The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-02

ity with interests abroad, and Of always
allowing a sufficient rate Of duty to more
than cover the difference between the
labor cost here and abroad. The we'll
being of the wage-worker, like the we'll
being of the tiller of the soil. should be
treated as an essential in shaping our
whole economic policy. There must never
be any change which will jeopardl<e the
standard Of comfort, the standard OF
wages Of the American wage.Worker.
RECIPROCITY TREATIES
sought can be reached Is by reciprocity
treaties. 1t 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
age done may be disregarded for the sake
Of the maximum of good accomplished.
If it prove impossible to ratify the pending
treaties. and if there seem to be no war
rant for the endeavort to execute others, or
to amend the pending treaties so that
they can be ratified then the same end
to secure eciprocity-shouldb be met by dt-
rect legislation. ~ ~ @.S .fF
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that needed change can not with advan-
tage be made by the application of the re-
ciprocfty idea. then it can be made out
right by a lowering Of duties on a 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 we'll
being of the people as whole.
A TARIFF COMMISSION SUGGESTED.
The machinery for providing such care
full investigation can readily be supplied
The executive department has already at
its disposal methods of collecting facts
and figures; and If the congress desires adj
ditional consideration to that which will
De given the subject by its own commit
tees, then a commission of business ex-
perts can be appointed whose duty 1t
should be to recommend action by the con-
gress after q deliberate and scientific ex-
animation Of the various schedules as they
are affected by the changed and changing
conditions. The eunhurried and unbiased
report of this commission would show
what changes should be made in the va
rious schedules. and how far these changes
could: go WITHOUT also changing the great
prosperity which this country Is now en-
joying, or upsetting its fixed economic
policy. 81, - ..--..,% .s..: =,
The cases in which the tariff can pro-
duce a monopoly are so few as to consti-
tute an inconsiderable factor in the Dues
ton; but of course if in any case 1t be
found that given rate of duty does pro-
mote 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 anthra-
cite coal should be removed, and anthra-
cite put actually, where it now is nominal
~, on the free list. This would have no
effect at all, save in crises; but in crises
1t might be Of service to the people.