Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-12-16

and stockholders Of the corporation
whose record Is sought. The returns of
all corporations are subject to the in
spection OF any government officer or to
the examination of any court, In which
| the return made by the corporation 10
! r~elevent and competent evidence.
Tho Payne Tariff Act.
The schedules of the rates Of duty In
to a great deal Of criticism, some of II
just, rHore of IL unfounded, and TO much
misrepresentation. The act was adopted
In pursuance of a declaration by the
party which is responsible for 1t that a
customs bill should be q tariff for the
! protection OF home industries, the meas
ure OF the. protection to be the difference
between the cost OF producing the i'm
ported article abroad and the cost Of
producing 1t at home. together with such
addition to. that difference as might give
a reasonable profit TO the home producer.
The basis for the criticism of this tariff
Is that In respect to a number of the
schedules the declared measure was not
followed, but a higher diff ference retained
or inserted by way Of undue discrimina-
ton in favor of certain industries and
manufactures. Little, If any, of the
criticism of the tariff has been directed
against the protective principle above
stated; but the main body Of the criti-
cism has been based on the charge that
he attempt to conform TO the measure
of PROTECTION was not honestly and sin
Tariff Board
The time in which the tariff was pre-
pared undoubtedly was so short as TO
make 1t impossible for the congress and
its experts to acquire the informatio
necessary strictly to conform to the de-
clared measure. In order TO avoid crit
icism or this kind in the future and for
the purpose of more nearly conforming
to the party promise, congress at it's last
session made provision at my request
for the continuance of a board created
under the aIfhnTjtV nf the MAXIMUM and
minimum clause of the tariff bill, and
authorized this board to eXpend the
money appropriated under my direction
for the ascertainment the cost of produc-
ton at home and abroad of he. various
articles included in the schedules of the
tariff. The tariff board thus appointed
pairing itself for the necessary investi-
cations. The hope of those who la
advocated the use of this board for tariff
purposes is that the question Of the rate
of a duty imposed shall become more Of
a business question and less of a polit-
zeal question, to be ascertained by eX-
perts OF long training and accurate
knowledge. The halt in business and
the shock to business, due to the an
nouncement that a new tariff bill is TO
be prepared and put In operation, will
be yoide by treating the schedules one
by one as occasion shall arise for a
change In the rates of each, and only
AFTER 2 report 2pcG the schedule b. the
tariff board competent to make such re-
POA \ ~ 4 . III likely LndI the DOarU VIII
be able to make a report during the
present -ession Of congress on any Of
the schedules, because a proper exam
lnatlon involves an enormous amour of
detail n a 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 it's
attention the facts in regard to those
schedules in the present tariff that may
prove to need amendment. The carry
ing our or this plan, of course involves
hhe run cooperation of congress in
tiers to one schedule at a time, because
II O propose amendment to a tariff bill
is TO involve a complete consideration
or all the schedules and another revision,
then we shall only repeat the evil from
which the business Of this country has
In times past suffered most s~rievously
oy ~ssagnation and uncertainty, pending
business. directly or Indirectly, and the
effect OF which no wise business man
would ignore in new projects and new
phas.ze the Importance and benefit of
the plan above proposed for the treat
ment OF the tariff. 1t facilitates the re-
law without q disturbance Of
prosperity, which Is even more
important to the happiness and the com
tort or the people than the elimination
or instances of the injustice In the tariff.
Inc inquiries which the member of
nc s2-@ beard made during the last
summer into the methods pursued by
other governments with reference to the
fixing OF tariffs and the determination
or their effect upon trade. show that
eacn government maintains an office or
which have made their life work the
study of tariff matters, of foreign and
nome prices and cost of articles import
Cd, and the effect Of the tariff upon
trade. SO that whenever a change Is
thought to be necessary In the tariff law
this office Ia the source of the most re-
liable information as to the propriety OF
convinced that we need In this govern.
ment Just such an office, end that IL can
be secured by making the tariff board
ALREADY appointed a permanent tariff
and emoluments as 1t may seem wise TO
congress to give. 1t has been proposed
to enlarge the board from three to five.
| do not know that an increase of two
members would be Objectionable.
Whether or not the protective policy Is
to be continued, and the degree of pro-
lection TO be accorded to our home IN
dustries, are questions which the people
must decide through their chosen repre-
sentatives; but whatever policy is adopt
IL 10 clear that the necessary iegisla-
ton hould be based on an Impartial.
facts.
Banking and Currency.
The method of impartial scientific study
> W NE
which kcre &c see -it!sca.eiy. .a1.Sa
as our fixed national policy with re-
spect to the tariff, rivers and harbors.
waterways and public buildings. also is
being pursued by the non-partisan mon
etary commission If congress. An ex-
haustive and most valuable study of the
banking n currency systems of for
eign countries has been completed.
A comparison o. the business methods
and institutions OF the country are sure
to be Of immediate value. I urge upon
congress the importance OF a
san and disinterested study and consid-
Grafton ofNour banking and currency sys-
tenn.
1t Is idle to dream Of commercial ex-
pansion and OF the development OF our
national trade on a scale that measures
up TO our matches opponents unless
we can lay a solid foundation in a
sound and enduring banking and cur
rency system. The problem IS not parti-
san. is not sectional-ft Is national.
Organization Of Army.
I further recommend that congress es-
tablish a commission to determine as
carly AS practicable "A comprehensive
policy for the organization, mobilization
and administrator OF the regular army.
the organized militia, and the volunteer
forces In the event of war.
tOaa OF the great difficulties In the
prompt organization n mobilization OF
militia and volunteer forces is the abb
sence of competent officers OF the rank
of captain TO teach the new army, by
the uAit of the COMPANY. the business nf