The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1902-01-28
PRIcEs AND TARIFF REFoRA


We have the autkority Of Mr. Hanna
that the proteetiVe tariff il too scien-
tihesliy adjuEted 30 b meddled VITA.
4r. Kama net being eonaidsred an
authority On the tariH. this informa-
ton would not Be Faluable had he not
been boss Of the republican party. So
far al that M. Hanna has said about
eongreasional legislation has been at
tempted if not accomplished, so that
Ne are forced ts believe that il is not
intended 10 attempt any tariff reform,
AoweVer much needed.
There IS no doubt that Nr. Hanna is
technically right in his estimate of
the way the tariff has been adjusted,
and yet the way the present tariff was
built was very sinpls. Each manufae-
turing or produeing interest, except
the ordinary farmers and planterL
was invited 70 come before The repub-
lean members Of the Ways and means
committee with q schedule that would
protect its particular industry, ana
the whole were then arranged under
The same schedule as the Mckinley
tariff had been. OF course there were
some who wanted more protection
than was given them. the rate being ad-
justed 10 suit the general scheme. Tie
wool growers wanted . prohibstivs
tariff, but their interests clashed with
The carpet and woolen manufacturers
who wanted free raw material, and
here was where the scientific adjust
ment came into play. It was so witk
some other interests.
The proposed reform Of placing on
the free list those trust productions
that the trusts are selling abroad at
lower price than they are selling them
at home, would probably not affect
the revenues, for but few. Il any, i'm
portations are made under the present
tariff rate, and Il the foreigners at
tempt 10 import when the duty is
removed, there viii be no revenue pro-
duced. for there is hardly much likeli-
hood Of the trusts allowing any impor-
tations, as they win bring down their
price 10 the level where Il would be un-
profitable for the foreigner 10 attempt
10 compete. The result, therefore,
would be that the price of trust articles
would be reduced to consumers just
low enough 10 prevent foreign compe-
tition and this would BE- the present
price less the tariff rate, about - per
cent. All these trust-made articles
would be reduced in price, which would
about equal the foreign price with The
freight and profit added.
This should not much interfere
with business. except the trust mo-
nopolies, and the time for the change
from the high tariff to free trade in
these trusts articles could be set far
enough ahead TO allow the i0bbers
and retailers TO get rid of their
stocks in anticipation Of the lower
prices that would prevail. There is
nothing scientific or mysterious about
this proposed tariff reform and there
Is no reason why it should not b.
adopted except that the trusts would
kick vigorously and threaten TO re-
duce wages and otherwise make al
the trouble possible. But give them
a little time and they would adjust
their business TO the lower level
This IS nor IDEAL tarE reform. for
there are many other inequalis les
that require adjusting almos. "a
much as the fr1sr monopoiies. but it
would DO for beginning and
tariff for revenue only with high
rates on luxur.es and low rates On
necessities. wh.eh IS the democratic
doctrine. VIII follow when the peo-
Vle demand it.