Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-08-16
final LINEUP
OF j, S. senate
REPUBLICAN REvIsIONTsTS
STAYED WITH DEMOCRATS
Changes Have Been Made. in Tariff
- Some Downward Revision,
But Very Little, Generally
Speaking.

WASHINGTON, August 81
President Taft to-day issued the fol-
lowing statement concerning the |
hCw tariff law:
have signed the Payne tariff
hill because | believe it to be the
result of sincere effort on the part
of the Republican party to make n
downward revision and TO comply
with the promises of the platform
rs they have been generally under
stood and Ms | interpreted them In
the campaign before election.
The bill Is not a perfect tariff
bill or n complete compliance with
the promises made, strictly inter-
pretcd but u fuilillmeni free from
criticism in respect to n subject mat
ter involving many schedules aud
thousands of articles. could not be
expected. II suffice to say that en-
ccpt with regard to whisky. liquors
and wines, and in regard to the
silks and MS to some high classes of
cottons-a of which may be treat
ed as Injuries and proper subjects
of a revenue tarif--there have been
very few increases In rates.
There have been great number
of real decreases In rates, and they
constitute sufficient amount to
Justify the statement that the bill
Is substantial downward revision
and reduction of excessive rates.
This Is not free trade bill. II
was not intended to be. The Re-
publican party did not promise to
make n free trade bill. II promised
TO make the rates protective, but to
reduce them when they exceeded
the difference between the cost of
production abroad and here, making
allowance for the greater normal
profit of active investments here.
| believe that while this excess
has not been reduced in number
OF cases. in great majority the
rates are such as to protect Ameri-
can industries, but are low enough
In case of the abnormal increase of
demand and raising of prices to
permit the possibility of importa-
tion of the foreign articles and thus
to prevent excessive nrices
The mower granted IN the eyecu-
tive under the maximum and mimi
mum clause may be exercised to Sc
cure the removal of obstacles that
have been interposed by foreign
governments in the way of undue
and unfair determinations against
American merchandise and produce
The Philippine tariff section I
have struggled to secure for ten
wears. and Il gratifies me eyceedinp-
Iy that my signature to II gives II the
effect of law am suro n will greatly
increase the trade between the two
countries. and n will do much In
build up in the PHILIPPINES health
full prosperity.
The administrative clauses of the
bill and the customs court are ad-
mirably adapted to secure more
uniform and more speedy final con-
.struction of the meaning of the law.
The authority of the President IA
use agents to assist him I'm the appIi-
cation of the maximum and mini
mum 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 informa-
tiOn in respect to the price and cost
of production of goods ut 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 executive action and