Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-02-15


penditures we shall have ample reve-
nue..
II therefore venture to repeat the
remark | have had occasion to make
| before, that the present customs law
is the best customs law that has ever
been passed, and it Is most significant
in this that 1t indicates on the part of
the Republican party the adoption OF
a policy to change from an increase
in duties to a reduction of them and
to effect an increase Of revenues at
the same time.
Gave Justice to Philippines.
"The act has furnished to the exec.
utive the power to apply the maximum
and minimum clauses in order to pre-
vent undue discrimination on the part
of foreign countries, and this is secur-
ling additional concessions in respect
to impositions on our foreign trade.
1.-THE act has done justice to the
Philippines Islands by giving them
free trade with the United States.
More than all this, the new tariff
act has provided for the appointment
4 of a tariff board to secure impartial
evidence upon which, when a revision
of the tariff seems wise, we shall have
at hand the data from which can be
determined with some degree of accur-
acy the difference between the cost of
producing articles abroad and the cost
of producing them in this country.
The great difficulty in the hearing
and discussion of the present tariff bill
was the. absence of satisfactory and
credible evidence on either side of the
issues as to low or high tariffs. The
importer, on the one hand, and the
manufacturer, on the other, were pres
ent to give their fallible judgments,
affected by their own pecuniary inter
ests, as to the facts under investiga-
ton Men who were struggling to find
the truth were greatly perpleXed by
the conflicting testimony
viii Ask $25O,0oo for Experts.
"The tariff bill authorizes the presi-
dent to expend $4,000 in employing
persons to assist him in the admins
tration of the maximum and minimum
clause and to assist him and other Of
ficers of the government in the admin
istration of the tariff law. l have con-
lstrued this to mean that may use the
board appointed under this power not
I. only to look into the foreign tariffs,
but also to examine the question with
respect to each item in our tariff bill,
what the cost of production of the
merchandise taxed is and what it's
cost is abroad. This is not an easy
task for impartial experts, and it re-
quires a large force.
Il expect to apply to congress this
year for the sum Of S25O,0OO to organ
ize a force through which this inves-
tigation may go on and the results be
recorded for the use of the executive
and congress when they desire to avail
themselves of the record In this way
any subsequent revision may be car
ried on with the aid of data secured
officially and without regard to its ar
gumentative effect upon the question
of raising or lowering duties.
Party Has Kept Pledge.
''Taken as a whole, therefore. do
not hesitate to repeat that the Repub-
lican party has substantially complied
with it's promise in respect to the tar
y iff, and that it has set itself strongly
in the right direction toward lower
tariffs and furnished the means by
which such lower tariffs can be prop
erly and safely fixed.
: board of the sort proposed will GER
tainly take a full two years or more.
Meantime the operation of the present
tariff promises to be consistent with
the prosperity of the country and with
the furnishing of sufficient funds with
which to meet the very heavy but ne
cessary expenditures Of carrying on
our great government
Other Pledges Carried Out.
The president quoted the language
of the platform on the postal savings
bank question, on the amendments to
the interstate commerce law and the
antitrust law, and on the conservation
and waterways questions and cited
the bills that have gone before con
gress carrying out these pledges OF
the platform, expressing the firm con
viction that all the bills would be en-
acted into law by the Republican con
gress. He referred also to the reduc
ton by this administration of $4,000,
900 from the appropriations of the
year before. The president continued:
Foresees Democratic Majority.
There are signs which many con-
: strue as an indication that the Repub-
, lican majority in the present congress
in the next. This is based chiefly or
: the dissensions in the Republican
, party and upon the severe attacks
made by a great many of the news
papers having Republican tendencie:
: upon the party and its leaders in con-
gress and in the nation. / am glad tt
say that so far as the legislation which
l have indicated above is concerned
, there seems to be clear party major
ity in both houses in favor of its pass
3 ! age and the redemption Of the part!
J pledges. There is, however, q very de.
+ cided difference as to the proper rules
to prevail in the house and as to the
senate personnel Of the leadership.
TT would seem as if these questions
We're questions that might well b.
: solved within the party lines, but they
: have been so acute as to produce
. what has been called instruction ant
to awaken the country over contro
, versy between the insurgents and thu
regulars, so called. I am hopeful that a
. we approach the lines Of battle for tn
3 next year the settlement of these in
S ternal questions can be effected with
t out such a breach Of the party as tt
preypnt orr presenting an unbrOkel