New-York tribune., 1905-08-19
RECIPROCITY AND REFISION.

The suggestion of the reciprocity conference
that a permanent tariff commission of experts
should be created to consider needed changes
in the schedules and the making of reciprocal
arrangements has much TO commend ii. Tariff
making is, of course. a legislative function, and
the broad lines Of policy must rightly continue
10 be worked out by the national legislature
without evasion delegation of power. EXpe-
rience has shown, however. that any attempt
through Congress 10 adapt schedules 10 chang
ing conditions OF trade take advantage of
commercial opportunities in foreign countries
is fraught with the greatest difficulties. AS
Governor Cummins points out. treaty of
reciprocity. no matter how advantageous it may
be TO the American people, can only by Writ
ual miracle command a two-thirds vote III the
United States Senate. And as for any revision
to cut down particular duties which are be
lieved to have been outgrown. that of course,
arouses special interests TO their greatest actIv-
ity of opposition
No body constituted like the House of Repre-
sentatives is fitted to reach unpreiudiced judg-
ment on matters of business detail. 1t requires
a body of Semi-iudicial character to do that
well. The points at issue involve rival inter
ests which are not content with presenting in
the strongest possible light the facts on their
side of the case and leaving the matter for de
cision but insist on bringing all sorts of per
sonal, business and political pressure to prevent
impartial judgment. If accounts between mer
chants were thus submitted to vote no fair YER
dict could ever be obtained, though the judges
had the best intentions in the world. Congress
might well mark out the lines for tariff duties,
alphabetically prescribe them. subject to
tain conditions and leave experts to apply the
general rules to the changing facts Of trade
Thus we might secure really more fixed trade
conditions than are offered by the much urged
policy of leaving a good enough tariff alone
As a matter of fact. the tariff is not left alone
The statesmen of 1897 decide that a certain
measure of protection is just and wise. There
may be something iii the manufacturers claim
that. acting that decision, he embarks in
business and is, for a reasonable term of years
at least entitled 10 a continuation of that pro
lection He is not, however. entitled in 1905 to
practical doubling of it. which in some cases
he secures through changes in trade conditions,
so that the same actual duty operates TO give
him much more than the normal profit which
Congress originally meant to allow and which
he was content to receive.
So far as the reciprocity conference is what 1t
processes TO be-a movement in harmony with
the practice of reasonable protection-and eX-
presses the desire of the American people for
the adaptation OF tariffs protective in principle
TO the new conditions of commerce, it deserves
encouragement. The stress laid upon tariff re
vision as contrasted with reciprocity treaties
suggests that the reciprocity idea is subordinate
TO the desire TO he free from outgrown sched-
ules. The resolutions adopted at Chicago are
moderate in tone and undoubtedly express the
opinion of a growing body of Republicans who
believe in protection. but whose devotion to
particular schedules is not based any per
sonal interest in excessive profits gathered
therefrom.