The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1902-12-02


changes TO give foreign products the adj
vantage over domestic products bat by
/ proper regulation 10 give domestic com
petition a fair chance. and this end
cannot De reached by auy tariff changes
which would affect unfavorably all do
nestle competitors. good and bad alike.
The question OF regulation Of the trusts
stands apart from the question or tarim
revision
Tariff Changes Menace Prosperity.
/ Stability OF economic policy must al
ways be the prime economic need OF this
country This stability should not be
. fossilization. The country has acquIeseed
IN the wisdom Of the protectiye-tariG
principle. IL is exceedingly undesirable
that this system should De destroyed or
that there should De violent and radical
. changes therein. Our past experience
shows that great prosperity I'm this cuuu-
try has always come under protective
tariff. and that the country cannot
prosper under ntfUl tariff changes az
short intervals.
Moreover. NJ the tariff laws AS a whole
work well ard II business has pres
pered under them and is prospecting. il
BIS better fo endure FOR time slight
Inconvenience and inequalities in some
schedules than 20 upset business by too
quick and too radical changes. ii is
most earnestly 10 be wished that we
could treat the tariff from the stand
point solely of our business needs. Il
rs, perhaps too much TO hope that par
tisanship may be entirely excluded from
consideration Of the subject, but at
least 10 can DO made secondary 20 the
business interests q the country-that
is. TO the interests Of our people as al
whole. Unqucstonably these business
interests win best be served II to-
. rether with hyity Of principle as re-
CARDS the tariff We combine a system
which viii permit us from ime 70 time
10 make the necessary complication OF
the principle 90 the shifting national
I needs We must take scrupI}ous care
7 that the reapulication shall be made
On such a way Uhat 10 will not amount
20 a lislccation 70 our system thc mere
threat OF which mot TO speak OF the
performance would produce paralysis
I'm the business energies OF the. com
mTnity- The first consideration in max
ing these changes would of course. he,
to preserve the principle which under
lies our whole tariff system-that is.
the principle % putting Ameri
can business interests at least on
a fun equality with interests abroad.
and OF always allowing a sufficient rate
Of duty 10 more than cover the differ
/ ence between the labor cost here and
abroad The well-being OF the wage
worker. like the well-beinE Of the tiller
Of the soil. should be treated as an es-
sential in shaping our whole economic
policy. There must never be any change
which will 5eopardize the STANDARD OF
comfort. the standard OF w"ges OF the
American wage worker.
Readjustment by Reciprocity.
One way in which the readiusJment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
treaties. IL is greatly 10 be desired that
such treaties may be adopted They can
be used TO widen our markets and to
give greater field for the activities OF
our producers on the one hand and on
the other hand 10 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 damage done may be dis
I regarded for the sake OF maximum
OF good accomplished. II 20 prove inI-
/ possible 10 ratify the pending treaties
| and il there seem 20 be no warrant fOr
/ the endeavor to execute others. OF 10
/ amend the pending treaties so that trey
can be ratified then the same Cuo--
TO secure reciprocity-should be met by
/ direct legislation.
/ wherever the tarin conditions are
| such that a needed change cannot
/ with advantage De made by the appli-
cation OF the reciprocity idea then il
/ can be made outright by a lowering
| Of duties on a given product. II pCs-
/ sible. such change should De made only
after the fullest consideration by pTaC-
/ teal experts. who should approach the
! subject from O business standpoint Lav-
| ing I'm view both the particular inter
ests affected and the commercial we'll
/ being Of the people as a whole.
Business Experts Commission.
The machinery for providing such
! careful investigation can readily be sup
piled The executive department has
already at its disposal methods Of col
/ lecting facts and figures; and IF the
/ Congress desires additional considera-
tion 10 that which will be given the sub
! Ject by its own committees. then
commission OF business experts can be
appointed whose duty 10 should be 10
recommend action by the Congress after
{ "a deliberate and scientific examinat on
Z OF the various schedules as they an
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 without also chang
{ ing the great prosperity which this
country Is now enjoying. or upsett:ng its
/ fixed economic policy
The cases in which the tariff can
produce a monopoly are SC few as TO
constitute an inconsiderable factor IN
the question. but % course II in any case
| 60 be found that given rate OF duty
docs promote q monopoly which works
! 80. no protectionist would object to
such reduction Of the duty as would
cqualize competition.
Coal On the Free List
Tn ny Judgment. the tariff on anthra-
I cite coal should be removed. and an
iEracite gut actually. where 50 now is
IuomiuaUy on The free list. This would
have no effect a. an save en- crises: but
/ IN crises IL might be OF service 20 the
/ people.
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