The Boise citizen., 1908-09-15
POINTS IN TARIFF DISCUSSION

Prof Irving Fisher Of Yale University contributed the
public prints the following the subject Of the tariff
It's promising sign OF the times that the tariff question again
crg to the front Although has bee thoroughly treedoyer
and expect that during the years any ag
men will be brought forward either side much be
psed toward securing rational subject by the public
the facts and statistics gained experience Of the last few
properly forth The public given theories 1t
only the exposure of Condition theory will
the Free traders have laid much abstract
analysis Flaws in many theoretical
conclusions Nevertheless do think that there economist
out OF dozen who has tried making impartial study Of tariff
conditions that has any other conclusion than that the
tariff existing America today needs be revised radically
that the tariff the American consumer, that fails
keep American but that garng example OF
a privilege
I4vel remember the disgust with which wooden manufacturer
told the way which protected presented
their demands congress when the important tariff bill
der The congressional did attempt
balance pros and They did ask for the
guents OF the applicants for protection They merely asked what
do you wantand granted requests ndscrimnatey In other
words under cover popular faith protection political av
ore the protected interests who had given
willing give financial support allowed to dictate tariff legs
ation
The tariff was supposed mother the infant indus
tries Now brood grown up realizing that the
tariff the the trusts Trusts sufficient menace
without being artcay Mr. Rooeve policies have been
mainly directed the square deal prevent the deprada
ons OF the rascal and especially prevent control OF
ta machinery The biggest problem which America will have to
face during the next generation whether putocacy overake
and overenl Democracy The money power politics the
greatest menace possible Democracy and the socaed protective
tariff" gives the greatest opportunity plutocracy
We hear much today publicity campaign contributions We
need also publicity the influences by which tariff schedules
are made and as to the private which those schedules now
serve These interests succeeded in hoodwinkng INTO be
eyn that the tariff constructed theory OF protection to
labor ~
Republicans we'll Democrats the handwriting on the
and unless they are still be dominated by the specially pro-
re Interests will we hope gsate reforms the near fu
n Some are now maintaining that they have vested right TO
the pecial privileges which they secured 1t true that many
io in the tariff must be made gradually and with due regard
for the necessary adjustments But the cry OF vested rights must
NOT he allowed to blind the fact that they at bottom vested
wrongs"
Tariff duties should reduced only finished products
m more iallv on raw materials among other grounds for re
- / the Ground of conservation OF natural resources Our
~ srv is being up unnecessarily, owing to the soaed
In this case as in many others protection operates IN the
NOT 70 increase but to exhaust production This nation cannot
advocate on one hand, tariff wood. and on the other
M erton of our forests The objection that we need high
| - order TO get large revenue beside the point Our tariff
- he for revenue and levied with view could be
ID - Weld far more than any protective tariff In many IN
- the reduction of the tariff would result in an increase IN
@ receipts So far the tariff is protective tenas TO De pro-
ti il necessarily off revenue But above an @ US ro'
der;np the details Of tariff revision lose sight OF the man
thar such revision part and parcel OF the movement agasi
special privilege