The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-12-05

earnestly recommend this subject to the
consideration of the congress with a view
| provisions and effective in its operations,
| upon which the questions can be finally
the necessity of constitutional amendment
II II prove impossible to accomplish the
purposes aboye set forth by such, a law,
then. assuredly, We should not shrink from
amending the constitution so as to secure
beyond peradventure the power sought.
THE TARIFF.
| 1t Is Subject That Stands Apart from
| the Trusts.
| One proposition advocated has been the
! reduction of the tariff as a means of reach
| ing the evils of the trusts which fa;i with
merely would this be wholly ineffective,
but the diversion of our efforts in such a
direction would mean the abandonment of
| these evils. Many of the largest corpora
tons, many of those which should Ger
regulation. would not be affected in the he
slig htest degree by change in the tariff,
save as such change ipterfered with the
| only relation of the tariff to big corpora
lions as a whole Is that the tariff makes
remedy proposed would be in effect simply
! to make MANUFACTURES improbable. TO
dreee ssf 1T9ve
| suit In ruin to the weaker competitors who
are struggling against them Our aim
Domestic products, but BY proper regula-
chance: arc this end cannot be reached by
any tariff changes which would affect UNI
anS bas n d9% he
| Of the trusts stands apart from the CUES
| tion Of tariff revision.
be the prime econ omic need of this country.
This stability should rot be fossilization
The country has acquiesced in the wisdom
ceecngly undesirable that this system
should be destroyed or that there should be
past experience shows that great prosper
ity in this country has always come under
proteetys tariff and that The country
at short intervals. Moreover If the tariff
laws as a whole work wei, and if business
ing, it is better to endure for a time Slight
lnconveniences and inequalities in some
eThedues les than ina to upset business by toe
the tariff from the standpoint solely of our
hope that partisanship may be entirely ex-
Guided from Consideration of the subject,
nns est 1t be Of PAS Ss to
Is. to the interests of our people as whole.
unI,qp lest stionably these business interests
bine system which viii permit us from
necessary D.
tioral needs: We must take sc ir
in such way that it VIII n afi am oe MAGE
t threat Of which ,(not to speak OF the per-
iormance) would produce paralysis in the
| business energies of the community The
first cons Iteration in making these changes
ciple which underlies our whole tariff sys-
ten-shat is. the principle of putting Amer
i ne,i business ness interests at least on full
.eQ -
ways SLOWING a-sufiicient rate 81 du Ut to
M more than cover the difference between The
ia6or cost here anC abroad. The well-be-
irg OF the wage-worker, like the well-be-
Ing OF the uller Of the soil, should be treat
economic policy. There must neVer,b @H ans
change which viii jeopaEdize the stand ara
American wage-worker.
one way in which the readjustment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
such treaties may be adopted They can
be used to widen our markets and to
give greater field for the, activities Of
the other to secure in practical shape the
lowering of duties when they are no
own people. or when the minimum OF Of
oemage, cone may be disregarded for the
sake o. the maximum of good accom-
pEshed. If 1t prove impossible to ratify
the pending treaties. and if there seem
to be no warrant for the endeavor tc
treaties that they can be ratified. -ther
the same end-to secure reciprocitv-
should be met by direct legislation
Need of Tariff Commission.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that needed change cannot with ad.
vantage be made by the application of
the reciprocity idea. then it can be made
outright by lowering. of duties On a
given product. If possible. such change
consideration by practical experts. who
should approach the subject from a bust
ness standpoint, having in view both the
I mercial weil-being of the people as
whole. The machinery for providing such
careful Investigate ton can readily be sup
ready at its disposal methods of collect
ing facts and figures; and If the con-
gress desires additional consideration to
that which will be given the subject by
: its own committees, then a commission
OF business experts can be appointed
whose duty it 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
! commission would show what changes
should be made in the various schedules
! and how Tar these changes could go
without also changing the great pros
perity which this country is now enjoy
Ing. or upsetting its fixed economic pol
s. The cases in which the tariff can pro-
duee monopoly are so few as to con-
stitute an inconsiderable factor in the
question: but of course If in any case
II be found that given rate of duty
does promote a monopoly which works
ILL.,. no protectionist would object to such
REDUCTION OF the duty as would equalize
In my Judgment. the tariff on. anthra-
cite coal should be removed, and anthra-
many on thu frse Mss This nO would Il Saue
no effect at all save In crises: but -