The Colorado statesman., 1910-12-10
Criticism Of the Tariff.

Criticism OF the laTlH'
In the space devoted to the tariff the
president says:
the Payne tariff act have been subjHcted
TO n great deal of criticism. som" OF IL
Just. more of It unfounded. and too nucn
misrepresentation. The act was adopteu
in pursuance of a declaration by the par
ty which Is responsible for IL that GUS
toms bill should be a tariff for the pro-
lection of home Industries. the measure
OF the protection to be the difference be-
tween the cost OF producing the imported
article abroad and the cost OF producing
II at home. together with such addition TO
that difference as might give reasonable
profit to the home producer. The basis
for the criticism OF this tariff Is that IN
respect TO a number OF the schedules tho
declared measure was not followed, but
higher difference retained or inserted by
way Of undue discrimination In favor OF
certain Industries and manufactures Lit
tle II any. of the criticism OF the tariH
has been directed against the protective
principle above stated but the main body
Of the criticism has been based on the at
tempt to conform to the measure OF pro-
lection was not honestly and sincerely
adhered to-"
The president also refers to the appoint
ment OF board OF experts to investigate
the cost OF production of various articles
included in the schedules OF the tariff.
and concludes:
whether or not the protective policy is
to be continued. and the degree OF protec-
ton to be accorded to our home indus
tries. are questions which the people must
decide through their chosen representa-
tives. But whatever policy Is adopted. II
is clear that the necessary legislation
should be based on an impartial. thor
ough and continuous study of the facts.
Recommends Parcels Post.
l.
again adopted. on this subject President
Taft says: with respect to the parcels
post. I respectfully recommend its adop-
ton on all rural delivery routes. and that
II pounds-the International limit-bs
made the limit of carriage In such post.
The same argument is made against the
parcels post that was made against the
postal savings bank-that 1t is introduc-
ing the government into a business which
should be conducted by private persons
and is paternalism. The postoffice depart
ment has a great plant and great or
ganization. reaching into the most remot.
hamlet of the United States. and with
this machinery II is able to do n great
many things economically that II a new
organization were necessary it would be
impossible to do without extravagant ex-
penditures."
Department of Justice.
Discussing the affairs OF the department
81 invite especial attention to the prose-
cutons under the federal law OF the So
called bucket shops and of those
schemes TO defraud in which the use of
the mail is an essential part of the
fraudulent conspiracy, prosecutions which
have saved ignorant and weak members
of the public and are saving them hum
dreds of millions of dollars. The viola
tions of the antitrust law present per-
haps the most important litigation before
a.. -.
filed shows the activity of the govern
ment in enforcing that statute.
I'm n special message last year
brought to the attention of congress the
propriety and wisdom of enacting a gen.
eral law providing for the incorporation
of industrial and other companies engaged
in interstate commerce, and renew my
recommendation in that behalf"
The crying need in the United States
of cheapening the cost of litigation by
peditng final judgment is pointed out and
action looking to correction of these evils
Is urged.
The president recommends an increase
in the salaries OF federal judges.
Postal Affairs.
In regard to postal matters the pres-
dent points with pride to its present effi-
cent management and the recent reduc-
ton in the deficit The present unre-
stricted franlling privilege comes in for
comment with suggestion for the adop-
ton of better methods for its regulation.
Abolish Navy Yards.
The president calls attention to certain
reforms urged by the secretary of the
navy which he recommends for adoption,
and continues:
1.-The secretary of the navy has given
personal examination to every navy yard,
and has studied the uses of the navy
yards with reference to the necessities
- f1ara ,,
less than half the size of that of the
British navy, we have shipyards more
than double the number. and there are
several of these shipyards expenslvely
equipped with modern mchinery, which,
after investigation the secretary OF the
navy believes to be entirely useless for
naval purposes. He asks authority to
abandon certain of them and to move
their machinery to other places, where 1t
can be made of use"
Speaking of our foreign relations the
president says: During the past year
the foreign relations of the United States
have continued upon a basis of friendship
and good understanding.
1.-The year has been notable as Witness
ing the pacific settlement OF two impor-
tant international controversies before the
permanent court of The Hague.
THE arbitration of the fisheries dispute
between the United States and Great
Britain, which has been the source of
nearly continuous diplomatic correspond
ence since the fisheries convention of 1878,
has given an award which is satisfactory
to both parties. This arbitration is par
ticularly noteworthy not only because of
the eminently just results secured. but
also because 1t is the first arbitration held
under the general arbitration treaty of
April T. 1908. between the United States
and Great Britain. and disposes of n con-
troversy the settlement of which has re-
sisted every other resource of diplomacy
and which for nearly ninety years has
been the cause of friction between two
countries whose common interest lies in
maintaining the most friendly and cordial
relations with each other.
President Taft makes a few recommen-
dations for changes in the interstate COM
merce law and says:
Except as above, do not recommend
anY amendment to the interstate con,-