Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-09-02
FOSTER TALKS
TO CHANGERS
CONTINUED from pnge III

In this regard. As the temporary lead
ed OF the party I do not hesitate to say
with all the emphasis OF which I am
capable Tint II the party Is given the
mandate OF power In November It will
perform It's promises In good faith"
While Mr.. Taft was iterating and reiter-
atnG this statement these very elder
statesmen themselves were on the plat
form over the country advocating the
election OF Mr.. Taft to the presidency.
Then was the time for them to speak or
be forever silent. Then was the time for
them to tell the American people that
while they advocated Mr.. Taft's election
they denied that the republican platform
contained any such pledge and that It
must be distinctly understand that Mr..
TAFT could not bind them. BY remaining
silent and continuing to urge the cleo
tion Of Mr.. Taft they bound themselves
by the strongest cords of justice ard fair
play.
We are all protectionists The repub-
lican policy of protection has become as
never before national policy. But we
must all admit that conditions have
greatly changed during the last ten
years. When the Dingley Law was enact
ed the argument Of the republicans was
that the foreigner paid the tax. And
this was true in large measure. For so
long as competition at home kept prices
within reasonable bounds the foreigner
in order to compete with the American
producer was obliged to pay the tariff.
But this old-time competition has almost
disappeared from the industrial field.
Combination has taken its place.
FOREIGNER PAYS THE TAX"
One Of tho most striking features of the
discussion over the Payne tariff bill
which continued for months was the fact
that never once was the suggestion made
that the foreigner pays the tax. For this
reason We had before lis as never before
the problem of protecting as far as pos
sible the consumer. We all desired to
preserve the American market for the
American manufacture and the American
laborer; we all desired to enact law
that would produce the necessary rev.
enue for the government; but in addition
to this many of us felt that we We're COM
missioned at the same time to safeguard
as far as possible the interests of the
great body OF consumers.
To illustrate some of the difficulties
against which We struggled let me call
attention to the cotton schedule. Mr.
Lippitt appeared before the WAYS and
means committee of the House represent
Ing the cotton Industries Of tho country
and declared that all those industries de-
sired was to be left alone. Let me quote
him exactly.
I'VE ask that the present cotton cloth
schedule shall not be reduced because
when II was enacted 1t was the result of
careful inquiry into the condition Of
the cotton manufacturing industry. We
ask, therefore. that the present schedule
shall not he materially changed"
II am not here to ask for an increase
In the duties on the cloth clauses of the
cotton schedule ] think that while there
are importations going on under them 1t
Is reasonably regulative of the cotton
trade. The importat!ons are not so large
that we feel justified in asking that the
duties he increased"
SENATE REWROTE BILL.
The House Of Representatives, believ-
ing that Mr.. Mppitt was acting in good
faith. took him at his word am, left the
DinGley rates practically unchanged. The
bill went over to the Senate and there
the entire cotton schedule was rewritten
and the increases range all the way from
| 20 10 so per cent. Indeed have found
one instance OF plain cotton cloth bleach
ed where the increase seems to be more
than % per cent And yet so strongly
entrenched was the coterie OF elder
statesmen that II was impossible even
with the assistance Of President Taft to
secure any reduction OF consequence 1t
was not surprising. therefore. to read in
the Boston Herald after the enactment
| OF the LAW In the course o, an article up
| on the effect OF the tariff law on New
| England industries the following: The
textile men got what they wanted and
are more than satisfied. one cotton deal
er fears that they got too much and that
the prosperity which is bound to come
| VIII produce combination and ultimately
Jealous demand from the rest of the
country that the tarlf be adjusted all
over again"
When the lead schedules were reached
the committee on ways and means call
eo peiore II the manager OF the Lead
trust In my judgment one Of the worst
trusts In the country, n trust that fixes
the price of lead for the American con-
| sumner by taking the price of lead us fix
ed by the London market and adding 10
the amount OF the American tariff.
| At'er going over the situation very
thoroughly with him the committee ask
eo MIN as to moderate reduction in the
tarifr on lead. He stated promptly that
slight reduction on lead could properly
De made and that II made It would not
ih)ure the industry The House OF Rep
resentatives adopted his figures and made
the reduction which he declared could be
properly made.
When the bill went to the Senate this
reduction was wiped out and the Dinglcy
rates on lead We're restored In the
course OF the discussion II was declared
that this meant levy upon every house
holder every time he painted his house
or his barn. But one OF the elder states
men sneered at the suggestion. declaring
that the increase over the House rate
would not moan over Is cents to a house,
holder every time he painted his barn.
as though It was perfectly proper II not
highly desirable to levy tribute OF q
cents upon every householder every time
he painted his barn. in the interest Of
that struggling monopoly.
THE WOODEN SCHEDULE
The wooden schedule which was left
practically unchanged was perhaps more
| g. IN critictsnn I'M Of M n.