Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-12-12
NO TARIFF CHANGES.
Political Partisanship Should be Secondary to
Business Considerations.


perity in this country has always come
under protective tariff, and that the
country cannot prosper under titful
tariff changes in short intervals. More
over, if the tariff laws as a whole work
we'll, and if business has prospered un-
der them and is prOspering, it is better
to endure for time slight inconveni-
ces and inequalities in 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 of
our business needs. 1t is perhaps too
much to hope that partisanship may
be entirely excluded from considera-
ton OF the subject, but at least it can
be made secondary to the business in
terests of the country-that is, to the
interests of the people as a whole.
Unquestionably these business inter.
ests will best be served if together with
fixity of principle as regards the tariff
We combine system which will per-
nit us from time to time to make the
necessary rs.spplication of the princi-
pie to the shifting National needs. We
must take scrupulous care that the
reapplication shall be made in such q
way that it will not amount to q dis.
location OF our system, the mere threat
OF which (not to speak of the perform
ance) would produce paralysis in the
business energies of the community.
The first consideration in making
these changes would, of course, be to
preserve the principle which underlies
our whole tariff system-thst is, the
principle of putting American bust.
ness interests at least on full equal.
ity with interests abroad, and of always
allowing q sufficient rate of duty to
more than cover the difference be-.
tween the labor cost here and abroad.
The well-being of the wage-worker,
like the well.being of the tiller OF the
soil, should be treated - an essential
in shaping our whole economic policy.
There must never be any change
which will jeopardize the standard of
comfort, the standard of wages OF the
American wageworker.
One way in which the readjustment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
treaties. It is greatly to be desired
that such treaties may be adopted.
They can be used to widen our mar.
kets and to give q 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 du-
ties when they are no longer needed
for protection among our own people
or when the minimum of damage done
may be disregarded for the sake Of the
maximum OF good accomplished. II it
prove impossible to ratify the pending
treaties, and if there seem to be NO
warrant for the endeavor to execute
others, or to amend the pending trea.
ties 90 that they can be ratified, then
the same end-to secure reciprocity
should::be met by direct legislation.
Whenever the tariff conditions are
such that . needed change can not
with advantage be made by the appli.
cation of the reciprocity idea, then it
can be made outright by lowering OF
dtuies on given product. If possible,
such change should be made only after
the fullest consideration by practical
experts, who should approach the SUBJ
ject from business standpoint, hav-
ing in view both the particular inter.
ests affected and the commercial we'll
being of the people as whole. The
machinery for providing such careful
investigation can readily be supplied.
The executive department has already
at its disposal methods of collecting
facts and figures; and if the Congress
desires additional consideration to that
which will be given the subject by its
own committees, then commission Of
business experts can be appointed
whose duty it should be 10 recommend
action by the Congress after deliber.
ate and scientific examination of the
various schedules as they are affected
by the changed and changing condi.
tions. 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 60 without also chang
ing the great prosperity which this
country is now enjoying or upsetting
its fixed economic policy.
The cases in which the tariff can
produce monopoly are 80 few as to
constitute an uncomfortable factor in
the question; but of course, if in any
case it be found that . given rate Of
duty does promote . monopoly which
works i'll, no protectionist would object
to such reduction of the duty a. would
equalize competition.
In my judgment, the tariff on an
thracite coal should be removed, and
anthracite put actually. where it now
is nominally, on the free list. This
would have no effect at all save in
crises; but in crises it might be of
service 10 the people.
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF COUNTRY.
All Kinds Of Money Should Be Made Inter.
chansssble.
Interest rates are q potent factor in