The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-07
TAFT SAYS BILL
FullfiIls Campaigns Pledges OF
Republicans
MADE TO THE PEOPLE

DuC t1polo&lHSo " sAS ~
Saying That While the Measure
is Not a Perfect Tariff Bill, or a
Complete Compliance. With the
Promises, 1t Will Have to Do.
President Taft gave out a. state
ment Thursday night embodying his
views of the new tariff act which
is designated officially as the Payne
bill" in accordance with past cls-
tom of giving recognition to the
framer of the mesaure In the house
of representatives.
The president declares that wll!t:
the bill is not perfect by any means
nor "a complete compliance with
promise made, strictly interpreted,
it is nevertheless a sincere effort ON
the part of the party to maize a
downward revision and to comply
with the promises of the platform.
The statement in full follows:
II have signed the Payne tariff bill
because believe it to be the result
of sincere effort on the part of the
Republican party to make. down.
ward revision, and to comply with
the promises. Of the platform as they
have been generally understood, and
as I interpreted them in the cam
paign before election.
''The bill is not, q perfect tariff
BILL or complete compliance with
the promises made strictly interpret
ed, but a fulfillment free from crit
icism in respect to q subject matter
involving many schedules and thou
sands of articles could not be ex-
pected. 1t suffices to say that except
with regard to whiskey, liquors and
wines and in regard to silks and as
to some high classes Of cottons-
all Of which may be treated as lux
uries and proper subjects of reye-
nue. tariff-there have been very few
increases in. rates.
"Real Decrease"
There have been a great number
Of real decreases in. rates, and they
constitute a sufficient amount: to JUS
,tify the statement that this bill Is a
substantial downward revision, and
reduction of. excessive rates..
This, is. not free-trade bill 1t
was not intended to be. The Re-
publican party did not promise to
make free-trade bill.
1T promised to make the rates
protective, but to reduce them when
they exceed the difference between
the cost Of production abroad and
here, making allowance for the
greater normal profit on active in
vestments here. I believe that while
this excess has not been reduced in
number of cases, in a great major
ity the rates are such as are neces-
sary to protect American industries,
but are low enough, in case Of alb
normal increase Of demand, and
raising of prices, to permit the posi-
bility of the importation of the for
eign article and thus to prevent ex-
cessive 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
governments in the way Of undue
and unfair discrimination against
American merchandise and products.
1.-THE Philippine tariff section ]
have struggled to secure for 10 years
last past, and it gratifies me exceed
ingly by my signature to give it the
effect Of law. I am sure 1t will
greatly increase the trade between
the two countries and it will do
much to build up the Philippines in
to healthful prosperity.
1.-The administrative clause Of the
bill and the custom court are ad.
mirably adapted to secure more
uniform and more speedy final con-
struction.
The authority to the president to
use agents to assist him in the ap-
plication Of the maximum and min
imnm section Of the statute and to
enable officials to administer the law
gives q wide latitude for the acqui-
Sition, under circumstances favora-
Bile to its truth, Of information In
respect to the price and cost Of pro-
duction OF goods at home and
abroad, which will throw much light
on the operation Of the present tar
III. and be of primary Importance as
officially collected data upon which
future executive action and executive
recommendation may be based.
The corporation tax is a Just and
equitable excise measure. which It is
hoped will produce sufficient
amount to prevent a deficit and
which incidentally will secure valu-
able statistics and information con-
cerning the many corporations Of the
country, and will constitute an i'm
portant step toward that degree OF
publicity and regulation which the
tendency in corporate enterprise In
tha hoe chnu.n n hn