the industrial condition
which merely required that foreign
goods should lie KEEP: out Of free
competition with American & dds in the
home market. On some lines we wore
producing far beyond our own consamp-
tive capacity and for the surplus we
must tind markets abroad. 1t was this
condition in view that he so earnestly ad.
vocated reciprocity. He strongly urged
upon his party the necessity of making
reasonable commercial concessions TO
other countries in order that our own
surplus products might lind a ireer
vent. Thus far. his party while profess.
ing to endorse his policy to the letter,
has failed to take the first step toward
carrying out this feature Of it.
THusr.CoNTRoLLED PRODUCTS.
Mr.. Mckinley had not gone the length
of proposing the removal Of duties from
trust-controlled products. but nothing
can he more certain THAI that he would
very soon have reached that point, for
the two propositions are closely related.
The huge industrial combination, which
have been made during recent years,
besides expressing the consuming
public IN this country, are a grave
menace to our foreign trade. Operating
Mt home behind the impasaible wall OF
the tariff they sell their products here at
prices which enable them TO make heavy
cuts in export prices, and thus invade
foreign markets under circumstances
which place their competitors at a ser.
ious disadvantage. Mr.. Schwab, the
head OF the steel trust, in his testimony
before the Industrial Commission. adj
United that the export prices OF our
leading manufacturers we're, upon an
average, about % per cent below the
] prices charged to dealers in the home
market. This is the condition Of which
foreigners so bitterly complain, and
upon which they base their demand for
commercial reprisals. Upon these qucs-
lions lines Of cleavage are beginning to
appear in tho Republican purity, and
among its representatives in Congress
the division ia becoming clearer day by
LAY. .a,t .~
Some are in favor Of modifying the
rigor of the tariff by reciprocity treaties.
and some are opposed TO making any
concessions whatever; some AXE a
further step in advance and urge the
removal Of duties from articles the pro.
duction and prices Of which are CONTROL.
ed by the trusts, while others are oppos.
ed to any such action. 1t need scarcely
he remarked hat the extreme tariff men
are much the more numerous and
determined.
REPEAL ~ WAR TAXEs.
The recent action Of the Committee
On Ways aud Means in reporting a bill
for the repeal Of the war taxes, may be
taken to indicate the prevailing trend OF
Republican Congressional Thought. Tho
purpose OF this move ia TO 30 reduce the
revenues OF the government IN to en-.
ablS the high pIotectionist To argue
plausibly that any lowering OF duties
through reciprocity or anti.trust
measures will endanger the condition OF
the Treasury. They plead now hat the
"war taxes" should DO removed first.
or course the whole contention is illogi.
cal and i%nsincere. Tho lowering, or
even tho total removal OF duties from
trust products will scarcely reduce the
revenue mt I'LL for those products are
not imported to any extent worth con-
sidering.
RECIPROCITY.
After the war taxes are all repealed
theirs will still remain Il surplus Of
revenue estimated ut $40, 0U0. 1000 annual
ly. The reciprocity idea, as nov pro.
posed, only involves a reduction OF one.
fifth in the rates OF duty. This would
result IN some additional imports, and
it is easy to see that with a surplus Of
s3o,000,OOO to begin With. a greut deal
could be done along this line without
creating a deficit. TE a.. .,".
FAX on coRpoRATIoNs.
Beeldos, II II IL thought That there In
my real danger Of q eliortage OF rev.
enue, such contingency can easily DO
met, in good part at least, by adopting
tho Newlanda proposition to reduce the
tax ON sugar and petroleum r~efiners
from onc.iourth to one.tcnth Of one per
cent on grose receipts and then extend
it to mll industrial corporations, tie re-.
ceipts Of which exceed 100000 IN.
Dually.
This measure, with only slight modif.
cations. hRs been urged iDsistently by
MIR. NewlaDds, butb on tho floor OF the
House nnd IN Committee.
Its effect would he TO provide n good.
~ sum in revenue and at the same time
place the burden whore II rightfulJy bo.
iongs-on the shoulders oi giant cor.
p%orations that arc realizing enormous
profits upon their highly protected in.
dustnea. 10 n almost needless Tor mo