The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-03
President ROOSeveIt'S
Message to Congress

: tees which injuriously affect interstate
trade can be prevented under the power
of the Congress 10 regulate commerce with
foreign nations and among the several
States" through regulations and require
ments operating directly upon sucn com,
merce, the instrumentalities thereon ana
those engaged therein.
| earnestly recommend this subject to
the consideration OF the Congress with a
view TO the passage of a law reasonaple III
its provisions and effective in Its opera
tons. upon which the questions can be nnai-
ly adjudicated that now raise doubts as 10
the necessity of constitutional amendment.
If ii prove impossible TO accomplish the
purposes set forth by such a law, then, as
suredly, we should not shrink from amend
ing the Constitution So as TO secure De-
yond peradventure the power sought.
The Congress has not heretofore MADE
any appropriation for the better enforce
ment of the antitrust law as IL now STANDS.
Very much has been done by the Depart
ment of Justice in securing the enforce
ment of this law, but much more could De
done If Congress would make a special ap,
preparation for this purpose, to be expended
under direction of the attorney general.
One proposition advocated has been the
reduction of the tariff as a means or reacn-
ing the evils of the trusts which fall With
in the category L have described. Not mere
~ would this be wholly ineffective, Dut the
diversion of our efforts in such a direction
would mean the abandonment of all intelll-
gent attempt to do away with these evlls:
Many of the largest corporations, many, OF
those which should certainly 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 prosperity OF the
country. The only relation of the tarif TO
big corporations as a whole Is that the
tariff makes manufactures profitable, and
the tariff remedy proposed would be In
effect simply to make manufactures un-
profitable. To remove the tariff as a punt
tive measure directed against trusts would
inevitably result in ruin to the weaker com
petitors who are struggling against them:
Our aim should be not by unwise tariff
changes to give foreign products the ad-
vantage over domestic products, but by
proper regulation to give domestic compe-
ution a fair chance; and this end cannot
be reached by any tariff changes whlch
would affect unfaVorably all domestic COM
p%etitors, good and bad alike. The question
of regulation of the trusts stands apart
from the question of tariff revision.
STABILITY DESIRABLE.
Stability of economic policy must always
be the prime economic need of this country.
This stability should not be fossilization.
The country has acquiesced in the wisdom
Of the protective-tariff principle. 1t Is ex-
ceedingly undesirable that this system
should be destroyed or that there should
be violent and radical changes therein.
Our past experience shows that great pros
perity In this country has always come
under a protective tariff. and that the coun-
try cannot prosper under fitful tariff
changes at short intervals. Moreover. If
the tariff laws as a whole work well, and
Il business has prospered under them and
is prospering. it is better TO endure for a
time slight Inconvenience and Inequalities
ia some schedules than to upset business
by too quick and too radical changes. 1t
is most earnestly to be wished that we
could treat the tariff from the standpoint
solely OF our business needs. Ii Is, perhaps,
too much to hope that craftsmanship may be
entirely excluded from consideration of the
subject, but at least ii can be made secon-
Diary to the business interests of the coun-
try-that is, to the interests of our people
as a whole. Unquestionably these business
interests will best be served If, together
with hxity of principle as regards the tariff,
we combine a system which will permit US
from time TO time to make the necessary
reapplication of the principle to the shifting
national needs. We must take scrupulous
care that the reapplication shall be made
in such a way that it will not amount to a
dislocation OF our system. the mere threat
OF which mot 10, speak OF the performance
would produce paralysis in the business en-
ergies of the community. The first consid-
GRAFTON in making these changes would, OF
course, be to preserve the principle which
= underlies our whole tariff ~system-that is,
the principle of putting American business
interests at least on a full equality with
: interests abroad, and OF always allowing a
a sufficient rate of duty to more than cover
the difference between the labor cost here
and abroad. The well-being OF the wage
I worker, like the well-being of the tiller OF
= the soil, should be treated as an essential
in shaping our whole economic policy
I There must never be any change which will
Jeopardize the standard Of comfort, the
!, standard of wages of the American wage.
worker.
RECIPROCITY A REMEDY.
One way in which the readjustment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
: treaties. 1t is greatly to be desired thai
: such treaties may be adopted. They car
, be used to widen our markets and to give g
5 greater field for the activities of our pro.
( ducers on the one hand, and on the other
: hand to secure In practical shape the lower
: ing of duties when they are no longer need
ed for protection among our OWL people
: or when the minimum of damage done ma
be disregarded for the sake of the maxi
: mum of good accomplished. If il prov,
: impossible to ratify the pending treaties
y and if there seem TO be no warrant for tn,
endeavor to execute others, or to amenC
the pending treaties so that they can b,
ratified, then the same end-to secure reel
' procity-should be met by direct legislation
Wherever the tariff conditions are sucl
that a needed change cannot with ad
: vantage be made by the application of tn,
q reciprocity idea, then it can be made out
2 right by a lowering of duties on a givel
product. If possible, such change Shout,
be made only after the fullest considera
ton by practical experts, who should ap
proach the subject from a business stand
+ point. having in view both the partlcula
n interests aIecleU ana the commercial we'll
being of the people as a whole. The ma
chinery for providing such careful investi
cation can readily be supplied. The execu
n tive department has already at its disposa
methods OF collecting facts and figures
q and IL the Congress desires additional con
Sfderation to that which will be given tn
: subject by its own committees. then
commission of business experts can be an
pointed whose duty it should be to recon-
mend action by the Congress after a delhi
% crate and scientific examination of the vari
10 Gus schedules as they are affected by tn
changed and changing conditions. The I'm
hurried and unbiased report of this com
mission would show what changes shout
be made in the various schedules, and no,
l. far these changes could go without ais
10 changing the great prosperity which thi
country Is now enjoying, or upsetting il
Al fixed economic policy.
'e The cases in which the tariff can produc
- a monopoly are so few as to constitute a
inconSidei able factor in the question. IN
II OF course II in any case il be found thu
lie a given rate of duty does promote a mC
re- nopoly which works i'll, no projections
would object TO such reduction of the dur
as would equalize competition.
e. In my judgment. the tariff on anthracif
10 coal should be removed, and anthracit
put actually, where il now is nominall,
&c on the free list. This would have no effes
lie at all save in crises; but in crises il nigI
be OF service TO the people.
is LEGISLATION.
1 Currency ShOuld Re EIostsc So