The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-06
GREAT NUMBER OF REAL
DECREASES IN RATES
Taft DweIs Upon Effect of Maximum
and Minimum Clauses In Bill
and Praises Corporation
Tax as Just Measure.

Washington. August 5.-President Taft
tonight gave out statement embodying
his views of the new tariff act which he
designates officially as the Payne bill''
in accordance with past custom of giving
first recognition to the framer of the
measure in the House of Representa-
tives.
The President declares that while the
bill is not perfect by any means. nor a
complete compliance with promises
made, strictly interpreted" it is never
theless a sincere effort on the part of the
party to make a downward revision and
to comply with the promises of the plat
form.
The statement in full follows:
Il have signed the Payne tariff bill
because | believe it to be the result of
a sincere effort on the part of the repub-
lican party to make a downward revision,
and to comply with the promises OF the
platform as they have been generally un-
derstood, and as l interpreted them in
the campaign before election.
1.-The bill is not perfect tariff bill or a
complete compliance with the promises
fillment free from criticism in respect to
subject matter involving many sched-
ules and thousands of articles could not
be expected. sit suffices to say that ex-
cept with regard to whisky liquors and
wine, and in regard to the silks and as to
some high classes of cottons-all of which
may be treated as luxuries and proper
subjects of revenue tariff-there have
been very few increases in rates.
Real Decreases.
There have been a great number of
real decreases in rates, and they consti-
tute a sufficient amount to justify the
statement that this bill is substantial
downward revision, and reduction of
excessive sales.
This is not free trade bill 1t was
not intended to be. The republican party
did not promise to make a free trade bill.
1t promised to make the rates protective,
but to reduce them when they exceed
the difference between the cost of pro-
duction abroad and here, making allow
ance for the greater normal profit on ac-
tive investments here. | believe that
while this excess has not been reduced
In number of cases, in a great ma
jority the rates are such as are neces-
sary to protect American industries, but
are low enough, in case of abnormal in
crease of demand and raising of prices,
to permit the possibility of the importa-
ton of the foreign article and thus to
prevent excessive prices.
The power granted to the executive
under the maximum and minimum clause
may be exercised to secure the removal
of obstacles which have been interposed
by foreign governments in the way of un-
due and unfair discrimination against
American merchandise and products
Philippine Tariff.
"The Philippine tariff section / have
struggled to secure for ten years past
and it gratifies me exceedingly by my
signature to give II the effect of law.
II am sure 1t will greatly increase the
trade between the two countries and 1t
will do much to build up the Philippines
in a healthy prosperity.
The administrative clauses of the bill
and the customs court are admirably
adapted to secure a more uniform and
more speedy final construction.
1.-The authority of the President to use
agents to assist him In the application
of the maximum and minimum section
of the statute and to enable officials to
administer the law gives a wide latitude
for the acquisition under circumstances
favorable to its truth, of information in
respect to the price and cost of produce
ton of goods at home and abroad which
will throw much light on the operation
of the present tariff and be of primary
Importance as officially collected data
upon which future legislative action and
executive recommendations may be based.
THE corporation tax Is a just and equit-
able excise measure. which Ii is hoped
will produce sufficient revenue to pre-
vent a deficit and which incidentally will
Ill taf4 sxxf.-