The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-12-06


years estimate ol expenses is 1896,
900 less than two years ago.
In the bureau Of engraving and
printing great economies have been
effected. Useless divisions have been
abolished, with the result Of saving
$4,000 this year In the total ex-
penses of the bureau despite increas-
ed business.
Revenues.
AS the treasury department is the
one through which the income of the
government is collected and its ex-
pendltures are disbursed this seems
a proper place to consider the opera
tion of the existing tariff bill, which
became a law Aug 8. 1909. AS an in
come producing measure the existing
tariff bill has never been exceeded by
any customs bill in the history of the
country.
The corporation excise tax, proper
toned to the net income of every
business corporation in the country
has worked well. The tax has been
easily collected. Its prompt payment
indicates that the incidence of the tax
has not been heavy It offers. more
over, an opportunity for knowledge by
the government of the general condi-
tion and business of all corporations,
and that means by far the most i'm
portant part of the b.siness of the
country. In the original act provision
was made for the publication of re-
turns. This provision was subsequent.
ly amended by congress and the mat
ter left to the regulation of the presi-
dent. have directed the issue of the
needed regulations and have made It
possible for the public generally to
know from an examination of the rec
ord the returns Of all corporations the
stock exchange or is offered for sale
to the general public by advertise
ment or otherwise The returns Of
those corporations whose stock Is not
so listed or offered for sale are direct
ed to be open to the inspection and
examination of creditors and stock
holders 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 corpo.
ration is revalent and competent evi-
dence.
The Payne Tariff Act.
The schedules Of the rates of duty
in the Payne tariff act have been sub
jected to a great deal of criticism,
some Of 1t Just, more of it unfounded,
and to much Misrepresentation. The
act was adopted in pursuance of a
declaration by the party which is re-
sponsible for 1t that a customs bill
should be a tariff for the protection
of home industries. the measure Of
the protection to be the difference be-
tween the cost of producing the I'M
ported 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 q number
of the schedules the declared measure
was not followed, but higher differ
ence retained or inserted by way of
undue discrimination in favor of GER
tain 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 criticism has
been based on the charge that the at
tempt to conform to the measure of
protection was not honestly and sim
cerely adhered to-
Tariff Board.
The time in which the tariff was
prepared undoubtedly was so short as
to make 1t impossible for the congress
and its experts to acquire the infor-
nation necessary strictly to conform
to the declared measure. In order to
avoid criticism OF this kind in the fu-
ture and for the purpose of more
nearly conforming to the party prom
ise congress at Its last session made
provision at my request for the con-
tinuance OF board created under
the authority of the maximum and
minimum clause OF the tariff bill and
authorized this board to expend the
money appropriated under my direc-
tion fer the ascertainment of the cost
OF production at home and abroad OF
the various articles 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 purposes Is
that the question of the rate of duty
imposed shall become more of busi-
ness question and less Of a political
question, to be ascertained by experts
of long training and accurate knowl-
edge. 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 avoided by treating the schedules
one by cne as occasion shall arise for
change in the rates OF each and
only after report upon the schedule
by the tariff board competent TO make
such report.