Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-12-06
CONCERNING THE TARIFF.

|
! CONCERNING THE TARIFF.
| Fitfu1 and Radical Changes Declared
Undesirable.
Stability of economic policy must al
| ways be the prime economic need of this
country. This ability should not be fos
silzation. The country has acquiesced in
the wisdom of the protective tariff prin-
ciple. 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 under a protective
| tariff; and that the country cannot pros
per under fitful tariff changes. at short
intervals. Moreover, if the tariff laws
as a whole work we'll, and if busin
has prospered under them and is pros
pering, it is better to endure for a time
slight inconvenience and inequalities in
some schedules than to upset business by
too quick and too radical changes. 1t is
most earnestly to be wished that we
could treat the tariff from the standpoint
solely of our business needs. Unquestion-
ably these business interests will best be
served if together with fxity Of principle
as regards the tariff we combine sys
tenn which will permit us from time to
time to make the necessary reapplication
of the principle to the shifting national
needs. We must take scrupulous care
that the reapplication shall be made in
such Il way that it will not amount to
dislOcation of our system, the mere threat
| Of which mot to speak of the perform
ance) would produce paralysis i'll the
business energies of the community. The
| first consideration in making these
| changes would, of course, be to preserve
the principle which underlies our whole
| tariff system-that is, the principle OF
| putting American business interests at
least on a full equalTy with interests
abroad, and of always allowing sufti-
cient rate of duty to more than cover
j the difference between the labor cost here
and abroad. The well-being of the wage
worker, like the well-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 jeopardize the standard of comfort,
the standard Of wages of the American
wage worker.
One way in which the reimbursement
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
treaties. 1t is greatly to be desired that
such treaties may be adopted. If it prove
impossible to ratify the pending treaties,
and if there seem to be no warrant for
the endeavor to execute others, or to
amend the pending treaties SO that they
can be ratified, then the same end-to
secure reciprocity-should be met by d.
rect legislation.
Advocates Tariff Commission.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that a needed change cannot with advan-
tage be made by the application Of the
reciprocity 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
approach the subject from a business
standpoint, having in view both the PAR
| ticular interests affected and the CONNER
cial weIl-being of the people as a whole.
The machinery for providing such careful
investigation can readily be supplied. The
executive department has already at its
disposal methods of collecting facts and
figures; and if the Congress desires add-
tional consideration to that which will be
given the subject by its own committees,
then a commission of business experts
can be appointed whose duty it should be
! to recommend action by the Congress af-
ton of the various schedules as they are
! affected by the changed and changing
| conditions.
The cases in which the tariff can pro-
duce a monopoly are so few as to consti-
| tute an inconsderable factor in the ques-
ton; but of course if in any case it be
! found that given rate of duty does pro-
mote a monopoly which works i'll, no pro-
teetionist would object to such reduction
| of the duty as would equalize competi-
ton.
Would Remove Tariff on Coal.
In my judgment, the tariff on anthra-
cite coal should be removed, and anthra-
cite put actually, where it now is nomi-
nally, on the free list. This would have
no effect at all save in crises; but in crises
it might be of service to the people.
Banking and Currency.
Banks are the natural servants Of COM
merce, and upon them should be placed,
as far as practicable, the burden of fur
nishing and maintaining circulation
adequate to supply the needs of our d.
yersifed industries and of our domestic
and foreign commerce; and the issue of
this should be so regulated that a suffi-
cient supply should be always available
for the business interests of the country.
1t would be both unwise and unneces
sary at this time to attempt to recon
struct our financial system, which has
been the growth of a century; but some
additional legislation is, | think, desira-
BILE. 1t is suggested that all future legis
lation on the subject should be with the
view of auoouraCino tho uSa of Suoh in