The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-12-06

nation Involves an enormous amCunG
OF detail and great deal of care but
! hope to be able at the opening OF
the new congress, or at least during
the session of that congress, to bring
to its attention the facts in regard to
those schedules in the present tariff
that may prove to need amendment.
The carrying out of this plan, of
course, involves the full cooperation
of congress in limiting the considera-
tion in tariff matters to one schedule
at a time, because If proposed
amendment to tariff bill is to in
volve a complete consideration of all
the schedules and another revision
then we shall only repeat the evil
from which the business of this coun-
tiy has in times past suffered most
grievously by stagnation and uncer-
tainty, pending a resettlement of a
law affecting all business directly or
indirectly, eLd the effect of which no
new projects and new investments.
The inquiries which the members Of
the tariff b. ard made during the last
summer into the methods pursued by
other governments with reference to
the fixing of tariffs and the determine
tion of their effect upon trade show
that each government maintains an
Office or bureau, the officers and en-
ployes of which have made their life
work the study of tariff matters, of
foreign and home prices and cost of
articles imported and the effect of the
tariff upon trade, so that whenever q
change is thought to be necessary in
the tariff law this Office is the source
of the most reliable information as to
the propriety of the change and its
effect.
am strongly convinced that we
need in this government just such an
Office and that 1t can be secured by
making the tariff board already APP
pointed a permanent tariff commits
sion, with such duties, powers and
emoluments as 1t may seem wise to
congress, to give. It has been proposed
to enlarge the board from three to
five. The present number is convent.
ent, but do not know that an increase
of two members would be objections
able.
recommend that congress establish
commission to determine as early as
practicable comprehensive policy for
the organization, mobilization and ad-
ministration of the regular army, the
organized militia and the volunteer
forces In the event Of war.
Need For Additional Officers.
One of the great difficulties in the
prompt organization and mobilization
of militia and volunteer forces is the
absence OF competent officers of the
rank OF captain to teach the new
army, by the unit of the company, the
business of being soldiers and of tax
ing care Of themselves so as to render
effective service. This need of army
officers can only be supplied by proyi-
sions OF law authorizing the appoint. |
ment OF greater number of army Off |
GERS than are needed to supply the
commands of regular army troops
now enlisted In the service.
In order that the militia of each
state should be properly drilled and
made more like the regular army, reg. |
ular army officers should be detailed |
to assist the adjutant general of each |
state in the supervision OF the state
militia. But this is impossible unless
provision is made by congress for a |
very considerable increase In the mum. |
her of company and field officers of |
the army.
Fortficatlons.
| have directed that the estimates
for appropriation for the Improvement
of coast defenses in the United States
should be reduced to minimum,
while those for the completion of the
needed Notifications at Corregioor. In
the Philippine Islands, and at Pearl
Harbor, IN the Hawaiian Islands.
should be expedited as much as DOS
sible.
Philippine Islands.
During the last summer at my re-
quest the secretary of war visited the |
Philippine Islands and has described |
his trip In his report. He found the
Islands In state os tranquility and
growing prosperity, due largely to the
change In the tariff laws which has
opened the markets of America to the |
products of the Philippines and has