Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1909-08-06
TAFT STATEMENT
UPHOlOS THE BILL
Ii Was Honest Effort at Revision
and President Is Pleased
With General Result
OF Long Ses-
sion.

Clark, minority leader of the House.
today issued a statement regarding
newspaper statements that if the
Democrats had not been absent un
paired they would have defeated the
conference report. Clark denies this
statement and states that the Demo-
Gratis came out of the tariff fight
more thoroughly united than they
have been in a generation, while the
Republican ranks are worse shattered
than ever before.
He also denies that the bill is re-
vision downward, claiming the aver
age of rates is 2 per cent higher than
the Dingley bill, and when the maxi
mum clause goes into effect they will
be 27 per cent higher.
Congress adjourned at 6 o'clock last
night after the tariff bill had been
signed by the president, and many
members left on night trains for home
while others are leaving today.
Taft's Statement.
After signing the bill last night
President Taft issued the following
statement, setting forth his idea re-
garding the bill:
II have signed the Payne tariff bill
because l believe it to be the result
of sincere effort on the part of the
Republican party to maiSe74a dow; =
ward revision and to comply with
the promises of the platform as they
have been generally understood and
as 1 interpreted them in the cam
paign.
This is not a perfect tariff bill or
complete compliance with the
friR ffafa rot a
but a fulfillment free from criticism
ir respect to a subject matter involv-
ing many schedules and thousands OF
articles could not be expected.
1t suffices to say that except with
regard to whiskey, liquors and wines
and in regard to silks and to some
high classes of cottons-all of which
may be treated as luxuries and prop
er subjects of a revenue tariff-there
have been very few increases in rates.
There have been a great number of
real decreases in rates and they con-
stitute a sufficient amount to Justify
the statement that this bill is a sub
santial downward revision and re-
duction of excessive rates.
Not Free Trade.
This is not free trade bill. 1t
was not intended to be. The Repub-
lican party did not promise to make
a free trade bill.
"It 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
1 believe that while this excess has
not been reduced in a number 0:
cases, in a great majority the rates
are such as are necessary to protect
American industries, but are low
enough in case of abnormal increase
OF demand and raising of prices tt
permit the possibility of importing the
foreign articles and thus to prevent
excessive prices.
THE power granted to the eXecu,
tive under the maximum and mini
mum clause may be exercised to Sc
cure the removal Of obstacles which
have been interposed by foreign gov
ernments in the way of undue anC
unfair discrimination against Amer
can merchandise and products.
Worked Ten Years.
THE Philippine tariff section
have struggled to secure for ten years
past and it gratifies me exceedingly
by my signature to give it the effect
of law. [ am sure it will greatly in
crease the trade between the tive
countries and 1t will do much Z
build up the Philippine Islands in q
healthy prosperity.
THE administrative clauses of tho
bill and the customs court are ad'
mirably adapted to secure a more
uniform and speedy final construction
of the meaning of the law
THE authority of the president I,
use agents to assist him in applying
the maximum and minimum sections
of the statute and TO enable official.
to administer the law, gives a wild,
latitude for the acquisition under cir.
cumstances favorable to the truth o,
information in respect to the price
and cost Of production of goods a
home and abroad which will throw
much light on the operation of th'
present tariff and be of primary i'm
portance In the way of officially col
lected data upon future executive ac'
tion and executive recommendation
may oe based,
The corporation tax is Just and