The Washington times., 1909-07-27
HOW ABOUT THE DIFFEREN
TIAL IN THE TARIFF?

AFtL IN III = AMI
The Republican platform of last
year adopted new view Of the proper
measure of the protective tariff There
tofore it had been assumed theoretic-
ally that the tariff should measure the
difference between the cost of prOdue-
ton at home and abroad. That had
served the purpose for many years But
the Chicago convention amended 1t TO
declare that the tariff should measure
the cost of production at home and
abroad, plus a reasonable profit to the
producer.
That was really a striking and sig
nifcant change. Senator La Toilette
set many people to thinking when he
warned Congress that it was "a very
long step toward the suggestion Of
government made prices" And under
analysis it certainly looks much like
just that.
It is not proposed here to discuss the
question whether the protection should
include guarantee of reasonable
profit, further than to express disagree
ment with the innovation. Broadly
speaking, foreign business men are not
going to do business without profit
any more than American business men,
They viii attend to that for themselves
The guarantee of a reasonable profit
is simply the addition OF a new course
at the top OF the tariff wall, which,
with perfectly adjusted scheme
would make a proper tariff improperly
high
But the party in power is committed
TO this new program. It is proposed
merely to inquire here whether it has
in making the pending measure, adhered
to the platform requirement.
Have these schedules, On thousands OF
articles. been made with view to as
eertaining the cost at home, the cost
abroad, and then a reasonable profit
and adding together the excess of home
cost and the reasonable profit, to rep
resent the tariff!
Most certainly not IF the Payne
Aldrich bin complies with the plat
form formula at any point it is the re
suit of mere accident. There has beer
no effort to make it &c so by any
scientific methods There has been
no time, no equipment OF information
and no expert assistance competent Il
work out such a great enterprise.
win somebody please come forward
and mention an item as to which Their,
has been serious effort to ascertain
scientifically and statistically, the diff
ference between cost at home and abroad
Razorsg Yes, that is the answer. Their,
was an effort TO get at some facts il
connection with the racer duty. An,
what happened2 II was found that tn,
German government, at the request o
this Government, pursuant to initiation
Of Congress, had forwarded a larg
amount Of information about cost o
production in Germany. As soon as tn
fact became known that this documen
was in existence every effort was mad
to suppress its contentsi and they hay
thus far been kept suppressed.
Now, that document was the YER
thing needed if the formula of the plat
form was to be followed seriously. Tha
document, and many others like il
verified. analysed, compared, cross
sectioned, and proved by all possibl
tests. Of course, a single wage repor
from a single country would not be
fair basis for a tariff. But study q
such evidence is absolutely enjoine
upon tariff makers by the letter of tn
Republican platform.
We have had no such study. Asid
from razors, there has been no cor
sideration, worthy the name, Of dit
ferences Of detailed cost Of production q
home and abroad. Not at any time ha
there been an effort 10 reach scientif
businesslike determine ton of the meal
ing and force to be given to the wore
together with a reasonable profit" Z
they mean anything 10 Congress? VIVA
is a reasonable profit? Is it per eel
on cotton, and cents a bushel @
wheat, and cents a billion on hal
pins, and a million dollars a minut
on Seth Thomas clocks? Maybe; s
far ,as the lueubrations OF the tart