The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-21
CAN HE DO TIT

Secretary Taft has decided that all sup- plies needed in connection with the canal work shall be purchased in the cheapest market. We say it is right and proper, meaning from a business standpoint. The work is going to be immensely expensive. no matter how much economy is practiced, and it is certainly a sound business proposition to buy materials provided they are equally as good, where they can be had on the best terms.
 But how about the moral right of the government to buy for itself in cheap foreign markets while it will not allow it's citizens to do so? We have no statistics as to the quantities of materials and supplies that will be required. nor how much money will be kets. but the removal of all import duties from these articles will mean a very considerable saving to the gov ernment, and that is good business. In the meantime any citizen of the Ameri- can union who needs like articles must PNS ssS Af6 e1hAAt 0utftS II ne OuyS them from foreigners. and if he buys them at home he must pay the price of foreign goods with the tariff add ed. We repeat that the Taft plan is a good business proposition but all the same the government Is taking an un- fair advantage of the people AS an indication of what may be saved we quote this example from The Brooklyn Eagle:
 some time ago the commission ad- yertised for bids for two dredges to Scotch firm and a firm in Maryland submitted bids. In cost and in speed of delivery the Scotch competitors dis tanced their American rivals. the diff Terence in price alone representing saving to the commission of more than S7o;000. Now, this figure is a consid- erable item in itself, but the signifi- is typical of other contracts for ma chinery into which the commission will be compelled to enter. If the mission have their way the Ameri- can competitor for these contracts will obtain exact justice and nothing more. than, or even equal to. that of his for eign rival he will secure the award. Otherwise not.
 But will the Secretary be allowed to carry out his wishes? is doubtful proposition. He cannot do so without an act of Congress, and when such leg islation is proposed we may look for all the trusts and protected monopo- lies in this country to unite against 1t. This influence is a powerful one and has on more than one occasion been able to secure or defeat legls- lation. If Congress should pass such a law and the Secretary and commission carry it out it will mean an enormous hole in the profits of American man ufacturers. They are calculating on getting vast sums from this canal job, with corresponding profits, but if Taft prived of an opportunity to hold up the government. They will be forced either to lose all the contracts or to sell to the government at as low prices. at least, as the foreigners do.
 There is little doubt in our mind that American manufacturers and others can supply the government with almost IL Wltl lCCu III ln0 SICdL work and do so at a profit. at prices as low as the same articles can be purchased elsewhere, but that is not what the trusts want. They want the privilege of literally holding up the government and making many millions by the operation. We are somewhat surprised that Secretary Taft makes the proposition and shall be much more surprised if Congress accedes to 1t by appropriate Legislation.
 But there is another view of this question that will cause the Republi can brethren to look on 1t as a live wire. with which it might be danger ous to meddle. If the question comes up in Congress the Democrats are dead certain to use it as a lever with which to pry the~standpatters loose from their opening wedge for a general demand for tariff revision and 1t could hardly be expected that the minority would fail to take advantage of it. That is just what Republicans don't want. This is election year, when members of Con- gress are to be chosen. and the domi- nant party is very tender on the tariff question. If they can keep down any discussion of it they hope to pull through a majority for the next Con- gress. but let the question be fully opened and no matter what position they take they will endanger their prospects.
 We feel somewhat inclined to hope that the administration will insist on the Taft proposition. We want the Democrats to have a fair chance to rip the majority up the back. to expose its attempt at nest-hiding. to show how the administration wants to cheapen products for its own use and enhance them for the people. and. generally. give the Republicans something to think about. Let it come and let the whole tariff iniquity be uncovered and exposed.
 
 The people of Alabama will read