The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-03-19
President Taft on the
Tariff.

I was elected, shall call Congress
into extra session, to meet on the
18th day of March, in order that
consideration may be at once given
to bill revising the Dingley act
This should secure an adequate
revenue and adjust the duties in
such manner as to afford to labor
and to all industries in this country,
whether of the farm, mine or fac
tory, Protection by Tariff equal to
the difference between the cost OF
production abroad and the cost of
production here, and have q pro-
vision which shall put into force,
upon executive determination OF
certain facts, higher or maximum
Tariff against those countries whose
trade policy toward US equltably re
quires such discrimination.
1t is thought that there has been
suct, change in conditions siuct
the enactment of the Dingley ect,
drafted on similarly Protective
principle, that the measure of the
Tariff above stated will permit the
| reduction of rates in certain sched-
ules aud will require the advance
lnent OF few, If any.
The proposal to revise the Tariff,
made in such an authoritative way as
to lead the business community to
count gponit, necessarily halts ali
| those branches of business directly
Affected, and as these are most im-
portrait, it'!dIsturbs the whole bssi-
ness of the" eountry- 1t is impera
lively necessary, therefore, that
T,ariff bill be drawn ia good faith
in accordance witl, promises made
before the election by she party ia
power, aEd as promptly passed es
due consideration will permit.
ftis'not that the taiiff is more
pmportaxt in thc song run than the
pesfectiRg of ehe reforms in respect
to antitrust legislation and inter
state commerce regulation, but the
need fer action whea the revision
Of the Gariff has been determiaed
gDonis more immsdiate to avoid
embarrassment at business. To Sc
nure tbs needed speed In the passage
of the Il ariff bill it would seen wise
30 attempt no other legislatiOd at
the extra session. Il venture this as
q suggestion only, for the course to
be taken by Congress, upon the
call of The executive, is wholly with
in its discretion
In ths making of a Tariff bill the
prime motive is taxation, and the
securing thereby of arevenue. Due
largely to the business depression
Which followed the financial panic
] If 1907, the revenue from customs
1Rd other sources has decreased to
such an, extent that the expenditures
CT the current fiscal year will
exceed the receipts by&Lo 0, 600 900.
1t is imperative that such a deficit
shall Kot continue, and the trainers
| Of the Tariff bill must, of course,
nave in mind the total revenues
ikely to be produced by it, and so
4rraage he.duties as to secure an
| adequate income. Should it be
impossible to do so by imporl
duties, new kiads of taxation must
be adopted, and among these l
recommend graduated inheritence
TAX, as correct in principle and as
certain and easy of collection.
sincerely hope that the incom-
ing Congress will be alive, as it
should be, to the Importance of our
foreign trade and of encouraging it
every way feasible. The possibility
of increasing this trade in the
Orient, in the Philippines and in
South America is known to every
one who has given the matter at
tention. The direct effect of free
trade between this country and the
Philippines will be marked upoA cur
sale of cettons, agricultural nachin-
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