The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-29
PRESIDENT TAFT
URGES HARMONY
Continued from Page One.

(O0t1nueQ from rage One.
20 some rates or schedules In the present
tariff act. to hope for from a Denocra tic
majority. which. II allowed It's way. would
business by threatened revision of the
whole tariff on a revenue basis. or, if
prevented by the senate, or the execu-
tive. would merely do nothing?"
President Taft then discusses the prom
tses made and the legislation enacted by
the present congress. discussing in detail
Increases made and quoting fbe OrS n7a1nn 1mu
randum he made when he signed the
bill. Continuing, the letter says:
'The tariff bill has been criticised for
OF the criticisms are just, and some are
wide OF the mark and most unjust.
Evil of High Prices.
The truth Is that under the old pro-
tecuve idea. the only purpose was 10
make the tarin high enough 10 protect
the home industry. The excess OF the
tariff over the difference OF the cost OF
production here and abroad was not re-
garded as objectionable because II was
supposed that competition between those
VINO enjoyed the nigh protection would
keep the price for me consumer down
10 what was reasonable for the manu-
facturer. The evil OF excessive tarIn
rates, however, showed itself In the temp
tatlon OF manufacturers to combine aud
suppress competition and then TO main
tam the price so as 10 take advantage
OF the excess OF the tariff rate over the
diHerence between the cost OF produc-
ton abroad and here.
The Payne tariff bill is the first bill
passed by the Republican party in which
the necessity for reducing rates to avoid
therefore a decided step in the right d.
rection and 1t ought 10 be accepted as
such: On the whole. II was a down
ward revision, particularly on articles o.
necessity and on raw materials I'm
actual hgures on the first years opera
tion OF the law demonstrate this Ii
must also be remembered that the tariff
rates in the new law on Imported liquors
wines and silks were increased substan-
ihay tiaiiy @ over the Dingley rates, because
10 increase the revenue.
The charge that the present tariff Is
responsible for the increase in the prices
ccptions, affect articles In The tal
upon which there was no increase In
rates or IN respect TO which there was
substantial reduction.
Perhaps more important than any one
feature OF the operative part Of the tariff
executive to appoint a tariff commission
or board TO secure the needed lnforma-
Ton for the proper amendment and per-
sion completes its work. either ON the en-
tire tariff or on any OF the schedules In
respect TO which issue has arisen. and
the present tariff Is wrong and should he
changed. expect to bring the matter 10
the attention OF the congress with q view
to its amendment Of the tariff In that
particular.
Rule for Amendment.
''Of course this will be impractica BILE
unless congress itself shall adopt the par
liamentary rule. as / hope II will. that
bill to amend one schedule OF the tarirf
maysnot be subject to a motion to amend
by adding changes In other schedules.
IT will thus be possible to take up
single schedule with respect to which it
Is probable that a great majority OF each
house will be unprejudiced to admit the
evidence and render IL possible TO reach a
fair conclusion and this method will tend
10 avoid disturbing business conditions
For these reasons II seems TO me that all
HepublicaUs-conaervati progressive
and radical-may well abide the situation
with respect TO the tariff until evidence
now being accumulated shall justify
changes in the rates: and that 1t Is much
better for them to vote for Republicans
than To help create a Democratic ma
jority which would be utterly at war with