The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-12-06


able to make a report during the pres,
ent session of congress on any of the
schedules, because a proper examina-
ton involves an enormous amount of
detail and 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 carrying out Of this plan, of
course, involves the full cooperation
of congress in limiting the considera-
ton in tariff matters to one schedule
at time, because If d proposed amend
ment to a tariff bin is to involve a
4 complete consideration of all the
schedules and another revision then
we shall only repeat the evil from
4 which the business of this country has
In times past suffered most grievously
by stagnation and uncertainty, pend
! ing a resettlement Of a law affecting
all business directly or indirectly. and
the effect of which no wise business
man would ignore in new projects and
new investments.
! cannot too much emphasize the inn
portance and benefit of the plan above
proposed for the treatment of the tar.
III. 1t facilitates the removal of note
worthy defects in an important law
without a disturbance of business pros
per1ty, which is even more important
to the happiness and the comfort Of
/ the people than the elimination of in
stances of injustice in the tariff.
The Inquiries which the members of
the ariff board made during the last
summer into the methods pursued by
| other governments with reference to
the fixing Of tariffs and the determine
uon OF their effect upon trade show
that each government maintains an Of
nee or bureau, the officers and en-
ployees of which have made their life
work the study of tariff matters. of
foreign and home prices and cost Of
articles imported and the effect of the
tariff upon trade, so that whenever a
change is thought to be necessary in
the tariff law this office is the source
OF the most reliable information as to
the propriety of the change and it's eff
feet.
l am strongly convinced that we
need in this government just such an
oft1ce and thai it can be secured by
making the tariff board already ap-
pointed permanent tariff commission.
with such duties, powers and emoIu-
ments as it may seem wise to congress
to give. 1t has been proposed to en-
large the board from three to five. The
present number is convenient, but
do not know that an increase of two
members would be Objectionable.
1 Whether or not the protective policy
is TO be continued and the degree of
protection to be accorded to our home
industries are questions which the peo-
pie must decide through their chosen
representatives, but whatever policy is
adopted 1t is clear that the necessary
legislation should be based on an i'm
partial, thorough and continuous study
of the facts.
recommend that congress establish
a commission to determine as early4as
practicable a comprehensive policy for
the organization, mobilization and adj
ministration of the regular army, the
organized militia and the volunteer
forces in the event of war.
Need For Additional Officers.
One of the great difficulties in the
prompt organization and mobilization
of militia and volunteer forces is the
absence of competent officers Of the
rank of captain to teach the new army.
by the unit of the company, the bust
ness of being soldiers and of taking
care of themselves so as to render eff |
fective service. This need of army
officers can only be supplied by, pro-
visions of law authorizing the appoint
ment of a greater number of army Of
ficers than are needed to supply the
commands of regular army troops now
enlisted in the service.
In order that the militia of each |
state should be properly drilled and |
made more like the regular army, reg
ular army officers should be detailed |
to assist the adjutant general of each |
state in the supervision of the state /
militia. But this is impossible unless
provision is made by congress for a
very considerable increase in the num-
Der Of company and field officers OF
the army.
Fortifications.
/ have directed that the estimates
for appropriation for the improvement
of coast defenses in the United States /
should be reduced to minimum,
while those for the completion of the
needed Notifications at Corregidor. In
the Philippine Islands, and at Pearl
Harbor, in the Hawaiian Islands,
should be expedited as much as posi-
BILE.
Philippine Islands.
During the last summer at my re-
quest the secretary of war visited the
Philippine Islands and has described
his trip In bis report. He found the
in a state of tranquility and
growing prosperity, due largely to the
change In the tariff laws which has
opened the markets of America to the
products of the Philippines and has
opened the Philippine markets to
American manufactures.
Panama Canal.
At the instance of Colonel Goethals.
The army engineer officer in charge of
he work on the Panama canal, / have
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