The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-12-04

merce with foreign nations and among
and requirements operating directly upon
| such commerce, the instrumentalities
thereof and those engaged therein.
| earnestly recommend this subject to the
consideration Of the congress with view
| TO the passage of law reasonable in its
Provisions PROV nsos and effective in its operations,
adJudicated that now raise doubts as to
the necessity Of constitutional amend.
plish the purposes above set forth by such
| a law, then sssuredly we should not
shrink from amending the constitution so
& as to secure secure beyond peradventure the
The congress has not heretofore made
any Appropriation for the better enforce
: stands. Very much has been done by the
department OF Justice In securing the en-
forcement of this law, but much more
could be done II congress would make
be expended under the direction Of the
One proposition advocated has been the
reaching the evils OF the trusts which fall
! Not merely would this be wholly ineffec-
tive, but the diversion. of our efforts in
donment Of ali ntesept YH "ea attempt @ tooh to do
away with these evils. Many of the lar
gest corporations. many, of those which
scheme of regulation would not be af-
fected IN the slightest degree by . change
In the tariff, save as such change inter
fered with the general prosperity of the
country. The only relation of the tariff
to big corporations as whole is that the
tariff makes manufactures profitable, and
the tariff remedy proposed would be in
erect simply to make manufactures un-
profitable. To remove the tariff as a
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 foreign prod
ucts the advantage over domestic prod
ucts, but by proper regulation to give do
this end cannot be reached by any tariff
changes which would affect unfavorably
al domsstic competitors. good and bad
trusts stands apart from the question of
tariff revision.
Stability. OF economic policy must al
country. This stability should not be fos-
silization The country has aequiescedi
int In the wisdom Of the protective tariff rif
that this system should be destroyed or
that there should be violent and radical
shows that great prosperity in this coun-
try has always come under protective tar
in and that the country cannot prosper
under ftful tariff changes at short inter-
walls. Moreover, II the tariff laws as a
whole work well and IL business has pros
pered under them and is prospecting, it is
better to endure for time slight incon-
veniences and inequalities in some sched-
ules than TO upset business by too quick
anu 100 TdulCdl CHuUBeS. II is MOST
nestly to be wished that we could treat
the tariff from the standpoint solely of
our business needs. II is, perhaps, too
entirely excluded from consideration 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 a whole. Unquestionably these
business interests will best be served IL
CARDS the tariff we combine system
which will permit us from time to time to
make the necessary reappication OF the
principle to the shifting national needs.
We must take scrupuous care that the
reappication shall be made in such a way
that 1t will not amount to dislocation Of
our system, the mere threat of which, not
to speak of the performance. would pro-
duce paralysis in the business energies
tion in making these changes would of
course, be to preserve the principle which
underies our whole tariff system-that is
ness mes interests al at % least On anu full lee equality %
with interests abroad and of always al
laying rate Of duty to
labor cost here and abroad. The well be-
ing Of the wageworker like the well be-
treated as an essential in shaping our
whole economic policy. There must never
be any change which will jeopardizo the
wages, Of the American wageworker
One way in which the readjustment
sought can be reached is n by city
such treaties may be adopted. They can
be used to widen our markets and to give
a greater field for the activities of our
producers on the one hand, and on the
other hand to secure in practical shape
the lowering of duties when they are no
longer needed for protection among our
own people or when the minimum of dam
age done may be disregarded for the sake
Of the maximum of good accomplished.
ing treaties and iS there seem to be no
warrant for the endeavor to execute 9TH
that they can be ratified, then the same
end-to secure reciprocity--shoud be met
by direct legislation.
that n needed change cannot with advan-
tage be made by tho application of the
reciprocity idea, then it can be made out
right by a lowering of duties on given
product. If possible, such change should
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 particular
interests affected and the commercial well
being Of the people as a whole. The ma
chinery for providing such careful inves-
tigation can readily be supplied. The ex-
ecutive department has already at it's
disposal methods of collecting facts and
figures, and If the congress desires addi-
tional 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
deliberate and scientific examination of
the various schedules as they are affected
by the changed and changing conditions.
The unhurried and unbiased report of this
commission would show what changes
should be made in the various schedules
and how far these changes could go with
out also changing the great prosperity
which this country is now enjoying or
upsetting its fixed economic policy.
The cases in which the tariff can pro-
duce monopoly are so few as to consti-
tute an inconsiderable factor in the ques-
tion; but, of course, il in any case 1t be
found that given rate of duty does pro-
mote n monopoly which works i'll. no pro-
tectionist would object to such reduction
Of the duty as would equalize competition.
In my Judgment, the tariff on anthracite
coal should be removed and anthracite
put actually, where 1t now is nominaly,
on the free list. This would have no effect
at all save In crises; but in crises Ii might
be of service to the people.
Interest rates are a potent factor in
business activity. and in order that these
rates may be equalized to meet the vary
ing needs of the seasons and of widely
separated communities, and to prevent the
recurrence of financial stringencies which
injuriously affect legitimate business 1t
is necessary that there should be an ee-