The Detroit times., 1908-11-27
VAN CLEAvE WARNS
TAFT AND HIS
ADVISERS
LEADER OF MANUFACTURERS AS
ISOLATION CALLS FOR HONEST
REVISION OF TARIFF-MAY BE
A DIFFERENT STORY IN 1912.

out a statement In which he urges
that an honest revision of the tariff be
made He declares that small num-
her of the 25O. 900 factory chiefs In the
United States have been summoned to
Washington TO testify before the
WAYS and means committee. which Is
hearing testimony regarding change
In the tariff schedules. The manufac-
turers of the country, declares MT.
Van Cleave, have supported Mr.. Tart
and the Republican party In the last
election and they insist upon fair ana
impartial treatment. 'or the hereafter
may strike us in 1872
Mr.. Van Cleave's statement follows:
Several strange things connect
themselves with these hearings. / am
told only about 100 out OF the 2bO,O0o
heads of factories in the country re-
ceived notice TO appear. In most cases
the notice was too short to allow them
TO present carefully prepared state
ments, although all Of them nave the
privilege OF submitting briefs at any
time prior to Dec. 4.
THE hearings. which close Dec. 4.
will have covered only about three
weeks In the aggregate. The questions
put by the leading members OF the
committee TO these manufacturers are
admirably calculated TO call out an
swers asking for the retention OF the
present rates OF duties, or advances In
them.
do you not believe that your pres
ent duties should be maintained?' This
is the usual query. Scarcely ever Is
Il put thus: DO you think your rates
should be reduced?"
Eastern papers state that under
this seductive coaching one manufac-
Iturer who has duty OF 30 per cent
now on his product, and who acknowl-
edges he Is making proht, asks 10
have the duty increased to 40 per cent.
and wants to have the duty taken OF
the materials which he uses In his FAC
tory, thus giving him chance to
swell his profits in two directions. one
or two manufacturers who asked FOR
lower duties on their own wares made
my friend Chairman Payne gasp.
Il presume that the committee aims
to get. through these hearings, inform
alton on which II can base a bill for
the revision Of the Dingley law. In
It's platform of 1908 the Republican
party declared for revision In spe-
cial session of congress to be called
by the new president just after his In
auguration.
This country. including the Nation
al Association OF Manufacturers, as
surned that this meant honest, and not
bogus revision On this presumption
| and a large majority OF the other
members of the association. supported
Taft during the campaign.
Changes Are Needed.
hat m 70 m
bership. the National Association OF
Manufacturers covers almost all the
great crafts OF the country, We never
have. as an association, urged any
specific changes, UP or down, In any
particular schedules. AS practical
men, however. we know that changes
are needed In many cases, and that
the public imperatively demand them.
All that we ask is that the changes be
honest and be equitable.
LAS shown by his speeches and In
terviews during the campaign, Presi-
dent-elect Taft also interpreted this
platform declaration to mean honest
revision
1t is clear to me from things
which some of his close friends
have said about him In the past few
DAYS. that, In his message to con-
eress at the opening Of the extra SEES
sion. he will insist that the platform
promise Of honest revision must ~
carried out, In spirit and In letter.
Ii Is likewise clear to me that, In
making this demand, he Will have a
large majority OF the 100000 Repub-
lican voters of the country with him.
las these hearings will cover only
about three weeks, | suppose my
friend Payne must have arranged for
Investigations by experts In all the
leading Industrial and commercial Gen.
ters OF Europe and Asia. Presum-
ably these experts have been busy
ever since the long session OF con-
eress closed last spring, and they VIII
continue their work until the eve OF
the extra session. I have seen no
word yet in the papers about the ac-
tiyity of these delegated investigators.
but Payne knows the inadequacy OF
his committees inquiries. and he
therefore must have provided for this
supplementary work In the leading old
world centers OF trade.
"Payne's easy confidence in being
able to make a readjustment OF the
fArlU SCntuuitS NC oeSS
factory to the country must mean
that he has provided for scientific AID
from the outside. I am strengthened
in this belief by the fact that he
knows that Germany. as preliminary
10 its latest tariff revision. created Il
commission OF 80 experts, and that
they gave Ave years OF investigation
10 the subject, many visiting every
country on the globe with which Ger
many had any trade. Several OF them
came to the United States.
Wealth Of United States.
Moreover, our tariff covers far
more items than Germany's. Our In
dustries are three times as great In
volume as Germany's, and they are
much more diversified. Germany's
parliament in the preparation of Its
tariff, was legislating for 60.000,000 OF
people. Our congress will legislate
for nearly 9O.000.000. The wealth Of
the United States is nearly three
times as great as Germanys. Our
lead over Germany in population,
wealth and volume and variety of In.
dustries and commerce is steadily
lengthening.
ar. -ot.tn. tts trotH Investigation