The San Francisco call., 1910-03-13
Welcomes the Increasing Regulation OF Cor
porations By Government

we are privileged to live in this coun-
try, notable above all others for it's
happy surprises. its almost. revolution
ary triumphs, and all in the direction
of higher standards of civilization.
craving classes closely together in the
bonds of brotherhood. So fair is the
world that we fain would Iinger and
note the progress of man, sprung from
the lowest order of life, but implanted
within him an instinct for unceasing
improvement; his face turned upward
70 the. sun. and no limits set to the
standard of perfection he may reach
Let us all resolve to do our part in
THIS grand progress, keeping pace
with our time, welcoming every step
toward improved conditions and pro
foundly impressed with the inspiring
truth that since all has constantly
grown better in the past and is des-
tined to grow still better in the flu
ture, all is well.
Now. gentlemen. after that aviation
excursion in >the clouds let us come
down to business.
| noted that the tariff question is
IN evidence In the west, and Judge
also upon the Pacific coast, as it is
with us in the east at present. 1t is
= subject upon which have had some
that consider the present tariff a
very decided Improvement upon the
last. 1t is. open to criticism. Did
you, or will you, ever know a tariff
ti'ot was HOl. i H6FGF QlQ ana never
expect to do so. Perfection was not
written of tariffs. Each beneficiary
appears before the committee de-
scendants of the horse leach clam
oring for more, every one certain of
one !ncontestable fact, viz, that the
article he manufactures can not stand
one particle of reduction of duty, and
equally convinced that the progress
of our country imnerativeE demands
an increased duty upon It.
NOW the gOvHrnfn6nf must haVa a
revenue. The question is how can we
raise this with the least pressure
upon the mass of the people? One
tariff is today less important as a
protective measure than it is as a
producer Of revenue, The New York
fact that n'eyaGh It yielded % lass sns
year over S40o. 900, 900 of revenue
All internal taxes yielded only $780,
100000. | know of no way we can so
easily raise about half of the sum.
say s200,000,000, as by imposing heavy
duties upon the imported luxuries of
the rich. What are the luxuries of
the rich? may be asked. Well. one
thing Is clear-they are not necessa-
ries. 1t is not necessary for us to
wear foreign silks and satins. nor to
use fine foreign linen, nor superfine
clothes, neither to drink rare foreign
wines, nor smoke costly Havana
cigars, or any kind of cigars, or any
kind of drink. For that matter. like
old Rip Van Wrinkle. we are all bet
ter wfdout. Some of us who neither
drink nor smoke may venture to in-
innate to some of you here that you
would be no loser by abstaining. The
American citizen who finds his coun
try's supply of such articles ample
and satisfactory should be encour-
aged, and those who prefer the fine
articles should be encouraged to
pay the duty. If were a legislator
would guard that luxurious
fund and see that the duty was
increased wherever practicable. Such
was the advice / gave the congress
sional committee. Adam Smiths doc
trine is sound that citizens should
bear taxes only in proportion to their
ability to pay. I consider the work
ingman's earnings give him no ability
to pay taxes: he should escape just
AS we exempt a small mortgaged
homestead, or as in Britain a man
with small earnings UP to $500 year
is exempt from income tax
Here is one of the most important
gains In tariff legislation that has
ever been made. In giving my evil
dence I stated that the committee had
not the data necessary for wise ac-
ton. The chairman asked how the
government could obtain reliable fig