The Washington herald., 1907-11-27
New Light on Tariff Revision.

one OF the main props Of the stand
pat argument against tariff revision
that reviE.>. would damage American
manufacturing interests-has been knocked
out By manufacturers themselves, many
OF whom are ardent advocates of tariff
reduction. \ most refreshing statement
Of the way the tariff affects domestic
manufacture, is given in a recent number
Of American Industries by n. T.. Miles.
chairman OF the tariff committee Of the
American Association of Manufacturers.
i-nself a beneficiary OF the tariff and an
aroWcd prOtectiOniSt, who is convinced of
the Injustice OF the existing tariff sched-
uies. Mr.. Miles admits at once that he
has made money out Of the tariff graft.
His own industry is protected by a duty
~ q per cent. bat il would be better off
u the duty were half that When Con
6ress fixed the duty AT the higher rate,
an invitation was extended the manufac-
turers 90 form a trust to advance prices
and mulct the consumer. But at the
same time the foreign trade was dis
couraged. because the material supply
men held up the manufacturers. so that
there was scant profit in foreign bust
ness.
some Of the supply people, however.
have seen new light. According 10 Mr.
Miles. who uses lumber, steel. and leather.
the steel and leather interests are will
Ing TO submit to revision Of the schedules
afecting their interests. Mr.. Miles as
serts that the steel men complained bit
terly because the present schedules were
made so high. and declares that "the best
T"a I'm the steel industry to-day have
said repeatedly that they want the tariff
lowered and want it lowered at once.
both ia the interest of the steel industry
and of the Republican party, OF which
they arc members" So. also. the Chicago
packers say that they enjoy the tariff
on hides. but that "in decency and com
mon sense. the tariff ought 20 be revised
and OF once. and that they expect TO give
up the duty on hides when il is re-
vsed.' Nj Miles does not note similar
convictions ON the part of the lumber
II 10. whom he accuses of boosting the
price of lumber as often as six times in
ii year. taking advantage OF the fact that
Congress helps them Ito accelerate the
advance by tariff"
These extracts give some idea of the
nature Of the present movement for tariff
revision which has behind it interests
e joying protection, but at the same time
damaged by IT. Their conviction is that
the existing high duties do more harm
than good, and that modification is re-
CURED for the normal development of
American industry. Under the present
$ stem. says Mr.. Miles. "the manufac-
turer who would prosper must make A
double profit one by the shrewd manipu-
lation OF his business. and another by
stiil shrewder manipulation in Washing
ton The time has come for putting the
Ia -in on some other basis than that Of
favoritism. and the manufacturers of the
country want it done. Messrs. Payne
and Dalzell may eXclaim I'm chorus that
there viii he no tariff revision this win
ter. but they will be confronted with
Strong demand Tor the appointment OF
tariff commission to make preparations
for revision two years hence VIII they
he able 10 put off this demand with
evasions and vague promises?