Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-07-24
M'cUMBER ON THE TARIFF.

M'CUMBER ON THE TARIFF.
The position of Senator McCumber
on the tariff and his stand with the
president is set forth in the follow
ing interview:
is not and will not be a revision
downward is gross perversion of
the truth. The people of the coun-
try understood in the last campaign
that the tariff revision meant a re-
vision downward. The speeches of
President Taft clearly illustrated
what downward revision meant; that
the reductions should be as great in
every instance as would be consis-
tent with fair and honest protection;
that fair and honest protection
meant protection that would meas
ure the differences between the cost
OF production at home and abroad,
plus reasonable return upon in
yestment. The tariff bill that will
be signed by President Taft will be
such a bill. The bill which passed
the senate is a good downward re-
duction.
I have made table containing a
list of the things which the people
of my state purchase and the things
which they sell, showing the Ding
ley rates of duty, the rates fixed by
the House bill, the rates fixed by the
Senate, and the percentage of re-
duction. purpose to send this out
Is soon as the bill is finally agreed
upon by both houses and signed by
the president. You will be surprised
to find that on practically everything
which we, as an agricultural people
buy, there has been a good reduc-
ton. It is not as much of a reduc-
ton in some things as would like.
For instance, I think there should
be no duty upon lumber, coal and
oil.
As a member Of the committee on
finance, I felt that I could accom-
plish more by acting with the pres
ident and with the committee,
throwing my influence for downward
revision wherever I felt that the
business could stand the reduction.
I have been in close touch with the
president, consulting him freely on
every schedule. While the bill has
been in conference have had three
meetings with the president to talk
over the several rates. I have writ
ten him letters explanatory of GER
tain rates to assist him in his own
efforts to secure reduction to the.
lowest possible point consistent with
the protective policy. 1 am certain
that I have accomplished a great
deal in bringing about lower rates
on many of our importations, giving
my vote and influence in the COM
mittee in favor of such reductions.
Every tariff bill represents COM
promise. There Is always on hand
a strong element for excessively
high tariff. There is also an element
Of importers, backed by the great de-
partment stores, for an excessively
low tariff. Between these two forces
we secure much information on both
sides of the question and are enabled
to arrive at fair rate of duty ID
We must remember that we not
only need a certain cuty on most ar
ticles for protection but also fair
duty for the purpose of income. II
no one voted for a tariff bill that
did not meet his own view in every
particular, bill could never be
passed. Had I taken the attitude
that I would vote against the bill
unless could get all the downward
revisions I desired, unless could get
everything wanted upon the free
list, I would have failed entirely In
having any influence in securing any
reduction. Those who are not on
the committee on finance OF course
might have a little more latitude in
their opposition than one who had
secured by compromise the best OBJ
tainable results. 2..e......z .<5.,-]
AS stated, there IS good reduc-
ton on all Of the things that we
purchase N the northwest. The ar