The Washington times., 1909-08-06

been restored to the higher rates OF the
present law or Whereabouts
The lumber schedule and the cotton
schedule have been the foremost Illus
frations OF the possibilities Of so writing
2 schedule that Il seems TO mean one
Ehing and In fact means another. As
20 the cotton schedule, these iokers
have been pretty completely exposed
as to lumber. various ones have been
found. and the anticipation of those
best qualified 10 Judge is that the net
benefits from the changes in lumber
viii be negligible.
Another Set Of Taxes.
The metal schedule illustrates another
set Of cases in which the appearance or
reduction is secured, whereas, il critics
are Justified, the effective substance Of
I, is denied. For example there are
many reductions Of considerable proper
ton throughout this schedule But IL
IS charged that in cases where actual
reductions are made. the former duties
were ridiculously high. and the reduc-
lions could easily be made without
making the rates any less effectively
prohibitive than formerly.
But on the other side, the duty Of
structural steel is raised from SO to
SIC per ton, and this is a very real and
render prOhibitive a duty which, hereto
fore, has permitted some impOrtatiOns
when prices became very high IN this
country. So the charge IS made, as to
the whole iron and steel schedule, that
while on its face IL Is much reduced. IL
actual practice il will be found TO bar
out more iron products than ever be
fore.
The most menacing revolt which the
whole consideration Of the bill produced
was that which for two DAYS made the
Rocky Mountain Senators insurgents
against the policy OF free raw materials
This is a striking departure from ira
ditional Republican policy, a departure
which, If it shall prove Indicative of a
permanent modification of party pur-
pose, will certainly Arove of the greatest
Importance in future. II is not too much
TO say that ii the mountain State Rep
reSentatives and Senators had known, in
March, what they learned in July about
the program concerning hides, coal,
iron ore, etc, Senator Aldrich would
never have been able 10 perfect the
combination of Far East and Far West
which. framed the bill and made its en-
actment possible. Tglis issue of free
raw material vii not down. It viii
grow larger and larger with future con-
sideraion of the tariff.
Justifies Mr. AIdnch.
In a large way this tariff bill iustifies
what Mr. Aldrich said in his last word
befors the vote. He declared that there
had never been made so sweeping and
wide-reaching a reorganization of the
fiscal and customs business OF the Gov
eminent. The bin marks many innova-
tons and almost revolutionary changes
The maximum and minimum is one of
these; and the adoption of domestic val
uations as an important element in de
teTmlning the incidence and Onus Of
duties, is a factor whose importance
viii not be appreciated Immediately. It's
general effect, however. will be greatly
10 increase rates Of duty on many kinds
OF imports.
President Taft sharply disagrees with
so prominent a leader as Senator Hale,
concerning the utility Of the provision
Tor employment Of experts 10 guide him
II administering the maximum and
minimum provisions OF the law. The
language OF the provision seems clearly
10 bear out the Hale contention that
there IS no authority TO investigate
costs or production, labor cost, and Otn-
er elements and making comparison
OF these elements at home and abroad.
But President Taft declares he is given
ina, authority, and expects TO secure
important results from the authorize
ton Without much doubt, if the Presi-
dent is determined 10 make such use Of
his appropriation. he viii do Il, and no
body viii say him nay.
Business Improves.
When the consideration OF the tariff
began, there was for a time much in
sistence from business tnterests-most Of
il, however, apparently originating in
political inspiratiOn-that Congress must
hasten its task, because the tendency Of
such legislation was blighting 70 BUSH
ness. But. despite predictions Of dire
ehects from delay, business improved
week by week while the bill was under
consideration, and IL was made apparent
that in fact the tariff had rather
minor relation 10 the movement upward
IN the great world OF trade, manufac-
ture. and finance
The tariff bin becomes law at a time
when one of the gree test crops. IL not
me greatest, ever raised in the country
is just being harvested. and when il is
assured Of being marketed at unprece-
dented prices. On every hand there is
the assurance Of better conditions and
greater business activities.
The feeling Of optimism concerning the
business outlook in general strangely
contrasists with the very widespread dis
position 10 discredit the new tariff act as
failure to benefit the very classes who
were expected to receive chief benefits
The consuming masses.