The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-14
Under the Payne Tariff Measure
Showing
EXCELLENT RESULTS
Of Decreased Customs in Items
Largely Consumed.
Advances on LuXuries-Revenue
Acknowledgements.

1-,,er1-one who wants to be fair to the
president, and to get an accurate idea
of the workings of the new tariff law
should read carefully what President
Taft said on this subject in his plain,
STRAIGHTFORWARD address in New York
city Saturday night wherein he showed
that his administration was carrying
out the party promises.
He reviewed the workings of the
Pavne tariff measure under it's first six
months operation ending February o.
showing some remarkable effects in re-
duction of taxes on items of large and
common consumption, the increase on
luxuries and the vital revenue proouc-
ing power of the bill already shown.
Economy Practiced.
Mr.. Taft called attention to the econ
omy of his administration, declaring
the present administration had cut estl-
mates for the year ending June 80, 1911,
fo-ty million dollars below the actual
appropriations of the year before. he
said a joint commission was proposed
to examine the organization Of the
various departments and by the ellInl-
nation of duplication and the increase
oe efficiency of the individual civil SER
want to decrease the regular permanent
cost of governmental operation
How Revision Was Made.
I'VE did revise the tariff. 1t is i'm
lossible to revise the tariff without
awakening the active participation IL
the formation of the schedules of those
producers whose business will be al
fected by a change This is the inherent
difficulty in the adoption or revision OK
a tariff by our representative system.
Nothing was expressly said in the
platform that this revision was to be n
downward revision. The implication
that it was to be generally downward,
however was fairly given by the fact
fTrT..
tariff system defend it by the claim
that after an industry has been estab-
blished by shutting out foreign compe-
tition, the domestic competition will lead
to the reduction in price so to make tina
original higil tariff unnecessary.
Decreases and Increases.
I'm the new tariff there were 654 de-
creases. 220 increases and 1, $50 items of
the dutiable list unchanged, but this
did not represent the fair proportion IN
most of the reductions and the in
cr1ases, because the duties were de-
crease On these articles, which had a
consumption value of nearly $1,000, ,000,-
600 while they were increased on those
articles, which had a consumption value
of less than 81, 900, 100000 OF the in
Creases the consumption value of those
affected which are of luxuries, to wit:
Raised on Silks and Liquors.
silks, wines, liquors, perfumeries,
pomades and like articles, amounted to
nearly 5000 900 600 while the increase not
on articles of luxury affected but about
$500, 900. 900 as against decreases on
about $4,000. 900 of consumption.
'I repeat, therefore, that this was a
downward revision. 1t was not down.
ward with reference to silk or liquors
or high priced cOttons in the nature of
luXuries. 1t was downward in respect
to nearly all other articles except
Woolens, which were not affected at
all. Certainly, it was not promised
that the rates on luxuries should be
reduced. The revenues were falling
of, there was a deficit promised and
it was essential that the revenues
should be increased. 1t was no viola
tiOn of the promise in increasing the
revenues by Increasing the tax on lux
uries, provided there was downward
revision on all other articles.
Not a Perfect Bill.
"The one substantial defect in com.
pliance with promise of the platform
was the failure to reduce woolens
Does that defect so color the action o.
the Republican party as to make il
q breach of faith leading to it's con.
demnation? 1 do not think so. Partie:
are like men. Revisions are like tbs
work of men-they are not perfect. The
change which the tariff effected was
marked change downward in the rate
of the duties and it was a recognition
by the party that the time had come
when instead of increasing duties they
IluSl DG aSCIGdSeu, Wnen Ine party rec
ognized in it's platform and in much %
what it did, that the proper measure d
protection was the difference in the cos
of production of articles here an.
abroad, including a fair profit to tn.
manufacturer. There was a dispute \,
to what that difference is, and whethc
1t was recognized in the change of al
the duties downward. Particularly wa!
this the case on materials that ente
into the manufacture of paper and pa
ifCnlf Tho rodnnfinp
was from $500 to $375, or about 81 pc
cent.
There was real difference OF opin
ion on the question of fact whether tn
new duty correctly measured the differ
ence in the cost of production of prin
paper abroad and print paper here
Wholesale Misrepresentation.
1.-The amount of Misrepresentation =
which the tariff bill in its effect as
downward revision bill was subject q
has never been exceeded in this countr,
and it will doubtless take the actua
operation of the tariff bill for severa
years to show to the country exactl
what the legislation and it's effect are.
How the Law Works Out
''It is, perhaps, too early to institut
the fairest comparison between tn
Payne-Aldrich bill and the bill whic
preceded it, but the bureau of statistic
is authority for the statement that dur
ing the first six months of the Payn
law, which has just ended, the averae
rate of duty paid on all dutiable i'm
ports was 21.09 per cent ad valoren
The average rate of duty paid on all irr
ports for the same six months of til
four preceding years under the Dingle
law was 24.03. This would show ths
the reduction in the Payne law is o.
I cent of the value of the goods.
that the reduction below the previoI
tariff rates is IL per cent, showing