The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-08-11
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST IL. 1909.
THE Y TARIFF BILL.

"At last the infamous tariff bill has
been passed and duly signed by the
president says the Butte Miner, and
other partisan critics of the new law
will probably comment in the same
vein. AZ the product Of republican
statesmsnship, the Payne tariff bill
was not expected to satisfy is demo-
cratic opponents.
The framing of q tariff bill 10 q
proposition upon which It is almost
impossible to secure unanimous
agreement. We venture the opinion
that W. A. Clark, owner of the Butte
Miner, and . democratic statesma an of
more or less renown, could not arrange
the schedule of q tariff measure that
would receive the solid support Of so
per cent of bis party. There is such
. difference Of opinion regarding
many features Of thislclass OF legisla.
ton. that . compromise tariff is in.
vsrisbly the result of an attempt to
revise import duties.
1t will be remembered that the 80.
called Wilson. German measure, en-.
acted by . democratic congress in
1894, was bitterly opposed in several
OF its provisions by democratic con.
gressmen; and when 1t q finally
passed by the senate and house OF
representatives, It was denounced by
democratic president as . measure Of
''perddiy and dishonor," to which
he refused to sfax his signature. This
incident is recalled as illustr ating
some of the difficulties OF tariff
making.
The Payne bill, democr attic misrep-
resentation to the contrary notwith.
standing, is an honest redemption of
republican platform promises. Lest
We forget, here isIthe essential part of
the tariff plank In the republican ma.
tionsl platform of last year:
1.-THE republican party declares un.
equivocally for the revision of the
tariff by q special session of congress
Immediately following the inaugura.
ton of the next president. \ n n In
all tariff legislation the true principle
of protection is best maintained by
the imposition of such duties as will
equal the difference between the cost of
production at homeland abroad, to-
gether with q reasonable profit to
American industries.
There was nothing said in the plat.
form about ''downward" revision of
the tariff, butlduring the campaign 1t
"a generally understood that the re-
publican partyl proposed to reduce
Dingley tariff rates that we're consid.
cred excessive. This expectation has
been met in the Payne bill, which dis.
places the Dingley law of 1897. A
brief and plainO DISPLACEMENT of the
changes effected by the new tariff act
is made by President Taft, who says:
"This act is not q complete compli.
ance with the promises made as strict.
~ interpreted, but q ful6llment free
from criticism in respect to subject
matter involving many schedules and
thousands OF articles could not be ex.
pected. 1t suffices to say that except
with regard to whisky, liquors and
wines. and in regard to silks and
come high classes Of cottons, all of
which may be treated as Injuries and
proper subjects of q revenue tariff.
there have been very few increases in
rates.
"There have been q great number
of real decreases in rates, and they
constitute a sutflcieutsamount to justify
the statement that this bill is q sub.
stantial downward revision and a re-
duction of excessive rates."
The effect of the new tariff law will
be demonstr ated:by its application to
the commerce and industry of the Am
erican people, and those responsible
for its enactment believe it will be ap-
proved by their constituency.
AOI DING I'D ANnCEEKE0C