Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-12-05
THE TARIFF.


THE TARIFF.
II Il n Subject That Stands Apa TT from
the Trusts.
One proposition advocated has been the
reduction Of the tariff as means of reach.
ing the evils of the trusts which fall with
in the category, I have described. Not
but the diversion of our efforts in such a
direction would mean the abandonment OF
all Intelligent attempt to do away with
these evils. Many, of the largest corpora
tions. many of those which should Ger.
tainly be included in any proper scheme OF
regulation. would not be affected In the
slightest degree by change in the tariff,
save as such change irterfered with the
only relation of the tariff to big corpora
lions as a whole Is that the tariff makes
manufactures profitable, and the tariff
to make manufactures Improbable. 10
remove the tariff as a punitive measure
directed against trusts would inevitably re-
suit In ruin to the weaker competitors who
are struggling against them. Our aim
should be not by unwise tariff changes to
give foreign products the advantage over
domestic products, but by proper regula-
tion to give domestic competition a fair
any tariff changes which would affect I'M
favorably all domestic competitors, good
and bad alike. The question Of regulation
OF the trusts stands apart from the ques-
Stability of economic policy must always
be the prime economic reeG OF this country
This stability should lot be fossllization.
The country has acquiesced in the wisdom
of the protective-tarif principle. 1t is ex-
ceeGngly undesirable that 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 bas always come under
protective tariff; and that the country
cannot prosper under fitful tariff changes
at short intervals Moreover, II the tariff
laws as whole work well, ana If business
has prospered under them and Is prosper
ing, 1t is better to endure for time slight
inconvenience and Inequalities In some
schedules, than to, upset business By too
quick ard too RADICAL changes. 1t is most
earnestly to be wished that we could treat
the tariff from the standpoint solely of our
business reeds, 1t is. perhaps. too much to
hope that partisanship may be entirely ex-
cluded from conside ration of the subject,
but at least It can be made secondary TO
the business interests of the country-that
Is. to the interests of our people as whole.
will hest be served II. together with fixi.y
Of principle as regards the tariff We com
bine system which will prrmit Us from
time TO time to make the necessary reap
floral needs. We mus, 4 take Ike s serupnlo o
care that the reappllcation shall be made
in such way that 1t will not amount TO
4 dislocatlon Of our system the. mere
threat or which mot to speak of the per-
formaEce) would produce paralysis in the
business energies of the community. The
hrst consideration in making these changes
would, OF course. be to preserve the prin-
cple which urderlies our whole tariff sys-
tem--that IL. the principle of putting Amer
lean business Interests at least on a full
equality, with Interests abroad. and of al
WAYS, WAYS allowing sufficient rate Of duty to
AMOR cost here and abroad. The well-be-
rg OF the wage-worker like the we,l-be-
ing of the tiller Of the soil, should be treat
eG as an essential in shaping our whole
economic policy. There must never be any
change which will jeopardiza the standard
Of comfort, the stan6a,G OF wages of the
American wage-worker
One way in which the reimbursement
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
treaties. 1t is greatly to be desired that
such treaties may be adopted. They can
oe used TO widen our markets and to
give greater field for the activities of
our producers on the one hand. and on
the other to secure in practical shape the
covering of duties when they are no
longer needed for protection among our
damage done may be dsregarded for the
sake of the maximum of good accom-
plished. Ii 1t prove impossible to ratify
to be no warrant for the endeavor to
execute others, or to amend the pending
treaties so that they can be ratified then
the same end-to secure reciprocity
should be met by direct legislation.
Need of Tariff Commission.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that needed change cannot with adj
the reciprocity Idea, then It can be made
outright by lowering of duties on
given product. If possible such change
should be made only after the fullest
.,,t.I sr.vr hxr tpnl
should approach the subject IRON bust
ness standpoint, having in view both the
particular interests affected and the COM
mercial well-being of the people as a
careful investigation can readily be sup
Piled. The executive department has al
ready at its disposal methods OF collect
ing facts and figures; and r. the con-
that which will be given the subject by
It's own committees, then a commission
Of business experts can be appointed
whose who's, duty 1t should be to recommend commend
and scientific examination of the various
schedules as they are affected by the
changed and changing conditions. The
an Would sho% whss
should be made in the various schedules.
and how far these changes. could go
without also changing the great pros
perity which this country Is now enjoy
ICY
The cases in which the tariff can pro-
duce monopoly are so few as to con-
stitute an inconsderable factor In the
question; but of course II in any case
Il be found that a given rate Of duty
does promote monopoly which works
III, no protectionist would object to such
of the duty as would equalize
In my judgment. the tariff on anthra-
cite coal should be removed. and anthra-
cite put actually, where 1t now Is NOM
nally on the free list This would have
no effect at all save In crises: but In