The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-02-22

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE ON DUAL
TARIFF QUESTION.
He Would Begin with Minimum Duties
Adequately Protective to All Lines
Of Production and Then Apply Max
imum Rates as Penalties for Unfair
Treatment.

Nthtioh " thO -
eign of the United States
q definite step forward has been TAX
EN- toward determining he future
policy of this country in reference to
foreign trade. Much credit is due to
the initiative taken by the New York
board of trade and transportation.
The convention at Washington on the
14th, 18th and 10th of January proved
to be a large and important gathering
representing the views of business
men in many of the states of the
union.
Among the numerous subjects which
engaged the attention of the conven-
ton, as related to the broad question
of foreign the tariff was,
as a matter of course. conspicuous.
The action of the convention relative
to tariff and reciprocity is expressed
in the adoption of the following pre-
amble and resolutions:
Whereas, The adoption of maxi
mum and minimum protective tariff
systems and the execution in connec-
ton Herewith of numerous reciprocal
trade agreements by various foreign
countries, notably in continental Eu-
rope, are rendering it increasingly
difficult for our exporters to compete
successfully for business as against
specially favored nations; and
Whereas, Our government is pow
%erless, under existing laws, to provide
adequate protection to our foreign
trade in such instances: and
Whereas, 1t has become vitality nee
essary to secure wider foreign mar
kets for our increasing agricultural
and manufactured products; and
Whereas, Canada, Mexico. Central
and South America, Asia, Australia
and Africa afford opportunities for the
sale of u surplus under more favor
able trade conditions. Therefore, be
1t
Resolved, That this convention in
vites the earnest attention of congress
to our foreign trade situation, and
urges early and favorable considera-
ton of a maximum and minimum tar
if schedule based upon a concession
up to 20 per cent. from the existing
rates of duties under the terms of
which the president may have au-
thority to enter into such commercial
connections or agreements as may be
deemed essential to the safeguarding
and extension OF the markets for u
surplus commodities; and be it fur.
Their
Resolved, That in addition to the
granting of discretionary powers to
the executive we urge the establish
ment of a permanent, ~non-partisan adj
visory board or commission, charged
with the duty of studying at all times
tries, with a view toward recommend
ing, from time to time, such modifica-
tions in customs duties or regulations
as may, in their judgment, be neces-
sary or desirable"
The resolution relating to the crea-
ton of a non-partisan advisory COM
mission may as we'll be left out of
consideration. No such commission
ever can or ever will be created. Non
~partisanship on the tariff question does
not exist. 1t never will exist. There
fore, there can be no n~on-partisan
commission.
The main thing accomplished by the
convention was to give form and body
to the question of a dual tariff system.
1t remained for Joseph G. Cannon,
speaker of the house of representa-
tives, to define once for all the dis
tinction between the two types of a
dual tariff. Speaker Cannon left no
room for doubt on that point. With
the clear head and undaunted courage
which have made him famous
among the distinguished men of the
country throughout all it's history, this
plain citizen of Illinois made it per
fectly clear what a dual tariff system
must be and must not be. His re.
marks to the 100 delegates who Wis.
tied him are worthy to be craven in
letters of gold. No man has ever
spoken more to the purpose or more
to the point. 1t was the right time to
speak; time that the right thing be
said.
What Speaker Cannon said was, in
substance and effect, that in ADOPTING
a dual tariff system devised in the in
terest of our foreign trade, we mus
start with a minimum tariff as GU
basis, a tariff that shall adequately
protect American labor and industry
against foreign competition. From
that adequately protective minimum
tariff there shall be no reduction O
concession to any foreign competi
tor. That, as Speaker Cannon points
out, is the policy of every country
which has two sets of tariff rates. i
must be the tariff policy of this coun
try. No intelligent man who believes
at all in the system of protection car
dispute the proposition that our start
ing point in arranging for a doubl,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS