The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-08-26


There has been considerable specula-
ton as to what the presidens will have
to say on his coming western tour in
regard to the tariff bill but his posi-
tion was well defined in the interview
he gave out at Washington imme-
diately after afixing his signature to
the measure and in his western speeches
ne is likely to adhere pretty closely
to the same line of argument The
statement follows:
~ have signed the Payne tariff bill
because / believe it to be the result Of
sincere effort on the part Ct the Re-
publican party to make a downward
revision and to comply with the prom
Uses of the platform as they have been
generally understood and as | inter
preted them in the campaign before
election
"This is not perfect tariff bill, nor
complete compliance with the prom
ises made strictly interpreted, but a
fulfllment free from criticism in re-
spect to a subject matter involving
many schedules and thousands of arti-
cles could not be expected. It sufices
to say that except with regard to
whisky, liquors and wines, and in re-
gard to silks and as to some high
classes Of cotton-all of which may be
treated as Injuries and proper subjects
Of revenue tarif-there have been
few increases in rates.
''There have been a great number
of real decreases in rates, and they
constitute a sufficient amount to JUS
tify the statement that his bill is a
substantial downward revision and q
reduction of excessive rates.
''This> is not free trade bill. Il
was not intended to be. The Repub-
lican party did not promise to make
free trade bill.
cit promised to make the rates pro-
tective, but to reduce them when they
exceeded the difference between the
cost Of production abroad and here,
making allowance for the greater nor
NAL profit on active investments here.
l believe that while this excess has not
been reduced in a number CT cases, in
great majority, the rates are such as
are necessary to protect American in
dustries, but are low enough, in case Of
abnormal increase of demand and rails
ing of prices, to permit the possibil-
ity of the importation of the foreign
article and thus to prevent excessive
prices.
"The power granted to the execu-
tive under the maximum and minimum
clause may he exercised to secure the
removal of obstacles which have been
interposed by foreign governments in
the way of undue and unfair discrimin-
alton against American merchandise
and products.
.'The Philippine tariff section I
have struggled to secure for ten years
last past, and it gratifes me exceed
ingly by my signature to give it the
effect of law. | am sure it will greatly
Ia ID In+
countries, and it will do much to build
up the Philippines in healthful pros
perity.
"The administrative clauses of the
bill and the customs, court are admir-
ably adapted to secure more uniform
and more speedy final construction
of the meaning Of the law.
"The authority to the president to
use agents to assist him in the appli-
cation of the maximum and minimum
section of the statute, and to enable
officials to administer the law, gives a
wide latitude for the acquisition, under
circumstances favorable to its truth,
of information in respect to the price
and cost of production of goods at
home and abroad which will throw
much light on the operation of the
present tariff and be of primary i'm
portance of officially collected data up
on which future executive action and
executive recommendations may be
based.
"The corporation tax is a just and
equitable excise measure, which it is
hoped will produce sufficient amount
to prevent a deficit and which inciden-
tally will secure valuable statistics and
information concerning the many cor