Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-12-04
THE TARIFF.
1t Is a Subject That Stands Apart from
the Trusts.

One proposition advocated has been the
REDUCTION Of the tariff as a means Of reach
i in the category I have described ed Not lot
merely would this be wholly ineffective
but the diversion of our efforts in such a
YOU'D mean the asandonment Of
these evils Many of the largest corpora
tons, many Of those which should GER
tainly be nclude9 in any proper scheme Of
slightest degree, by change in the tariff
save as such change interfered with the
general prosperity Of the country. The
lions as whole is that the. tariff makes
manufactures profitable, and the tariff
remedy proposed would be in effect simply
remove. the tariff as a punitive measure
directed against trusts would inevitably re-
suit in ruin to the weaker competitors who
shoulG be not by unWise tariff changes to
give foreign products the advantage over
to products, but by proper regula-
chance: and this end cannot be reached by
any tariff changes which would affect un-
1ayora6ly a, Al domestic competitors, good
and bad alike. The question of regula ton
of the trusts stands apart from the ques-
ton of tariff revision.
Stability of economic policy must always
be the prime economic need Of this country.
This, stability should rot be fossilization
The country has acquiesced in the wisdom
of the protective-tariff principle. 1t is ex-
c eseill undesirable that this system
violent and radical changes therein Our
past experience shows that great prosper
1ty IN tnT coqntry has always under
cannot prosper under fitful tariff changes
at short intervals. Moreover, if the tariff
laws as whole work WELL and if business
has prospered under them and is prosper
ing, it is. better to endure for time slight
inconveniences and inequalities, in some
scnequles than to upset business by too
earnestly to be wished that we could treat
the. tariff from the standpoint solely of our
business needs It is. perhaps, too much to
n n2l9d mat s Partlsanshlp may be entirely ex
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 best be served if together with fxity
OF principle as regards the tariff we COM
pine PIN: a system which will permit us from
time to time to make the necessary reap-
pllcatlon of the principle to the shifting ma
tional needs. We must take scrupulous
ca care eth, that the reapplication shall be made
a a, dislocation Of our system, the mere re
threat of which (not to speak Of the per-
itormance) would produce paralysis in the
first consideration in making these chances
would, of course, be to preserve the Drn-
fPe Waleh u fbe nHncne Thos taT
lean business interests at least on 'f full
equality, with interests abroad, and of al
ways allowing a sufficient rate Of duty to
m ore t noa fo eve the difference
ing of the wage worker like the we11-be-
Ing of the tiller Of the soil, should be treat
e e aS an n eSISenta In shaping our whole
change which will jeopardize the standard
Of comfort, the standard of wages of the
American wage-worker.
One way in which the readiustment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
treaties. It is greatly to be desired that
S sue treaties may be adopted. They can
give a greater field for the activities of
our producers on the one hand, and on
the other to secure in practical shape the
15o omear go OF duties tie When they are no
9Wn people, or when the minimum Of
damage done may be disregarded for the
SAKE SAKE 20 Of the II !. maximum of good accom-
to be no warrant for the endeavor to
execute others, or to amend the pending
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 ad-
vantage be made by the application Of
the reciprocity &c idea, then it can be made
given product. If possible, such change
should be made only after the fullest
consideration by practical experts, who
should approach the subject from bust
ness standpoint, having in view both the
particular interests affected and the COM
mercial Well-being of the people as a
whole. The machinery for providing such
careful investigation can readily be sup
piled. The executive department has al
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 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
commission would show what changes
should be made in the various schedules,
and how far these changes could 60
without also changing the great pros
perity which this country is now enjoy
ing, or upsetting its fixed economic poll
Icy.
The cases in which the tariff can pro-
duce a monopoly are 50 few as to con-
stitute an inconsiderable factor in the
question; but of course If in any case
1t be found that a given rate of duty
does promote monopoly which works
i'll, no protectionist would object to such
reduction Of the duty as would equalize
competition.
In my Judgment, the tariff on anthra-
cite coal should be removed, and anthra-
cite put actually, where 1t now is nom
inally. on the free list. This would have