The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-02-15
MERELY SUBTERFUGE
REPUBLICAN PLAN FOR MAXI
MUM AND MINIMUM TARIFF.
Secretary Roots Scheme Really ls
Effort 10 Estrieate Party From
Dilemma Brought On BY It's
Protection to Trusts.

Protection TO trusts.
AS Secretary Root has been the
mouthpicce Of President Roosevelts
administration ON other occasions. II
Is a fair presumption that his declar'
alton for a maximum and minimum
tariff bill In his late Washington
speech is intended to be put forth as
the administration program. AS Mr..
Root did not indicate whether IL Is
proposed 10 increase the present tariff
rates as the maximum. or reduce the
present tariff rates for a minimum.
the discussion OF the merits of the
proposition must necessarily be con
fined az present 10 the bald question
OF the practcability OF a maximum
and minimum tariff, and whether such
a form OF tariff is to the best interests
OF the people. In the first place il Is
an entirely new proposition to the
voters. for probably not one out of
hundred people ever heard of II be-
fore and judging by the questions be
ing asked do not understand what
maximum and minimum tariff rates
mean.
The present tariff bill in section
four provided for reducing the max
imum rates. through reciprocity trea-
ties. ito the extent of not more than
20 per centum thereof. upon such
goods. wares or merchandise as may
be designated therein Such reel.
Vtu1A with a
number of countries by the Mckinley
administration. but the United States
senate refused TO ratify them, on the
objection OF Senators Aldrich. Lodge
and others, that TO so reduce the
protection TO some OF their constitu-
ents would iniure them. 1t is difficult
TO see how the same senators would
agree to the minimum rates now pro
posed unless such minimum rates are
made at least as high as are the
present rates of duty. The principal
difference between reciprocity and the
maximum and minimum tariff is that
under the latter congress specifies
both rates. while in the reciprocity
provision in the present tariff, con
gress specifies the maximum rates and
leaves agreements 10 be made with
| other countries on what articles "a re.
duction, or minimum rates not exceed
ing 90 per cent. shall be charged, In
return for similar concessions or the
part Of the country that joins in the
treaty There is. however. this differ
ence between the two plans. In the
case of reciprocity the treaties made
must be ratified by the senate. but
minimum duties can be put in effect
by executive order.
AS the Ec9lbNcan congress will not
want 10 cut down the present maxi
mum rates or in any event would not
want TO reduce those rates OF duty
that shelter trusts. the only question
remains Of how much less than the
maximum rates shall be the minimum
rates II the present rates were re-
tanned as the maximum, and the mini
mum rates were made so per cent
| less. we should enjoy that mush less
taxation on such Of the products OF
/ other countries as Were included in
| their minimum rates. But II must be
! remembered that the articles covered
by the minimum rates do not include
everything. but only such as are Sc
lected for the sacrifice. because they
have not sufficient influence to pre-
serve the protection OF the maximum
rates. Such a tariff law would have
to provide for the products Of such
countries as England being allowed
our minimum rates, which has no pro-
tective tariff, taxing only a few arti-
cles 10 produce revenue, so OF course,
has no minimum rates TO reciprocate
with For II would be a great breach
Of friendship for us TO allow minimum
rates 10 Germany and continue TO ex-
act minimum rates from England.
There is also the question Of how
such tariff would apply to those
countries with which we have treaties
Of amity with agreement TO vouoh.
safe to them the same treatment as
to the most favored nation SO that
we should be compelled TO give such
nations the advantage OF minimum
rates even If they could not make the
same concessions.
The Democratic position on the
tariff issue Is such that unless the
proposition for a maximum and min
imum tariff bill shall reduce quite
largely the present protection to the
products OF the trusts and combines
and place coal hides, lumber and
other raw materials on the free list.
II would not receive the votes OF Dem.
ocratic congressman. The maximum
and minimum tariff plan is merely
a subterfuge OF the administration to
/ escape from the dilemma that their
protection 10 the trusts has forced
them into with other countries. The
retallatory tariffs Of Germany. France,
Canada and other countries. are about
10 90 into effect and that means the
exclusion OF many OF our products
from those countries and great loss to
our producers and exporters. Ia fact
the Republican protective system Is