The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-12-07

partment and the department of JUS
tice are eXerting every euort to dis
cover all the wronS-docTs. including
the officers and employees OF the COM
panieS who may have been prlvy 10
the fraud II would seem to me that
an investigation of the frauds by
congress at present. pending the prob
ing by the treasury department and
the department OF justice, as pro-
posed. might by giving immunity and
otherwise prove an embarrassment in
securing the conviction OF the guilty
parties.
Maximum and Minimum Clause in the
Tariff Act.
Two features OF the new tariff act
call for special reference. BY virtue
OF the clause known as the maximum
and minimum" clause. il is the duty
OF the executive to consider the laws
and practices OF other countries with
reference TO the Importation into
those countries of the products and
merchandise of the United States, and
the executive finds such laws and
practices not to be unduiy discrlmln-
atory against the United States, the
minimum provided in the bill are to
go in force. Unless the PRESIDENT
makes such a finding. then the maxi
mum duties provided in the bill, that
is. and increase OF % per cent ad
Valorem over the minimum duties, are
to be enforced. Fear has been az
pressed that this power conferred and
duty imposed on the executive Is like
ly to lead to a tariff law. | beg 10
express the hope and belief that no
such result need he anticipated.
The discretion granted to the eNecu-
tive by the terms "unduly discrimin-
atory" is wide In order that the
maximum duty shall he charged
against the imports from couptry, il
Is necessary that he snail find on the
part of the country not only discrim-
nations in its laws or the practice
under them against the trade OF the
United States. but that discrimina-
tionS found shall be undue, that is,
without good and fair reason. / con-
ceive that this power was reposed in
the president with the hope that the
maximum duties might never be ap-
piled in any case, but that the power
to apply would enable the president
and the state department through
friendly negotiation, to secure the
elimination from the law and the prac-
tice under them of any foreign coun-
try OF that which is unduiy oiscrmln-
atory. No one is seeking tariff war
or a condition in which the spirit of
retaliation shall be aroused.
Uses of the New Tariff Board.
The new tariif law enables me TO
appoint a tariff board TO assist me In
connection with the department of
state in the administration of the
minimum and maximum clause OF the
law and also 10 assist officers OF the
government in the administration OF
the entire law An examination or
the law and understanding OF the ma
tuTe OF the facts which should be con-
sidered in discharging the functions
imposed upon the executive show that
| have the power TO direct the tariff
board 10 make comprehensive CLOS
Sary and encyclopedia of the terms
used and articles embraced in the tar
III law, and TO secure information as
TO the cost of production OF such goods
In this country and the cost of pro-
duction OF such goods In foreign coun-
tries. | have therefore appointed Il
tariff board consisting OF three mem
bers and have directed them 10 per
form all the duties above described
This work will perhaps take two or
three years. and l ask from congress
a continuing annual appropriation
equal TO that ALREADY MADE for its
prosecution | believe that the work
OF this board will be of prime utility
and Importance whenever congress
-han a. q
the customs duties. IL the facts Sc
cured by the tariff board are of such
character as TO show generally that
the rates of duties imposed by the
present tariff law are excessive under
the principles of protection as de
scribed in the platform OF the success
full party at the late election | shall
not hesitate to invite the attention OF
congress TO this fact and to the neceS-
sity for action predicated thereon
Nothing, however, halts business and
interfereS with the course of prosper
ity so much as the threatened re-
visioa of the tariff, and until the facts
are at hand, after careful and delibCr-
ate investigation. upon which such re-
vision can be properly undertaken, it
seems TO me unwise TO attempt it,
The amount Of mismformation that
creepS into arguments pro and con in
respect to tariff rates Is such as TO
| require the kind OF investigation that
j have directed the tari1 board To
make, an investigation undertaken by
Ii wholly without respect to the effect
which the facts may have in calling
for a read1uStment OF the rates of
duty.
War Department.
In the interest of immediate econ
| omy and because of the prospect of
a deficit. | have required Il reduction
in the estimates of the war depart
ment for the coming fiscal year. which
brings the total estimates down to an
amount forty-fiye millions less than
| the corresponding estimates for last
year, This could only be accom-
| plished by cutting off new projects
and suspendinG for the period OF one
year all progress in military matters.
For the same reason ] have directed
that the army shall not be recruited
| up 10 It's present authorized strength
| These measures can hardly be more
| than temporary-to last until our rev
enues are in better condition and until
| the whole question of the cXDcdiencv
of adopting a definite military policy
can be submitted to congress. for [
am sure that the interests of the milf
tary establishment are seriously in
need of careful consideration by con-
| SreSs. The laws regulating the or
| ganization OF our armed forces in the
! event OF war need 10 be revised In
order that the organization can he
modified so as 10 produce a force