New-York tribune., 1907-01-17

speech to delegation of the National Foreign
Commerce Convention. which waited him in
the lobby of the House to-day. declared himself
In favor OF a maximum and minimum tariff and
of the Littauer compromise ship subsidy bill.
The delegation, headed by President William
MoCarroll OF the New York Board of Trade and
Transportation. included two hundred of the
leading manufacturers of the country
Mr. McCarroll told the Speaker that the
manufacturers had been quarrelllng among
themselves to the best method of changing
the tariff and subsidizing the American mer-
chant marine. and had at last buried their DIFF
ferences and adopted resolutions approving a
maximum and minimum tariff and recommend
ing that Congress aid the merchant marine.
The Speaker met the delegation half way. and
announced unequivocally his position on both
subjects Coming soon after the speech of
Secretary Root. his views on the minimum tariff
as the regular tariff. TO be increased when nec-
essary to a maximum, were greeted with en-
thusiasm.
I'VE should follow the cardinal principle
which will develop our resources" he said, "and
far practicable, monopolize the home mar
ket first. and. second. seek q foreign market for
our surplus. maximum and minimum tariff
I believe. is practicable. but the man who or the
committee which arranges the schedules has
great Investigations TO make. If you do It
horizontally there is not manufacturer within
the sound Of my voice who would not swear
that We were raising the prices of his raw ma
terial or affecting his products. Speaking for
myself as member OF the House. and If I
understand the consensus Of Republican opin-
Ion in the country. when 1 speak about a max
imum and minimum tariff I speak about q
minimum tariff that should run 10 all nations
and to all peoples. so adjusted as to offer ample
protection TO every American industry and 10
every man that lives in this republic. When we
obtain that, then 1 would make q maximum
tarif-10 per cent If you want 1t, or 20 per cent
higher-and what for? I would make 1t SO that
If anybody Disseminated against Uncle Sans
children the Executive would be clothed with
the power Of ascertaining that fact and dis
eliminating by way of set off. In other
words that would be the big stick
Such tariff, understand it. Germany
has. and France has. and possibly other coun-
tries. Will tell you what country does not
have it, and that is Great Britain. She takes
one-half of our total exports. Now. how could
you have reciprocity with France and Germany
that would let In French or German textiles or
manufactured products more cheapIy than we
would let In British products; because Won nusr
recollect that she has In competing products no
tariff at all?
1T could be very readily managed IT, with
a
mum tariff that would be Of sufficient protec-
ton. and then have q maximum tariff with
which we could punish anybody who was treat
ing badly
There are many people who are for a maxi
mum and minimum tariff. | have some In my
minds eye now There some of them In my
state-very clever people-and l do not speak
disrespectfully of them. When you talk about
a minimum tariff that affords ample protection
to American Industries, and that you would
make a maximum higher. those OF them who
are not Christians would say damn and those
of them who would shake their heads So
you see. there is a great deal to think about
regarding this maximum and minimum tariff"
Continuing, the Speaker took up the subject
of subsidy, and after describing the situation,
said 1T had been well known that his posi-
ton had long been that money should not be
taken from the United States Treasury without
proper return therefor. He said he had investi-
gated the subject of upbuilding the American
merchant marine, and that those members who
had had to deal with the subject had to
the decision that If the bill which acted upon
by the committee yesterday were to become
law 1t would benefit the merchant marine. He as
sured the delegation that II would have his sup-
port. and closed by thanking them for the inter-
est which they had manifested in Legislative
matters and for the honor they had done him
In calling upon him and presenting their views.