Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-08-12

IN accOr0hnce WIN Jh0 pont Su~
Of giving first recognition to the
framer OF the measure In the house
Of representatives. The president
declares that while the bill is not
perfect by any means, nor "a COM
plete compliance with promises made,
strictly interpreted" 1t is neyerthe-
less sincere effort on the part OF the
party to make downward revision
and to comply with the promises OF
the platform
The statement In full follows:
II have signed the Payne tariff
bill because believe 1t to be the re-
suit Of sincere effort on the part OF
the Republican party to make down
ward revision, and to comply with
the promises of the platform as they
have been generally understood, and
as / interpreted them in the cam
paign before election.
"This is not a perfect tariff bill
or a complete compliance with the
promises made, strictly interpreted,
but fulIfilment free from criticism
in respect to a subject matter invol-
wing many schedules and thousands
Of articles could not be expected. 1t
suffices to say that except with re-
gard to whiskey, liquors and wines,
and in regard to silks and as to some
high classes of cottons-all OF which
may be treated as luxuries and prop
er subjects of a revenue tariff-there
have been very few increases in the
rates.
"There have been a great number
of real decreases In rates and they
constitute a sufficient amount to JUS
tify the statement that this bill is a
substantial downward revision, and a
reduction of excessive rates.
"Tnis is not a free trade bill. 1t
was not intended to be. The Repub-
lican party did not promise to make
a free trade bill.
ut promised to make the rates
protective, but to reduce them when
they exceeded the difference between
the cost of production abroad and at
home, making allowance for a rea-
sonable profit on actual investments
here. believe that while this excess
has not been reduced in number OF
cases, in a great majority the rates
are such as are necessary to protect
American industries, but are low
enough, in case of abnormal demand,
and raising Of prices, to permit the
possibility of the importation of the
foreign article and thus prevent ex-
cessive prices.
1.-THE power granted to the execu-
tive under the maximum and mini
mum clause may be exercised to Sc
cure the removal of obstacles which
have been interposed by foreign gov
ernments in the way of undue and
unfair discrimination against Ameri-
can merchandise and products.
1.-THE Philippine tariff section, ]
have struggled toysecure for ten years
past and it gratifies me exceedingly
by my signature to give 1t the effect
of law. am sure 1t will greatly in
crease the trade between the two
countries and it will do much to build
up the Philippines in healthful pros
perity.
"The administrative clauses OF the
Ahill and the customs court are admir-
ably adapted to secure more uni
form and more speedy final con-
struction of the meaning of the law.
| THE authority of the president to
use agents to assist him in the appli-
cation Of the maximum and minimum
section Of the statute and to enable
officials to administer the law gives
wide latitude for the acquisition,
under circumstances favorable to its
truth, Of information in respect to the
price and costs Of production OF
goods at home and abroad which will
throw much light on the operation OF
the present tariff and be Of primary
importance to officially collected
data upon which future executive
action and executive recommendation
may be based.
The corporation tax is a Just and
equitable excise measure, which 1t Is
hoped, will produce sufficient
amount to prevent deficit and which
incidentally will secure valuable sta
tistics and information concerning
the many corporations Of the eoun'
try and will constitute an important
step toward that degree Of publicity
and regulation which the tendency in
corporate enterprises in the last TWEEN
ty years has shown to be necessary.
The new tariff puts cents dozen
on eggs to keep out Canadian pro