The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1909-08-21

careers. Mr.. ait IS an experienced
and sagacious state sman; at first
quietly and by means of private per-
suasion, and latterly with open vigor,
he insisted that Congress should leg
islatc for the public and not for pri-
waite interests. The political leaders
Of the special interests did not desire
fight with the President; they are
probably increasingly aware that a
public campaign, such as veto of
the Tariff Bill would inevitably have
initiated. would be disastrous to them
ON The other hand, the President
wished to avoid veto if possible; a
tariff campaign lasting for year or
two would be injurious, perhaps ser
iou~ly injurious, to the general well
fare Of the country. When two par
tics i'm conflict enter into negotia~
tlons, and both desire to compro-
mise a compromise generally re-
suits. 1t has so resulted in this case.
The Payne Law Is a compromise;
it Is not entirely satisfactory to the
President But the country ought
to recognize the difficulty of his posi-
ZION. and support him if in the com
promise he has succeeded in advanc-
ing the general welfare as opposed
TO the forces Of special privilege.
That he has so succeeded, and that
the bill in its final form, is by far
the most enlightened protectionist
measure ever enacted in the history
Of the country. we believe, for rea-
-oas which will be found ii the fol-
! lowing summary OF the main fea-
r~rcs of the bill:
Reduction of Duties There has
been a very radical reduction Of du-
rie- in certain important fields, Dn-
ties on coal, oil. lumber, iron and
steel shoes harness and leather
goods. and works OF art, among other
things. have all been materially re-
duccd The wooden schedules, it IS
t-,,c. are unchanged, and there is also
great dissatisfaction with the cotton
-chcduIe But the iron and steel
schedules, which up to this time
have formed the special stronghold
If the uucompromising protection
! lists. have been captured by the forces
NJ downward revision. This alone
/ j. - great step in advance. The
I President who makes no secret Of
/ the fact that he is not satisfied with
I-he failure Of the new tariff to reduce
the WOODEN duties. regards, it is be-
/ iievcd. the successful revision OF the
.ariff ON iron products as a precedent
for what may and will be done in
! the near future IN regard to woolens.
/ While many schedules in the present
, bill remain higher than genuine re
yi-ionists would like to see them
nevertheless there have been substan-
tiaI and far-reaching reductions,
such as the protectionist leaders o.
he Republican party have never be
fore been willing to submit to
/ Whether these reductions are suff-
cicnt 70 affect the prices 70 the 'ulti-
mate consumer" of necessary com
moditjes time only can tell.
Free Trade with the Philippines
/ For ten years Mr. Taft has beer
Urging the commercial relations with
the Philippine Islands which are now
established by the new Tariff Act
The Fihpiuos sill regard the new
law as the most pronounced and
concrete pledge that we could hav,
made of the d;sinterested desire O
the United States to promote Their
/ economic welfare 1t IS true tina
the free importation OF Philippine
sugar IS limited to 100000 tons an
aually But Mr. Taft himself asked
FOR only 100000 tons free OF duty
believing that 20 admit a create
s. amount would encourage exploitation
OF the Philippines, and the creation
Of a capitalistic class on one han'
and submerged proletariat on TIL
othcr-a social condition which Is
z source of many of the political dis
turbances OF Cuba SO that thi
limitation upon the sugar trade o
the Filipinos, while it gives then
: freedom for all their present capac
, ity. IS designed to protect the Fill
: pinos as vel as the sugar producer
, Of the United States. As to thei
tobacco industry. the Fihpinos ma,
r send to the United States 10000.
600 cigars and 100000 pounds o
wrapper tobacco and 100000 pound
, OF filler tobacco free annually. L
? addition To the advantage of havin
even a limited free tobacco market i
2 the United States. this provision wi
; greatly aid the Filipinos in obtainin
: better prices in other markets t
which the bulk of their tobacco na
, turaliy goes. In hemp, by far tn
2 most important industry, the ne'
: law gives them the double advar
2 tage Of an unlimited free market !
, the United States and the protectio
{ OF an increased duty on hemp In
i ported into the United States. fro1
: other countries.
) The Tariff Commission. The ne
) law provides for a Tariff Commit,
i sion which Is likely to exercise
: yreat -, fI,taY,ea on future (o1,oras