The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-17

ident and comments the step already
 taken to this end in the work assigned tC 1 the appropriate committees of the two l houses, which are Investigating the ope- l ration and effect of existing schedules l In all tariff legislation the true principle l of protection is best maintained by the l imposition of such duties as will equal | the diherence between the cost of produc- l tion at home and abroad, together with d i reasonable profit to American industries, and the benefits that follow are best se- i cured by the establishment or maximum l and minimum rates to be administered l by the president under limitations fixed h 1 the law the maximum to be available to | meet dscrlminatIons by foreign countries l against American goods entering their 1 market and the minimum to represent the 1 normal measure of protection at home; the aim and purpose of the republican policy being not only to preserve without excessive duties that security against for 'gn competition to which American man i ufacturers, farmers and producers are en- titled, but also to maintain the high standard of living of the wage earners Of thls country, who are the most direct ben eficiaries of the protective system. Be- tween the United States and the Philip pines we believe in a free interchange of products with such limitations as to su- gar and tobacco as will avoid injury to domestic interests.
 Currency Law.
 We approve the emergency measures adopted by the government during the re- cent financial disturbance and especially commend the passage by the last session of congress of the temporary enactment designed to protect the country from repetition of such stringency until there can be established a permanent currency Al. The republican party is committed to the development of such a permanent system. responding to our greater needs and in line in all respects with the most progress sive nations of the world and the appoint ment of a monetary commission by the present congress which will impartially in- vestigate all proposed methods, insures the early realization of this purpose.
 The present currency laws have fully justified their adoption. but an expanding commerce, marvellous growth in wealth and population. multiplying the centers Of distribution increasing the demand for the movement of crops in the west and south and entailing periodic changes in monetary conditions, disclose the need of more elastic and adaptable system. Such q system must meet the requirements of agriculturists, manufacturers, merchants and business men generally, automatic in operation, minimizing the fluctuations in interest rates, and above all it must be in harmony with the republican doctrine which insists that every dollar shall be based upon. and redeemable in. and as good as, gold. In line with the purpose here declared to secure by every wise means greater safety and stability in the banking and currency system. we favor the establishment of a postal savings bank for the people on principles em- braced in the measure now pending in congress and set for vote on December II next
 Antitrust Law.
 The republican party passed the Sher- man antitrust law over democratic op- position and enforced it after democratic rejection. It has been a wholesome in strument for good in the hands of a wise and fearless administration But experf1 ence has shown that it's effectiveness can be strengthened and its real object bet ter obtained by such amendments as will give the federal government greater supervision and control over and secure greater publicity in the management Of that class of interstate corporations haV- ing power and opportunity to effect mon opolies and at the same time will not interfere with the operation of such as sociations among business men, farmers and wage earners as result in positive benefit to the public.
 Railroad Law.
 We approve enactment of the railroad law and the vigorous enforcement by the present administration of statutes against rebates and determinations, as the result of which the advantages for merlv possessed by the large shippers over the small shippers have substantial ly disappeared In this connection we commend the appropriation of s350,000 by the present congress in order to enable the interstate commerce commission thor oughly to investigate and to give public itv to the accounts of interstate railroads We believe. however. that the interstate commerce laws should be further amended so as to give railroads the right to make and publish tariff agreements subject to the approval of the commission. but main taining always the principle of competi- tion between naturally competing lines and avoiding the common control of such lines by any means whatsoever. and es- pecially favor the enactment of such legisla tion as will prevent by federal re- striction the future over-issue of stocks and bonds by interstate carriers.
 The enactment in constitutional form by the present session of congress of the employers liability law: the passage and enforcement of the safety appliance stat utes as well as the additional protection secured for engineers and ffremen, the reduction in the hours of laborers. train men and railroad telegraphers; the suc- cessful exercise of the powers of media ton and arbitration between the inter- state railroads and their employees and the law making a beginning Tn the policy of compensation for injured employees If the government are among the most com mendable accomplishments of the pres ent administration. but there is further work in this direction yet to be done and the republican party pledges its devotion to every clause that makes for safety and the betterment of conditions among those whose labor contributes so much to the progress and welfare of the coun- try.
 Elght-Hour Day.
 The same wise policYa which has induced the republican party to maintain protec- l ton to American labor. to establish an l eight-hour day in the construction of all 1 public work. to increase the list of em- ployes who shall have preferred claim for wages under the bankruptcy laws, to l adopt an adequate child labor statute fo~ l the District of Columbia: to direct an in yestigation into the conditions of working | women and children. and later the em- l ployes of telephone and telegraph com | panes engaged in interstate business: to 1 appropriate s150.000 at the recent session of | congress in order to secure thorough in quiry Into the causes of catastrophes and | loss of life in mines and to amend and strengthen the law prohibiting the impor- | tation of contract labor will be pursued ] In every legitimate direction within fed eral authority. The republican party rec