The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-10
MIR. TAF,r AND THE TARIFF.

MIR. TAFT AND THE TARIFF.
If the reports from Washington are
true that President Taft is satisfied
with the tariff measure as it is now
being shaped up, it is reasonable to
state that he has changed his mind
considerably on the subject of tariff
revision. He stated in his inaugural
address that a stern duty confronted
the Republican party to redeem its
pledge in its platform on the question
oe revising the tariff. During the cam
paign he made numerous speeches in
which he interpreted this platform
pledge as meaning an adequate revis-
ion of the tariff downward. His mes
sage to the special session of congress
which he called specifically to handle
the tariff legislation was not exceed
ingly explicit on his ideas as to what
would be just tariff revision. He
stated in it, though, that his opinions
on the subject were we'll known and had
but recently been expressed by him in
his inaugural address and that there
fore it was unnecessary for him to
repeat them. In his inaugural address
he insisted that the kind of tariff
measure that was desirable was one
which would raise adequate revenues
for the country. Coupled with his oft
expressed views to the effect that the
revision should be materially down.
ward he has been held up, naturally,
as favoring a tariff for revenue only
and that sort of a tariff is best pro-
vided by a bill in which the schedules
are low.
AS the tariff bill is being framed up
by Mr.. Aldrich and his friends it falls
far short of the standards that Mr..
Taft has been generally credited as
favoring. As a revenue raiser to help
meet the $100,o0O,0OO a year deficit
which the country is running behind,
it is poor apology. Even Mr.. Aldrich's
most optimistic estimates show that the
bill as he has framed it will increase
the revenues received under the Ding
ley law by a paltry $10,000,000 a year.
And the Aldrich bill is lamentably
lacking in providing d tariff revision of
the downward sort which the people
have demanded and which it was sup
posed that Mr.. Taft was in favor. 1t
decreases some of the schedules on
what are called the necessities of life
to an extent of about $4,000 00 but on
the other hand it increases the sche-
dulles on other necessities to the extent
OF about 5000 000 which make a net
decrease in the schedules on necessi-
ties of about 100000 downward. and
such a saving among the consumers of
the country will be Insignificant when
divided up pro rata among them.
The tariff bill as it left the house of
representatives was something like the
measure that the people were looking
for and it is understood that it was
looked upon with satisfaction by Mr..
Taft. 1t provided for free hides, free
iron ore and cut the existing schedules
on many things that would mean con-
siderable of saving to the consumer.
This Payne bill was far from being
ideal as a downward revision measure
but 1t was a prince in this regard as
compared to the Aldrlch bill.
Perhaps Mr.. Tafts present stand, or
the one that is reputed to him, is due
to the fact that he has assurances
that when the conference committees
Of both houses get busy on the bill,
whole lot of the distasteful work that
has been done by the senate will be
cut out. But too much reliance cannot
be placed on any such suppositions.
There is a lot at stake on this settle
ment of the tariff question, and partic-
ularly for Mr.. Taft. If the tariff, as
it is finally enacted, proves to be I'M
satisfactory to the people-and it sure
ly will if it takes the form of the
Aldrich bill-the Taft administration
will be discredited at it's outset And
Mr. Taft could We'll afford to veto any
tariff bill which does not measure up
TO the demands of the people and to
the pOSitiOn that If was aSSII0oed that
he has held in regard to this matter all
al