Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-11-01
SHAW TALKS
ON TARIFF
SECRETARY MAKES SPEECHES AT
HLockToN, GRAVITY AND
BEDFORD
is ALWAYS AN EXCUSE

s San Always Flnd Reasons toF he-
vlsion-Demand Made Because Of
Deficiency.
Bedford, Oct. 81. = Especially. -
Secretary Shaw is making his Iowa
strenuous one. This fore
noon he spoke to large crowd at
Blockton. Afterwards he spoke to an
other large assembly at Gravity. This
afternoon he is speaking to an Inn
mense crowd at Bedford. At Blockton
Mr.. Shaw confined his remarks to the
tariff, and said in part:
ut is always amusing to note how
those who desire lowering of the
tariff find reasons in every condition
to justify their argument Each
change in condition but emphasizes
their demand Five years ago current
revenues exceeded current expendi-
lures, and the democrats demanded
that the tariff should be readjusted
SO as to prevent an accumulation.
Then because of the purchase of the
Panama canal strip and because OF
slight falling off in revenues there was
a deficit, the democrats insisted that
the tariff should be lowered so as to In.
vite larger importations and therefore
larger revenues. Larger importations,
however, followed increased prosper
ity. Revenues are again excessive
and our friends still demand that the
tariff shall be revised but this time as
at first. because the tariff revenues are
excessive.
"In taking these opposite positions
they but rereat their history. In
1916, preliminary to the passage OF the
famous Walker bill, which ultimately
brought ruin to all our Industries a
Subcommittee of the ways and means
committee was appointed. This COM
mittee continued its work for long
period of time Their first tenta..
tive reports recited the fact that
revenues we're insufficient and that the
tariff must be revised so as to increase
the revenues. Before the committee
had completed It's work, however, rev.
enues Increased and the subcommittee
then said that this but emphasized the
need of lowering the tariff. Because,
they said If goods come in In the face
of SO higr tariff it is manifest that 1t
/, ought to be lowered.
I Failing Prices.
Knowledge that a tariff is to be
lowered is quite sufficient to disturb
business conditions, though no legisla-
tion Is actually passed. During Mr..
1 Cleveland's first administration he rec
commended lower tariff, and the Mills
bill, in harmony with his recommends
ton, passed the house. The senate
was republican and refused to pass It.
Pending these negotiations, however.
the price of live stock sold in Chicago
fell off S36,000,000, or an average Of
over SIS per head on horses, steers,
: COWS, calves, pigs and sheep.
"A friend of mine was in Boston the
day congress convened In 1893, for the
purpose Of selling his wool He was
offered twenty-four cents a pound. He
!, refused to sell for less than twenty
FIVE cents and started home. The next
: morning he picked up the daily paper
and read President C1eveland's rec
ommendation that the tariff be taken
off wool. He Immediately telegraphed
the firm that he would accept twenty
four cents pound He received an
. answer as follows: We, too, have
9 read the Presidents message"
Business Adjusts Tariff.
"If it be urged that this. argument
carried to the extreme will prevent
e any revision Of the tariff at any time,
a answer that it leads no more to such
/ a conclusion than does the argument
k that the tariff shall be revised when
: ever conditions change lead to the con
p clusion that the tariff should be re
n vised each year. No tariff was ever
q perfect ard conditions never remain
n the same for eighteen months. II
8 congress were to attempt to correct
S every inequality or to change the tarif
It to meet every changed condition, II
9 would do little else than to revise and
It re-revise schedules.
It CAS- matter of fact, business itsel
It adjusts itself to tariff laws much
q more readily than can congress adjust
,e revised in due time Its date no one
It has a right to say All anyone car
e say is that the party in power and Ger
tain to remain in power, presents {
well nigh solid front and is in har
IL mony with the President that the tar
n iff shall not be revised during the pres
Il. ent administration. In this as In ev
IN erything else your congressman Is IL
IN absolute harmony with his party ant
IS with the President. This Is suf1cien
ts for the present. The last platform
declared that rates of duty should b,
readjusted only when conditions hav
, SO changed that the public interest de
mands their alteration Neither th
s. executive branch nor the Legislative
branch of the government has ye
(, reached the conclusion that the tim
u. has arrived when it should be re
Oh yised."
IT Steel Rail Prices.
go Secretary Shaw. speaking at Gravit
d This afternoon, said in part:
90 so much has been said about tn
lei