Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-29

CONVINCING REASONS.
Continued from Page One.)

on lmpOftcC liquors, Whites anu SiihS
: were increased substantially over the
Dingley rates. because these were lux
uries and it was intended to increase
the revenue.
The charge that the present tariff is
responsible for the increase in the
prices. of necessities is demonstrably
false. because the high prices, with
| very few exceptions. affect articles IN
the tariff upon which there was no in
| crease in rates or in respect to which
| there was a substantial reduction.
TARIFF BOARD.
Perhaps more important than any
one feature of the operative part OF
the tariff law is that section which en-
abics the Executive to appoint a tar
! inf commission or board to secure the
needed information for the proper
amendment and perfection of the law
| The difficulty in fixing the proper tar
If rates in accord with the principle
stated in the Republican platform, is
in securing reliable evidence as to the
cast Of production abroad. The basis
of the manufacturer seeking protec
ton and of the importer opposing it
wea1<ens the weight of their testimony
! Moreover, when we understand that
the cost Of production differs in one
country abroad from that in another.
and that it changes from year to year
and from month to month, We must
| realize that the precise difference in
cost of production sought for is not
capable of definite ascertainment. and
that all that even the most scientific
person can do in his investigation is.
ftnr i'll of
which lac learns. to exercise his best
Judgment in reaching a conclusion.
The commission. however. already
selected aud at work. is a commission
of disinterested persons who will as
certain the facts. not in q formal hear
ing by examination ana cross-exami-
nation of witnesses. but by the kind OF
Investigation that statisticians and sci
entitic Investigators use. When the
commission completes its work. either
on the entire tariff or on any of the
schedules in respect to which issue has
arisen. and the work of the commits
sion shows that the present tariff is
wrurS and should be changed. ! expect
to bring the matter to the attention
| of tn. Congress with view to its
amendment of the tariff in that partic
|
cable unless Congress itself shall adopt
the parliamentary rule. as I hope it
will, that bill to amend one schedule
Of the tariff NAV not be subject to a
motion to amend by adding changes
in other schedules
It will thus be possible to take up a
single schedule with respect to which
it is probable thta a great majority OF
ho ind m
admit the evidence. and to reach ?
fair conclusion, and this method will
, tend to avoid disturbing business con
, dtions. For these reasons it seems 10
me that all Republicans-con
progressive and radical-may well
abide the situation with respect to the
tariff until evidence now being accu-
muIated shall justify changes in the
rates: and that it is much better for
the INTO vote for Republicans than t."
help create a Democratic majority
which would he utterly at war. with thu
protective principle. and therefore
Woul,! hav" no use for the findings Of
the Tariff Commission. as we may Ger
tainly infer from the solid Democratic
vote in the present Congress against
the necessary appropriation for the
commission 50 work.
r RESULTS OF PAYNE LAW.
2 One great virtue in the new tariff law.
4 including the corporation tax, is, tina
$ taken with the current effort of the az
I ministraton. to keep down or reduce gov
e elnmental expenditures and to reform the
I methods of collecting the customs rev
enue it has, by its revenue producinc
- capacity, turned a deficit in the ordinary
operations of the government of $4,000.
900 for the year ending June 30, 1909. to i
surplus in the first full year of the law.
ending August ), 1910. of $260o0.Oo0 From
a revenue standpoint then, there can b"
no controversy over the effectiveness o:
the new law. Increased revenue indi-
Gates increased imports, ana an cXami-
nation of our Imports during the past
year will disclose most substantial in
, crease i'm manufacturers material, from
which. in the making of finished pro
ducts whether for expectation or HON
consumption, has come a larger volumc
of employment for our wage carners 4
, larger purchasing power and greater
consumption of the products of or
farms and fabIcationS of our-factores
So far, then. as such importationsN do not
diSplace home production. they must 30
of benefit to all. Generally speaking Il
full measure of industrial activity in pro-
! auction. transportation and distribution
mas accompanied the operation of thu
new law. Under the maximum and min
: mum provisions we have concluded trea-
ties with all foreign nations, gaining th
best possible terms for entrance to their
, markets without sacrificing our own BY
the Payne law have at last done jus
tice to the Philippines by allowing the
producers of those islands the benefit of
our markets with such limitations as t,
prevent injury to our home Industries.
| Again, the present law in it's corpora
ton tax imposes a new kind of tax which
has many of the merits of an income tax
| II taxes success, not failure. Unlike 4
personal income tax it is easily and e.l
actly collected, and by an increase or
decrease in the rate enables Congress
| with eXactness to regulate it's income to
its necessary expenditures. More than
this. it furnishes an indirect but effec-
tive method of keeping the government
| advised to the kind OF business done
by all corporations. 1t is one of the most
nd ,la l..