The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-05-31
ndItor Pensacola Journal:

rditor Pensacola Journal:
The only tariff that will ever give
universal satisfaction, is one that will
adjust itself to the varying conditions
OF trade: and the only way that sucn
q tariff can be obtained, is by apply
ing a sliding scale to some OF the
tariff rates. 1t would not be neces-
sary to apply the scale to all the
rates. but only to the rates on those
commodities that have been unduly
advanced in value.
NY plan is automatic and self ad-
1usting, giving tariff revision when
ever needed. The principle is as fol
lows:
A basing price for each commodity
to be fixed by act of congress. When
ever the market price of commod-
fly is the same as this basing price,
the present tariff on that commodity
to be in force, but when the market
price rises, the tariff rate falls; and
the tariff rate automatically adjusts
itself to the market price thus
In the case of pig iron, for example:
When the price is SIT per ton in Pitts
burg, (and supposing that to be the
basing price, the full rate of 81 per
ton to be in force; but when the mar
ket price is SIS per ton, the duty to
be SO per ton, and when the market
price is $19 per ton, the rate TO be
be 50 per ton, and when the market
price is $40 per ton, the rate to be
81 per ton, and when the market
price is $21 per ton, the duty to be
free.
In the case Of commodities hav-
ing an ad valorum rate of duty,
the rate to fall one per cent for every
per cent that the market price rises
above the basing price; the rate TO
fall as the price rises, and rise as the
price falls.
In the case of commodities hav-
ing both an ad valorum and SPECIFIC
rate OF duty, the scale to apply on
the ad valorum rate.
While the basing prices would OF
necessity be established by law, the
prices so established could be the
average prices which have obtained
during any series of years of normal
prosperity, with additions or deduc-
tons for the changing cost of pro-
duction.
Administration.
The method of administering this
Aw would be as follows: An import
Sr desiring TO make an importation
inder a special rate as provided in
LIE IdWs WOuiQ ME du dl
the custom house in New York or
San Francisco, stating the lowest
price at which he could purchase the
commodity. These applications would
be posted IN the custom house for
period of ten DAYS, and published
daily, to permit manufacturers or
producers to file answers to them OF
fering to sell at a lower price. Where
these offers to sell are as low as the
basing price, the applications to be
returned to the applicants; in other
cases. the applications and answers
or offers to sell bearing on the case,
to be forwarded to the secretary of
the treasury, who, after investigating
the case, and securing other informal
ton as to the market price, would
If evidence bore out the statement
made in the application, issue a per-
NIT to import a reasonable quantity
of the commodity, and certifying to
the rate of duty. We protect the
manufacturer from low prices, but do
not protect the consumer from high
prices.
Our republican tariff has produced
ahnormally high prices and too much
prosperity. A democratic tariff would
produce abnormally low prices. with
business depression. Neither of these
conditions is desirable, but ii is pos
sible to combine the republican and
democratic ideas, and secure normal
prices, and perfect tariff law, and
one that win be equally acceptable to
republicans and democrats, by apply
ing sliding scale to some of the
tariff rates.
A tariff law is the instrument for
applying economic principles, or nat