The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-03-26

ways and means committee have
been submitted to the special session
of congress called for the particular
purpose of drafting new tariff meas
ure. The country knows now what
is to be expected, If the work OF the
committee shall meet the approval
, of a majority of the house and of the
senate, and the bill shall eventually
receive the signature of the Presi-
dent. For large proportion of the
people of the country the first ques-
ton will be whether the bill, as re-
ported by the committee, agrees with
the promises of the Republican ma
tional platform, and on this there
can certainly he no difference OF
opinion. The Republican platform
called for a reasonable revision OF
the tariff, that it might be made to
conform with the requirements of
business AMI consideration for the
consumer. There must be revenue,
adequate to the needs of the govern
ment, and at the same time there
must be a proper and reasonable
recognition of the principle of pro-
lection. For there is no room for
question as to the attitude of the
voters of America in general with
reference to the general proposition
of protection to American indus
tries. That question has been tried
out again and again, and there can
no longer be even pretence or
Jo,ht &C tn tho nurnOco ne Tho A. man
lean people. At the same time, how
ever, it is well established that while
the principle of protection is to be
recognized in this country, it is still
to be maintained within reasonable
bounds. 1t is in this view that the
work of the ways and means commit
tee of the house is to be considered.
A new step is taken in putting hides
on the free list, in order that boot
and shoe industry OF this country
may have the advantage of free raw
material. In the same way there is
to be possibility of dealing with
the pulp paper trust, and the works
made possible to the new world with
out the payment Of the duties hither-
to imposed Another commendable
feature of the new tariff law, as
proposed by the committee on ways
and means, is the maximum and
minimum provision of the bill If
any other country will agree to ex-
change products with the United
States without imposing duties. the
United States will meet it at least
half way by imposing at the most
only a minimum duty on goods i'm
ported from that country, and thus
it will be possible for the United
and cordial relations with any coun-
try which is disposed to meet it half
way in this matter of the free inter
change of products and of goods.
In general, it can be said with truth
that the tariff bill, as 1t comes from
the ways and means committee is an
honest attempt to fulfill the prom
Uses of the Republican national plat
form, and to get into agreement with
the we'll known views of President
Taft on this important matter. He
has called congress together in eN-
ira session for the consideration of
this special matter, and not only he.
but the people of the country who
elected him to the high position
which he now holds, will be disap-
pointed if the attempted revision of
the tariff shall prove to be any less
than what was promised revision |
that shall give the greatest possible |
relief to the consumer while provid-
ng a reasonable amount of protec-
ion to the American producer in his |
with the foreign Compel
tor. The ways and means commit |
zee has done it's work we'll. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether the Re- !
publican majority in congress is
equally impressed with the signifi-
,ance of the party declarations.
The Republicans of this district |
AVE every reason to be well satisfied |
With the work of Congressman Ford
ley in the preparation of this bill.
lie has devoted almost every min
tie of his time since the middle of
November to the details of all it's
chedules and is given credi.
throughout the entire country-and
n the halls of congress by the DEM
cratic leader, Champ Clark-for
aving made a consistent fight along
he lines of the party platform. 1t
annot be said of him. as it is said of
ONE of the other members of the
ommittee, that he was watchful only
or the interests Of his constituents
nd was willing to make concessions
no one in his district was to be in
ured by changes proposed. He took
broad national view and stood for
he best interests of the wage earn
+, the farmer. the manufactures and
he consumer as he saw them. APP
recitation of his work will increase
S the public comes to understand
ne bill.
AS ex. resident Roosevelt sailed from |