The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-01-24
POIfCd Comment.
Tariff Revision Promgam.

1t comes more or less authOritatively
from Washington that there will be no
further talk of tariff revision st this
time That decision is in accordance
with sound common sense. The country
is at the present time at the height of
prosperity and 1t would be folly to
dertake to revise the tariff at such
time. That there are some schedules
which might be changed and which
ought to be changed may be admitted
and is admitted by all. That has never
been the question at any time. No one
can be such a fool as to contend that
any taxation scheme is perfect. The
tariff is in its very nature one of the
most complicated compromises in our
national enactments. And it is because
Of these complications and compromises
that many people have honestly opposed
any tariff changes or tinkerings at this
time, fearing that more harm thu n good
would come from such procedure.
Among the men who have so believed
has been President Roosevelt himself.
He has, Of course. not taken direct is
sue with the hasty tariff reformers. but
the absence of the tariff question from
his message has been Indication enough
as to this purpose and position on his
part In cony ersations with Senator'S
and Representatives he has at no time
omitted to express himself as opposed
to opening up so large a question while
n IN n
He has all the time desired the unfin-
ished business to be disposed of nrst.
More than year ago he stated to some
members OF Congress that he did no.
seek and did not want a general tariff
revision during his term as President.
He was satisfied the tariff schedules
could be improved in places, but he 'yaS
also satisfied that it was very doubtful
whether the resulting benefits
such revision would outweigh the Incl
dental disturbances to business. Those
who have represented the President as
q would-be tariff reformer have all the
lime misrepresented him. According to
them he was always about to come out
for such a program. but message af
ter message has been sent to Congress
without the mention of the tariff But
still they have claimed that he was a
tariff reformer and reyiser
The postponement Of tariff revision
until 1909, that Is until after the presi-
Dental election of 1908, will meet, we
believe, with the appreciation of nearly
all Republicans. To undertake tariff
revision now would be a most disas-
trous proceeding. not merely from a
party standpoint, although that Is net
unimportant, but from a financial and
Industrial standpoint. 1t will be easier
and create less disturbance IL done i'm
mediately after the next presidential
election. When 1t is done at that time
the new tariff cannot be made an inn
mediate and bitter political issue, but
the new schedules can be put into eff
feet with the least disturbance. The
conditions OF the country In the mean
time may undergo serious changes and
this program on the tariff will have to
be varied accordingly, but the fact that
there Is to be no revision until then
will in itself be an important factor in
the continuance Of our present high
prosperity. The agreement reached in
Washington Is one of the best assets in
cur continuance In prosperity.
1t is to be hoped that there will be
no Republican dissent to this program.
The agreement is satisfactory to the
business interests, AMI the politicians
ought to see it in that way.-Cedar
Rapids Republican.