The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-12-09
PRESIDENT TAFTS FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE TO THE CONGRESS
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makes such finding. then the maxi.
mum duties provided in the biIl-thut
is. an increase Of 70 per cent ad va.
loren over the minimum duties-are to
be in force. Fear has been expressed
that this power. conferred and duty
imposed on the executive are likely 70
lead to tariff war. llbeg to express
the hope and belief that NO such result
need be anticipated.
The discretion granted to the execu-
tive by the terms .'unduly dlscrimina-
tory" is wide. In order that the maxi.
mum duty shall be charged against the
imports from country 1t Is necessary
that be shall find on the part OF that
country not only determinations in ia
laws or the practice under them
against the trade of the United States.
bnt that the Determinations found
shall be undue-that Is, without good
and fair reason. ! conceive that this
power was reposed in the president
with the hope that the maximum du.
ties might never be applied in any
case. but that the power to apply them
would enable the president and the
state department through friendly
negotiation to secure the elimination
from the laws and the practice under
them Of any foreign country OF that
which Is unduiy discriminatory. No
one is seeking n tariff war or a con.
dltion In which the spirit OF retaliation
shall be aroused.
Uses Of the New Tariff Board.
The new tariff Jaw enables me to an.
point tariff board to assist me In con.
nection with the department OF state In
the administration Of the minimum, aud
maximum clause Of the act and also to
assist officers OF the government in the
administration OF the entire law. An
examination OF tie Inv ana an under.
standing Of the nature OF the facts
which should be considered In dis.
charging the functions imposed upon
the executive show that / have the
power to direct the tariff board to
make comprehensive glossary and
encyclopedia OF the terms used and ar.
tcles embraced in the tariff law and to
secure information MS to the cost of
production of such goods in this conn.
try and the cost of their production In
foreign countries. / have therefore
appointed tari4 board consisting Of
three members and have directed them
to perform all the duties above de-
scribed. This work will perhaps take
two or three years. and l ask from,
congress a continuing annual apprs.
priation equal to that already made
for its prosecution. l believe. that the
work Of this board will be of prime
utility and Importance whenever con.
gress shall deem 1t wise again to read.
just the customs duties. If the facts
secured by the tariff board are OF such
character Us to show generally that
the rates OF duties imposed by the pres
ent tarif law are excessive under the
principles of protection as described In
the platform OF the successful party at
the late eiectIons1 shall not hesitate to
invite the attention of congress to this
fact and to- the necessity for action
predicated thereon. Nothing. however,
halts business and interferes with the
course of prosperity SO much as the
threatened revision Of the thrift, and
until the facts are Mt hand, after care
full and deliberate investigation. upon
which such revision can properly be
undertaken. it seems TO me unwise to
attempt 1t. The amount of mlsinfor-
nation that creeps into arguments pro
and con in respect to tariff rates is
such as to require the kind OF investl.
cation that have directed the tariff
board to make. an Investigation under.
taken by 1t wholly without respect tc
the effect which the facts may have iD
calling for readjustment Of the rates
OF duty.
War Department.
In the interest OF immediate econ.
omy and because of the prospect OF a
deficit have required reduction In
the estimates Of the war department
for the coming fiscal year which
brings the total estimates down to an
amount forty.five millions less than
the corresponding estimates for last
year. This could be accomplished only
by cutting Off new projects and sus-
pending for the period of one year all
progress in military matters. For the
same reason have directed that the
army shall not be recruited up to its
present authorized strength. These
measures can hardly be more than
temporary-to last until our revenues
are in better condition and until the
whole question OF the expediency Of
adopting a definite military policy can
be submitted to congress-for ! am
sure that the interests OF the military
establishment are seriously in need of
careful consideration by congress. The
laws regulating the organization of our
armed forces In the event OF war need
to he revised In order that the organi-
cation can be modified so as to produce
a force which would be more consist
entity apportioned throughout its nu-
merous branches. To explain the cir
cumstances upon which this opinion is
based would necessltate a lengthy dis.
cuysOn and poSfunnn n untfl tho