The St. Louis Republic., 1905-12-31
DANGER LINE OF sTANDPATIsAl

DANGER LINE OF STANDPAIlSN.
The spirit Of standpatism rises close TO the
danger line when In order to avert tariff var with
Germany. and at the came time keep the tarin ques-
ton out Of Congress. members OF the Presidents
Cabinet propose usurp legislative functions and
then to ask leave to connive af the fraudulent IN
vo;cin< 81 imported goods
This is in fact, the gst Of the plan which Secre-
,ary Root and Secretary shaw are said ~ have
agreed upon in order TO pacify Germany. Since the
senate cannot be induced to ratify reciprocity
treaty and the question Of maximum and minimum
tariff not be debated in Congress. they propose
I" reduce the Dinsiey rates by department rulings
The Constitution declares that all measures for
raising shall originate in the House. and the
senate questioned the rights Of the House
in this matter Any measure increasing or decreas-
ing the Governments income should originate in the
House Committee on Ways and Means and be acted
On by the House.
F:uf SECRETARY Root and Secretary Shaw. IL seems.
have found way to revise the Dnsiey act with"n,
troubling Congress Their plan il reduce the
rates and the amounts Of tariff collected on import
cd goods BY reducing the valuations appraised upon
the Eoosis.
Then 70 remove all danger from the admnis,ra-
,iou Of the tariff thus reduced. revised and re-
formed. Congress Is to be asked TO do away with
the penalties for undervaluaton. provided the fraud
In the valuation does not exceed trife Of n
per cent; Petty larceny IL still punished In our
yrlice courts hut under this brilliant scheme Of tar
reform II is proposed that rObbinS the Government
II O. 10 per cent Of Its customs revenue be sane
toned by law.
Possibly the plan is justified by the theory that
Dinsleys h a robbcr tariff anyhow. and thar II Is
| no crime ." rob thief. II 50. Secretary Roct and
Secretary Shaw are to hc commended for theft
dis.,rrnnene in correctly sizing up the Dinsey act
i,ut their remedy partakes rather overmuch cf The
code OF the smaller rogues VII" would gladly make
prey of a susre<sful highwayman.
| Th" scaling down Of valuations on imports i.
suggested hy tho desire pacify Germany. but i,
adopted IL WILL they say, Apply Z" imports from a!
other countries Ru, expert appraisers employed
In all custom houses for the sole purpose ~ A.
.@riaininS tb. rra! value Of imported soods in t'
markets from which they and the al d-valnrrn
tax is assessed on IN" apprais'mcn,. by the Root
Shaw plan the appraisers to be Instructed in h
! matter ~ valuation hy C"nsnls in the p"r;
from which the goods shipped.
! BEING thus hamprr..i in rho "f ,hsr skill
and the exercise 81 their honest judgment. an,
knowing that low valuations In certain clsss wou.,
I've gladly winkcd at by The Treasury Department
our customs appraisers would likely bec"sne abou
the shif:icst and untrustworfhy lot II exper,
tf,a. ever bungied a business.
| Of course. II such nakeSh'ft this w;.r
adopted in practice i, would never ''e executed il
good faith. As hong rs Germany might grun,h!
asainst pr"hihitive tariff and threaten retalia
,ion her goods would h. admitted low valuation:
while fh. appraisers would have unfe,tsrsd acti"
upon th.. coming from countries that did
bully and threaten. Administered IN this way, TN
Roo, Shaw plan w"UlI he rcciprS.ity hy dspartn"r
ruling instead "f hy Senate ratified treaty.
| Administered with strict impartialy toward a
countries. i, would hr nothinS more nor less ,ha
!. tariff reduction wifhol. III. advice consent &
either house ~ Congress. And a pretty mess a.,
tariff revenue would socI, be In.