The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-30
Interview With Mr.. Tawney on His
Investigation Resolution
of Last Week.
What a Maximum and Minimum
Proposition Might Do for
..... the Northwest. i
His Investigation at Least Would
Embrace Canadian Reel
procity Questions.
From The Journal Bureau, Room 49, Post Build
ing Washington. .

From, The Journal Bureau, Room As, Post Build
ing, Washington. 90.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 30.-Considerable IN
tersst in congress. and over the country
generally, is being taken IN the Lodge
resolution in the senate. and IN the LAY"
ney concurrent resolution In the mousse
providing for an investigation, during tue
coming congressional recess. of the Ques-
tion of the, maximum ano. minimum taf-s
IF, and the desrability Of offering = -
q solution of the intimately related prop
lens of tariff revision and reciprocity
treaties. -
For several years continuously, strong
pressure has been brought to bear, under
The leadership of the middle west, the
Minnesota delegation in the house ing
uring conspicuously in this leadership III
On effort to secure by direct means some
modification of the schedules OF the DING
lev tariff act: and concurrently, III inc
senate. pressure equally strong, and LED
nv men from the same territory, mas Deeh
brought to bear in the interest Of the
pen6ing reciprocity treaties. In each III
stance the effort has been futile, ana It IS
now being realized by the friends OF genu-
inc tariff revision and reciprocity that the
defeated forces must be reorganized and
led again to the attack. but at some ne"
and more favorable point.
The maximum and minimum PROPOSE
ton seems to be such a point. 1t IS IA
yored in the senate and house by lne lead
ing republican members from those states
Of the highly protected east which hith-
erto have stood in the way OF revision
and of reciprocity, and Is believed to be
ground which the middle west may oc-
cupy without the sacrifice Of any essential
principle.
To-day + asked Representative Tawney
of Minnesota, who as a member OF the
committee on ways and means has right
to speak with authority on this question,
TO outline his views regarding the maxi
mum and minimum idea for the beneht
Of The Journal readers. Mr. raw
ney said:
Tho Facts Are Needed.
'"rhe matter Of making some changes
or notifications in certain schedules OF
the tariff law Is of Importance, not only
10 the northwest but to the entire coun-
try. But the extent to which these mod1-
sfications should go, or the items in the
particular schedules that should be modi-
fled, or can be, by reductions Of duty,
without jeopardizing American industries
or injuriously affecting American labor. Is
something the people in no single section
can agree on. "& r. ~. .. &%
''This, difference of opinion, necessarily,
to a great degree, grows out of the re-.
spective interests affected; 1t is for this
reason that have always thought that
any proposed revision or modification Of
the existing tariff should be preceded by
a thorough, intelligent and practical in
vestgation, in which the facts, when as
certained would not only govern the flu
ture action Of congress, but serve also as
a basis Of public opinion. Out Of such a
policy would, in my judgment, come the
conclusion that certain notifications
urged in certain sections Of the country
cannot be made without surrendering the
principle of protection.
The Foreign Trade.
"Then, too, the extension Of our foreign
trade Is another matter OF vital concern
to the American people. 1t is plain to
anyone who is close to the situa ton in
Washington, that the extension of our for
eign trade by reciprocal trade agreements
that deal entirely with - foreign COM
petitive products in our home market,
cannot be accomplished, because domes-
tic industries affected are unjustly dealt
with in negotiations Of this kind, or think
they are, and have sufficient influence tc
prevent the carrying out of the plan. Be-
fore the ratification of these agreements
or treaties, therefore, 1t seems to me, that
congress should carefully inquire into the
advantages Of the more modern tariff sys-
tenn known as the maximum and mini
mum tariff.
1.-The chief merit of this system lies ir
the fact that all questions covering the
minimum rate on domestic industries arc
determined when the law Is enacted, anC
if favorable concessions in foreign mar
kets can therefore be secured, by apply.
ing the minimum rate to the products o.
such foreign country, by executive proc
lamation. no congressional action will be
necessary, and all the strife and Turmoil
and delay incident to the ratification O.
reciprocal trade treaties will be avoided;
A Tendency to Permanently.
''Such a policy would also tend to give
permanency to our tariff system, and en-
domestic to know q al
times the extent to which the duty O
their products might be reduced. there
by causing them to adjust their business
to the minimum rate.
There are a great many other things
which might be said to justify the inves
tigation proposed by the Joint COMMITTEE
of the two houses proposed in the reso
luton introduced last Saturday. This in
vestigation should be made by the mem
bers of both houses on committees havin;
jurisdiction of tariff legislation, and no
by the finance committee of the sen
ate alone. or by the ways and means com
mittee alone. - ~..r" I'D"
IF the investigation is made Jointly
whatever changes are found necessary
and are recommended. can then be mad
promptly by the next congress, withou
devoting two or three months to the in
vestigation which in any event must pre-
cede legislation. IT,.
Whether the Investigation will be au
tnorlzed, either Jointly or separately,
am unable to say l am inclined to think
however, that the Lodge resolution CA
pass the senate It is favored by Senate
Aldrich. who In few days will deliver
speech on the subject.
My resolution was referred to the com
mittee on rules Unless between no,
and the 4th Of March the pressure c
public opinion changes the attitude &
certain members of that committe
towards my resolution, it is not likely
will be favorably reported. But thin
it will lead to conference of the reput
lican members of the ways and mean
committee, and possibly of the house, i
which event we will have an opportunit
Of testing the question of whether ther
should, in the Judgment of members
the present house, be any investigate
authorized at this session.
IF the investigation is authorized til
members of the joint committee woul
doubtless devote considerable time to til
collection of data and to studying til
subject, with a view to bringing out a
of the facts, when they call before thel
the representatives of the several intel
ests affected by the tariff. The hearing
need not begin earlier than October.:ilt
continue longer than four weeks, and til