Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-08-07
END OF TARIFF REVISION
Little Better Than New Deal
of the Same Old
Cards.
Any Attempt to Compare the General
Tendency of the Present Law
With the Dingley Sched-
ules Is Difficult.

ules Is Difficult.
/ 1t is conceded that there are sc
many changes of classification in the
new tariff bill, such as the familiar
| valorem duties, that any attempt tt
compare the general tendency of the
present law with the Dingley sched
| ules is exceedingly difficult, but the
! general impression prevails among
| those who are most capable of judg-
| better than a new deal of the same old
| cards.
There are many reductions and
| other excellent features embodied in
| the new bill. but there are others
| which the President himself, in spite
of the concessions he did succeed in
extorting. is compelled to deplore.
The South gets the hot end of it, as
| usual, for while the manful stand for
free hides finally prevailed, the tax
continues on cotton bagging, and the
impost on many of the necsssaries of
lie T0LQalnS uuCuduS0Q. u.
We should be duly grateful to the
President for having insisted that the
tax on lumber should be reduced to a
dollar and a quarter and reduction
from forty to fifteen cents on iron ore
is a further concession, which the
public, hat in hand, is truly thankful
for, but the Woolen schedule remains
practically the same-thanks to the
influence of such manufacturers as
Whitman-and the changed terminol-
ogy of the cotton schedule does not
conceal the fact that there is an av-
erage increase there of about three
per cent.
The adoption of maximum and
minimum basis is one of the wisest
features of the bill. 1t is in accord
ance with the best thought of the
century in the matter of tariff rates
1t gives the government, through the
chief executive, a weapon with which
it can compel foreign countries to
give us their most favored nation
rates. To have to overcome twenty
five per cent. penalty on all commodi-
ties they export into this country un-
less they give as good rates to our
own exports as they do to those of
other countries is calculated to secure
the best possible treatment from fer
eign countries.
Something like justice has at last
been done to our fellow citizens of
the Philippines. Some day, when in
ternational complications have
brought serious embarrassment upon
us, and our own reputation of the
Monroe doctrine has been brought
that we have not turned loose those
islands long ago, which hang like a
milestone about our necks, but SO Ions
as they are ours the inhabitants
should be treated justly and fairly,
and the most patriotic of our citizens
cannot contend that they have receiv
ed justice in the matter of the tariff
until now.
Restrictions still exist in regard to
the amount of sugar and tobacco
which may be imported free into this
country in any one year-one of the
most fragrant abuses of the protection
principle of which we have any rec
ord. AS practical fact, however,
good encouragement is given to Phil
ippine industry and complete justice
may come hereafter.
President Taft announces that he
stands ready and willing to defend
the present tariff law. He thereby in
dicates that it will stand in need OF
defense, and such no doubt is the case.
AS it's provisions become clear under
the fierce light of investigation, it
will be found that the campaign
promises were but hollow mockeries.
That the people who expected mate
rial reductions have been deceived
scarcely admits of debate. The Dem
ocratic party will have good battle
cry when the next election comes
around, for it is the hollowest mock
cry to talk of revising the tariff. ."at
the aands of it's friends"
4