Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-04

general interest OF the public Is neceeSar-
lily more or less subordinated. There was
"a time when this scramble was regarded
as the natural course In Matchmaking and
was not resented. Now the people demand,
and rightly. that the profit Of the special
interests shall be subordinated to the gem
eral welfare in every case. 1t lie this attl-
tude of the people which must be met in
dealing with the present tariff and with
proposals to amend the present tariff.
Very little Improvement indeed will follow
any attempt to revise the tariff by meth
DDS hitherto used. The thing to do is to
change the methods.
Country for Protection.
II believe this country is fully committed
to the principle of protection; but 1t is to
protection as a principle; to protection pri-
marily in the interest of the standard of
living Of the American workingman. / be-
lieve that when protection becomes, not a
principle, but privilege and preference
or, rather, tumble OF privileges and pref
erences-then the American people disap-
prove OF 1t. Now, to correct the trouble
II is necessary. in the first place, to get
in mind clearly what we want, and, in
the next place, to get in mind clearly the
method by which we hope to obtain what
we want. What we want is a square deal
In the tariff as in everything else; a square
deal for the wage-earner; a square deal
for the employer. and a square deal for
the general public. To obtain 1t we must
have thoroughly efficient and we'll
equipped tariff commission.
|, The tariff ought to be a material issue
and not moral issuei but If instead of a
square deal we get a crooked deal. then
1t becomes very emphatically moral is
sue. What we desire in tariff is such
measure of protection as will equalize the
cost of production here and abroad and
as the cost OF production is mainly labor
cost, this means primarily a tariff suffi-
cient to make up for the difference in
labor cost here and abroad. The American
public wants the American laboring man
put on an equality with other citizens so
that he shall have the ability to achieve
the American standard Of living and the
capacity to enjoy II; and to do this we
must see that his wages are not lowered
by improper competition with inferior wage
workers abroad-with wage-workers who
are paid poorly and who live as no Ameri-
cans are willing to live. But the American
public does not wish to see the tariff so
arranged as to benefit primarily a few
wealthy men.
COmmends the Commission
AS a means toward the attainment OF It's
end in view we have as yet devised moth
ing in any way as effective as a tariff COM
mission. There should be commission of
well-paid experts; men who should not rep
resent any industry; who should be masters
of their subjects; and of the very highest
character and who should approach the mat
ter with absolute disregard of every outside
efdarafinr- Theaa me- ahntld fal m
In succession each subject with which the
tariff deals and investigate the conditions
of production here and abroad; they should
find out the facts and not merely accept
the statements of Interested parties; and
they should report to congress on each sub
ject as soon as that subject has been COW
cred. Then action can be taken at once on
the particular subject concerned, while the
commission Immediately proceeds to investi-
gate another. BY these means log-rolling
would be avoided and each subject treated
| on its merits, while there would be no such
shock to general industry as is implied in
the present custom OF making sweeping
changes in the whole tariff at once. Fin
/ ally, 1t should be the duty OF some govern
mental department or bureau to investi-
gate the conditions In the various protected
Industries and see that the laborers really
are getting the benefit OF tariff supposed
to be enacted in their interest. Moreover,
to insure good treatment abroad we should
keep the maximum and minimum provision.
The same principle Of a first class out
side commission should be applied to river
and harb0r legislation At present river
and harbor BILL like a tariff bill ends to
be settled by a squable among a lot Of big.
selfish interests and little. selfish interests,
with soant regard to the one really vital
interest, that of the general pulic. In this
matter the national legislature would do
we'll to profit by the example Of Masss-
ohusetts. Formerly Massachusetts, dealt
/ with its land and harbor legislation Just as
Washington tariff and river and harbor
laws have been dealt with; and there was
Just the same pulling and hauling. the same
bargaining and log-rolling, the same sub
ordination OF the general interest to various
special interests. Last year Governor
Draper took up the matter. and on his
recommendation the legislature turned the
whole business over to commission OF
experts; and all trouble and scandal forth.
with disappeared. Incidentally. this seemi
to me to be a first class instance OF pro
gressive legislation.
In his speech at Sioux City, Colons
Roosevelt criticised the financial methods
Of the two railroads which he did not name
Two great railroads are now at worl
on a piece OF construction work. where
have no question that the stock rs beinI
: honestly provided for. and represent
honest work." he said But under tn
present system have reason TO believe
great mass Of bonds will be issued which
will represent In effect bonua to certain
big men who ought not 70 have anything
like what they will get. Under the law
at present we cannot stop Il, and instea'
OF denouncing the big men for what the!
have legal right TO do. the wise thing 4
70 give us power to prevent the recurrence
OF such an abuse. So in dealing with every
; thing effecting corporations"
4 III. Rav 10 the Rituation-Pea Want Adz