Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-03-21
SCIENTIFIC TARIFF REVISION.
Plea for Permanent Tariff Commits.
sion and an American Merchant
Marine.

omtst.)
If congress will establish an inde-
pendent, permanent tariff commission
of expert economists, the most radi-
cal protectlonist will not object to
tariff revision whenever necessary or
advisable. nor will he object to the
adjustment OF special inequalities in
our tariff schedules, but any change
that might take place in the future
must be based on adequate protec-
tion to each industry and its labor
telds. No patriotic protectlonlst will
permit a foreign invasion into our
market of competitive wares or prod
ucts; Our past experiences under
the Walker and Wilson tariffs taught
us many humiliating and expensive
lessons. Special selfish interests and
ingrained free-traders will always
clamor for tariff revision. and, sim
gularly, they have always been more
persistent and active in eras of our
greatest prosperity; a most paradox
ical situation.
The administration has nothing
to dread at any time from a careful
analysis of our industrial interests,
no matter what the object may be.
American protectionists should invite
a probing whenever there Is sufficient
evidence to prove that the tariff is
used for illegitimate purposes; by
which | mean, when 1t becomes n
restraint on trade or competition.
But the fact remains. as previously
stated, that the named discontented
influences invariably agitate changes
in our tariff policy Just preceding a
presidential campaign demoranzing
in our home and foreign commerce,
which, refectlvely, has disastrous
effect on the subject of finance.
Congress should appreciate a thor
ough examination of the tariff by
an expert tariff commission when
ever edvisable, in order to unravel
the economic side of our commercial
problems, inasmuoh as IL consumes
days and weeks In uncovlneing de-
bates which could be utilized In legis-
lating on other measures that are
better understood. A master OF these
subjects comprehends another truism
and that is that but n small proper.
tion of our representatives under.
stand the subject as an entirety. or
how hundrds OF collateral interests
are affected through making an in
vestigation of some initial interest,
like steel, wool, cotton. or any other
important industry. II Is also true
that a representative I'm congress may
have a thorough understanding Of
subject that would affect an indus
try In his own constituency, while on
the other hand he might not COM
prehend the status OF a different in
dustry in an adjoining congressional
section; consequently an expert tariff
commission. probing an analyzing
industrial interests from the great
est TO the most limited. would treat
them more Justly. When the COM
mission had completely exhausted a
special subject or subjects, they
would be recommended TO congress
for approval or rejection by the sec
retary OF commerce. The members
OF such a committee should be men
of recognized ability and broad ex-
perience. and in my judgment they
would save the nation millions of dol
lars annually through the conscentl-
GUS study OF the interests treated.
Older nations have such CONNER
cial clearing agencies, and why
should We not begin TO adopt scien-
tihc methods and take tarlff prob
lens entirely out OF politics. for the
reason that II uses or abuses AFFECT
all of our people. When the time
is appointed for tariff revision the
work should be undertaken by veter-
ans In commereiallsm. Home and
export commerce Is a commerc.al
ehees gape. Our constant aim should
be 10 protect our home market and
It's labor fields. Our market Is the
greatest and most prosperous In the
world. We must defend our liberal
ly rewarded labor field against the
competition OF low foreign wage
standards. We must not forget that
foreign manufacturers today are en-
ploying fast producing machinery.
In fact the enterprise OF American
machine builders has made this pos
sible. Hundreds OF foreign factor
les have been supplied with the same
productive machinery as that en-
ployed In our Industrial establish
ments. Therefore We must yigilant-
IN defend our home cOmmerce For