The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-23
SOME CRITICISM
OF TARIFF BILL
THOUGHT UNFAIR
Maximum and Minimum Sys-
tenn, AssaiIed by Many Peo-
pie, Provides the Best Kind
Of Reciprocity.
TREATY PLAN PROVED
TO BE UTTER FAILURE
United States Has For a Long
Time Been Given the Worst
Of It, While Rivals Are
Benefited.

Washington, D. c., March 20
There has been a good deal of criti-
cism leveled against the new tariff
bill because of the maximum and min
imum duty, and yet good deal of this
criticism is based upon complete mis-
information as to the actual working
out of the new system.
In the first place, it ought to be un-
maximum and minimum system is new
to America, it has been in successful
operation in almost every country in
Europe which has a protective system.
The fact Of the matter is, the United
States has been behind the times in
this regard, and it has suffered a
good deal because of it's inability to
meet discriminating tariffs of Euro
pean and other foreign nations.
A number of years ago there was a
general consensus of opinion among
the oldest and wisest heads in con-
gress that whenever the Dingley tar
If was revised it would be necessary
to include maximum and minimum
system as the most practical form of
reciprocity possible in a country
which depends entirely on legislative
action for its tariff scale.
System Pledged by Party.
The Republican members of the
ways and means committee of the
house and the finance committee of
the senate. including such tariff ex-
perts as the late Senator Allison of
Iowa, were united in favor Of this re-
form some time ago. The result was
that the Republican national conven.
ton at Chicago last June pledged the
party practically without opposition
not only to tariff reform and revis-
ion, but to the enactment Of a maxi
mum and minimum system. The bill
as reported by the ways and means
committee is therefore only q redemp-
ton of the party pledge. and it is in
harmony with the advice and sugges.
tons of the most expert men in con-
gress and in the government SO far
as the tariff is concerned
Many persons are afraid that the
operation of the maximum tariff. as
opposed to the minimum rate, will be
to provoke retailatory action by for.
eign countries. The fact of the matter
is that the maximum and minimum
tariff system was framed for the ex.
press purpose Of preventing retalia.
ton, and. If one can Judge by the re.
suits in other countries, 1t will at
least do that thing II it does nothing
more.
The chances are, within a short
time after the enactment of our tariff
bill every country with which we do
business, or at least every country
which sends us any considerable
amount of goods. will be enjoying our
| minimum rate. because to do other
wise would mean the cutting off of the
American market.
No Invitation for Tariff War.
These minimum rates are not to be
granted In return for any extraordin.
airy concession by any foreign coun-
try. On the contrary, minimum rates
will go into effect automatically and
without further action by congress or
any one else, unless the president be.
comes satisfied that some country
fails to give us the benefit of its mini.
mum tariff rate. There is no invita-
ton for tariff war. no threat, and
no demand for any concession of any
kind.
The establishment of our maximum
and minimum rates will be exactly the
| same as in France and Germany, and
the operation in either direction will
be automatic here. as it is there, ex.
cept that in this country the whole
scheme Is legislative while in Ger.
many and to a slight degree in France,
the executive has some discretion in
the way Of applying the maximum
and minimum rate.
Reciprocity, as 1t was understood by
Blaine and by Mckinley, is best carri.
ed out in the maximum and minimum
tariff system. Reciprocity by treaty
has proved a complete failure and in
point of fact invites discrimination ev-
cry time treaty Is made. Further
more, it unsettles prices, because II
our tariff duties are subject to in
slant change through the negotiations
Of the state department no importer
would be certain what price to put on
his goods except from day to day, and
the making Of contracts for a long fr1-
ture delivery would practically be Inn
possible.
Hides In lie Own FsathseA
It Is worthy Of note that, although
| the prairie cock when In the lists u I
strikinxly conspicuous creature, b
wears no adornment which cannot b
concealed It moments notice. The
sight Of a passing hawk changes the
Gr0teeque, beplumed. beoranged bird