The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-12-06

tempt to CONFORM TO the measure
of protection was not honestly and
sincerely adhered to.
TARIFF BOARD.
The time IN which the tariff was
prepared undoubtedly was so short
as to make it impossible for the
congress and it's experts to acquire
the information necessary strictly
to conform to the declared mea-
sure. In order to avoid criticism
of this kind in the future, and for
the purpose Of more nearly con-
forming to the party promise, con-
gress at its last session made pro.
vision at my request for the con-
tinuance of a board created under
the authority of the maximum and
minimum clause of the tariff bill,
and authorized this board to ex-
pend the money appropriated I'M
der my direction for the ascertain
ment Of the cost of production at
home and abroad of the various ar
ticles included in the schedules of
the tariff. The tariff board thus
appointed and authorized has been
diligent in preparing itself for the
necessary Investigations. The hope
of those who have advocated the
use of this board for tariff pur-
poses is that the question of the
rate of duty imposed shall become
more of business question and
less of a political question to be
ascertained by experts of long
training and accurate knowledge.
The halt in business and the shock
to business, due to the accounce-
ment that a new tariff bill is to be
prepared and put in operation, wifi
be avoided by treating the sched-
ules one by one as occasion shall
arise for change in the rates of
each, and only after a report. It
is not likely that the board will
be able to make report during the
present session of congress on any
of the schedules. because a proper
examination involves an enormous
amount of detail and great deal
of care: but hope to be able at
the opening of the new congress,
ar at least during the session OF
that congress, to bring to its atten.
ton the facts in regard to those
schedules in the present tariff that
may prove to need amendment.
The carrying out of this plan. Of
course, involves the full co-opera-
ton Of congress in limiting the
consideration in tariff measures to
one schedule at time, because IL
a proposed amendment to a tariff
bill is to involve a complete con.
sideration of 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 mbst grievous-
ly by stagnation and uncertainty,
pending resettlement of law
affecting all business directly or
indirectly, and the effect of which
no wise business man would ignore
in new projects and new invest
ments. | cannot too much empha-
size the Importance and benefit of
the plan above proposed for the
treatment of the tariff. It facili.
tates the removal of noteworthy
defects in an important law with
out disturbance of business pros
perity. which Is even more i'm.
portant to the happiness and CON-
fort of the people than the elimina-
ton of instances of injustice in the
tariff.
Whether or not the protective
policy is to be continued, and the
degree of protection to be accorded
to our home industries, are ques.
tons which the people must decide
through their chosen representa-.
tives; but whatever policy Is adopt
ed. 1t Is clear that the necessary
legislation should be based on an
impartial, thorough and continuous
study of the facts.