Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1909-07-29
SENATOR M|cCuMBER'S
TARIFF POSITION.
Senior Senator From North Da-
kota States Position on Bill.
Revision Downward.

McCumber on the tariff and his en-
dorsement Of the president is set
forth as follows:
tAny statement that the tariff bill
is not and Will not be revision
downward is "a gross perversion Of
the truth. The people OF the coun-
try understood in the last campaign
that the tariff revision meant q revi-
sion downward. The speeches OF
President TAFT clearly illustrated
what downward revision meant; that
the reductions should be as great in
every instance as would be consistent
with fair and honest protection; that
fair and honest protection meant pro-
lection that would measure the differ
ences between the cost Of production
at home and abroad, plus q reason
able return upon investment. The
tariff bill that will be signed by Pres
ident Taft will be such bill. The
bill which passed the senate is q good
downward reduction.
/ have made a table containing a
list of the things which the people Of
my state purchase and the things
which they sell, showing the Dingley
rates of duty, the rates fixed by the
House bill. the rates fixed by the
Senate, and the percentage Of reduc-
tion. purpose to send this out as
soon as the bill is finally agreed upon
by both houses and signed by the
president. You will be surprised to
find that on practically everything
which we, as an agricultural people
buy, there has been good reduction.
1t is not as much OF . reduction in
some things as I would like. For in
stance, & think there should. be 4no
duty upon lumber, coal and OIL.
Asa member of the committee on
finance, felt that I could accom-
plish more by acting with the pres
ident and with the committee, throw
ing my influence for downward revis-
ion wherever felt that the business
could stand the reduction. I have
been in close touch with the presi.
dent. consulting him freely on every
schedule. While the bill has Eeen
in conference have had three meet
ings with the president to talk over
the several rates. have written
him letters explanatory Of certain
rates to assist him In his own efforts
to secure reduction to the lowest
point consistent with the protective
policy. I am certain that / have ac-
complished q great deal in bringing
about lower rates on many of our Inn
portations, giving my vote and infiu-
ence In the committee in favor OF
such reductions.
Every tariff bill represents com.
promise. There is always on hand q
strong element for excessively high
tariff. There is also an element of
importers, backed up by the great de-
partment stores, for an excessively
low tariff. Between these two forces
we secure much information on both
sides of the question and are enabled
to arrive at a fair rate Of duty.
We must remember that we not
only need certain duty, on most ar
ticles for protection but, also . fair
duty for the purpose Of income. If
no one voted for q tariff bill that did
not meet his own view in every par
ticular, q. bill could never be passed.
Had I taken the attitude that /
would vote against the bill unless !
could get all the downward revisions
1 desired, unless I could get every
thing I wanted upon the free list. !
would have failed entirely ii having
any influence 3in securing any reduce
tion. Those who are not on the com
mittee on finance Of course might
have q little more latitude In their
opposition than one who had secured
BY compromise the best obtainable
results. jss s / .t55 .ts Isl
AS stated, there IS : good reduction
on all Of the things that we purchase
An the northwest. The articles on
which there has been practically no
change are those AZ the oolen and
cotton schedules. Upon the very
highest and most expensive classes
Aof these goods, many % which were
/ unknown to commerce 81 the time
the Dingley IN vent into eject and
hence came in / under 4 lower Iatssof
duty than they we're entitled to-
probably there shas d been m adyance,s
but this a vance wouldlEE not even then:
place the sduty sass high 40 the duty
on the cll,l'a. : !. !. of q i 4 y der thu