The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-11
GAME OF POLITE THEFT.
That Is What President Jastro Calls
System of Tariff Making.

Denver, Col. Jan. 11-"The present
system of making a tariff bill is q
game of polite theft declared H. A
Jastro, retiring president of the Ma
tional Live Stock association in his an
Eual address before that body today.
The representatives of one interest
assure the fepreSentat atives of other in
terests that If you will let us have
What we want in the way of duties we
viii treat you likewise The only sci
ence of method involved is to get all
they want
The widespread dissatisfaction with
the 1arclcal revision of the tariff last
summer. continued Mr. Jastro, 'sand
me Wen grounded and growing belief
on the part of the consuming public
that the favors of the protective system
were unequaliy distributed and were in
many instances fostering gigantic mon
opolies, has. I believe Installed new
life into the proposition to have our
aarin laws and duties investigated by
a nonpartisan commission. The Amer
lean people are looking to the tariff
as one of the potent causes of the in
creased cost of living They do not
believe that a great many of the ne
cessities of life need a protection of
from so to 200 per cent and before long
they will insist upon a thorough read
5uStment upon comprehensive and in
teligent plan with view to the in
terests Of the consumer as well as the
manufacturer.
Turning to the hide and leather
schedule Of the present law, Mr.. Jas
tro asserted that "the clamor for free
hides was not because of q scarcity to
supply the home demand, but was pred
icated upon the desire of the leather
trusts TO buy native hides on the same
basis that they could buy the Mexican,
Argentine and Canadian hides''
Mr. Jastro said the last year had
been exceptionally prosperous for the
stock raisers of the west and he was of
the opinion that a continuance of the
present basis of values seemed quite
probable. The decline of our exports
of beef cattle and fresh meat was not.
he said. a thing to be dep1ored, but
rather it was a matter for rejoicing
that at least there was home market
for an increased pzoportion of such
of future reduction in the price of
corn, he thought that live stock prices
would be correspondingly high.
No Cause for Alarm.
Mr.. Jastro said that there. was no
occasion for the slightest apprehension
of a shortage in meat products: The
supply of live stock would always be
forthcoming under the stimulus of pro-
fitable prices. and as long as we were
able to export about $500, 100000 annual
ly of meat food there was no occasion
for worry at home There was also
however. a necessity, he said for edu-
eating the people in the correct use OF
the cheaper cuts of meat
Referring to the atiSfactory con-
ditions on the open range as one OF
the factors tending toward a decreased
supply of live stock. Mr.. Jastro said
that the only solution of the range
question, was a proper lease law. Then
the users of the range would take care
of it, It's capacity would be increased
and the government received q renta |
In conclusion. the retiring president
endorsed the administration of the for
est reserves. which he said had beer
of substantial benefit to the stock men