The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-12-03
practices which lniuriousiy AFFECT inter-


! thereof and those engaged therein
earnestly recommend this subject TO the
! consideration Of the congress with a view
to the passage Of a law reasonable in its
! provisions and effective in its operations
| upon which the questions can be finally
] uuJudlcaled that now raise doubts as to
the necessity Of constitutional amend
! ment IL IL prove impossible to accom-
! pliSh the purp above set forth by such
! a law, then gssuredly we should not
| shrink from amending the constitution so
as TO secure beyond peradventure the
! power sought.
The congress has not heretofore made
! any appropriation for the better enforce
mcnt OF the antitrust law as II now
! stands. Very much has been done by the
! department OF Justice in securing the en-
| iorcemtnt of this law. but much more
! could be done II congress would make
/ special appropriation for this purpose, TO
be expended under the direction of the
| attorney general
one proposition advocated has been the
| REDUCTION OF the tarin as a means of
| reaching the evils of the trusts which fail
| within the category | have described
! Not merely would this be wholly ineffec-
i've, but the diversion Of our efforts in
| such direction would mean the aban-
| donment Of an intelligent attempt to do
| away with these evils. Many of the lar
! gesJ corporations, many Of those which
! should certainly be included in any proper
| scheme OF regulation, would not be af-
| fected in the slightest degree by a change
| IN the tariff save as such change inter-
iered with the general prosperity Of tho
| country. The only relation of the tariff
| TO big corporations as a whole is that the
| tarin makes manufactures profitable and
| the tarlu remedy proposed would be in
| effect simply to make manufactures un-
| profitable. To remove the tariff as
| punitive measure directed against trusts
! would inevitably result in ruin to the
| weaker competitors who are struggling
| against them. our aim should be not by
| unwse tariff changes to give foreign prod
ucts the advantage over domestic prod
ucts, but 10y proper regulation to give do
nestle competition "a fair chance and
this end cannot be reached by any tariff
changes which would affect unfavorably
all domestic competitors good and bad
alike. The question Of regulation OF the
trusts stands apart from the question Of
tariff revision.
Stability OF economic policy must al
ways be the prime economic need of this
country. This stability should not be fos-
sllzauon. Ihe country has ucquiesced
in the wisdom Of the protective tariff
principle. 1t is exceedingly undesirable
that this system should be destroyed or
that there should be violent and radical
changes therein our past experience
shows that great prosperity In this coun-
try has always come undera protective tar
in and that the country cannot prosper
under fitful tariff changes at short inter
walls. Moreover, II the tariff laws as a
whole work well and If business has pros
pered under them and is prospering. 1t is
better TO endure for a time slight incon-
Nonienccs and inequalities in some sChed-
ules than TO upset business by too quick
and too radical changes. 1t is most ear
nDstly to be wished that We could treat
the tariff from the standpoint solely OF
our business needs. 1t is. perhaps, too
much 10 hope that partisanship may be
entirely excluded from consideration OF
the subject, but at least II can be made
secondary to the business interests of the
COun,ry-that is to the interests OF our
people as whole. Unquestionably these
business interests will best be served il
together with hXity Of principle as re-
CARDS the tariff we combine a system
which will permit us from time to time to
make the necessary rcapplicatiOn Of the
principle to the shifting national needs.
We must take scrupulOus care that the
rcappliCation shall be made in such a way
that II Will not amount to dlslocation of
our system, the mere threat of which, not
to speak Of the performance. would pro-
duCc paralysis in the business energies
Of the community. The first considera-
ton in making these changes would, of
uuderlles our whole tariff system-that is,
the principle Of putting American busi-
ness interests at least on full equality
with interests abroad and of always al
lowing a sufficient rate of duty to more
than cover the difference between the
labor cost here and abroad. The well be-
Ing Of the wageworker, like the well be-
ing Of the tller Of the soil should be
treated as an essential in shaping our
whole economic policy There must never
be any change which will 1eOpardiZe 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. IL is greatly to be desired that
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
"a . 0igTD
OF the maximum of good accomplished.
II IL prove impossible to ratify the pend
ing treaties and II there seem to be no
warrant for the endcavor TO execute 9TH
ers or to amend the pending treaties so
that they can be ratified. then the same
Cnd-to secure reciprocity-should be met
by direct legislation.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such |
that a needed change cannot with advan- |
tage he made by the application of the |
reciprocity idea, then IL can be made out |
right by lowering Of duties on given |
product. II possible, such change should
he made only after the fullest considera-
tion by practical experts, who should ap
proach the subject from n business stand
point having in view both the particular
interests affected and the commercial well
being Of the people as whole The ma
for providing such careful inves-
tigaton can readily be supplied. The eN-
cCutye department has already at its
disposal methods Of collecting facts and
figures. and II 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
he appointed whose duty IL 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 unhurried and unbiased report OF this
commission would show what changes
should be made in the various schedules
4 q 4N4. VUHfN IA
)ut also changing the great prosperity
" ich this country is now enjoying or
ipsetting its fixed economic policy.
The cases in which the tariff can pro-
luce a monopoly are so few as to constt-
ute an incOns!derable factor in the ques-
ion; but, Of course. II in any case II be
'ound that given rate of duty does pro-
note n monopoly which works i'll. no pro- |
ectionist would object to such reduction
4 the duty as would equalize competition.
IN my judgment. the tarin on anthracite
'oal should be removed and anthracite
lut actually, where IL now is nomnally, |
IN the free list. This would have no effect
It all save in crises; but in crises 1t might
,e Of service to the people
Interest rates are a potent factor in
business activity. and in order that these
atcs may he euualized to meet the vary
ng needs Of the seasons and Of widely
separated communities, and to prevent the
occurrence Of financial stringencies which
njuriOusly affect legitimate business. II
& necessary that there should be an ele-
ncnt Of elasticity In our monetary sys-
EN-. Banks are the natural servants OF
commerce, and upon them should be
,laced. as far as practicable the burden
II furnishing and maintaining a circula-
ion adequate to supply the needs Of our
diversified industries and Of our domestic
md foreign commerce. and the issue Of
his should be so regulated that a suffi-
lent supply should be always available
or the business interests Of the country.
10 would be both unwise and unneces-
iary at this time to attempt TO recon-
truct our financial system. which has
leen the growth Of a century. but some
additional legislation is. / think. desirable
rhe mere outline Of any plan sufficiently
to meet these requirements
would transCress the appropriate limits
II this communication. II is suggested.
lowever. that all future legislation ON the
ubiect should be with the view Of en-
the use OF such instrumental