The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-02-25

1t was the best tariff act that had
ever been enacted In this country
That statement met with criticism
but most of the criticisms were profit
less. owing to the ignorance OF politi'
cal prejudice-even descending TO par
tisan bigotry--or the self-interest OF
those who differed with the president
Some of these critics claimed that the
president was rash and was indulg
ing in prophecy as to the effect OF the
schedules; but let me call your atten
ton to the fact that President TAFT
had in mind much more than the
schedules of the Payne tariff act. In
the Payne tariff act there are AZ sec
tons, and only the first section deals
with the schedules. In the other sec
lions are found legislation improving
the administration of the customs, the
maximum and minimum provision en-
abling us to deal on an equality with
other nations, an application OF the
present drawback provision, freer
trade relations with the Philippines
the provision for the Panama bonds
improvement in many of the internal
revenue laws, the creation of Gus
toms court located here in Washing
ton, removed from the distracting in
fluences of the port of entry. and the
establishment of a commission or
board of tariff experts.
"All these matters were in the mind
of President Taft when he said that
this was the best tariff law that had
ever been enacted. And whoever
voted against the Payne tariff law
not only voted against the general re-
auctions in the schedules of the Ding
ley law, but voted against all OF these
acts of progressive legislation.
Tariff Wrongly Blamed.
president Taft, in his expression
concerning the Payne tariff. has shown
that same breadth of vision, that
same lofty craftsmanship, that healthy
common sense and sagacity which au'
CUR so well for the success of this adj
ministration and foretell the trium
plant reelection of President Taft in
1912 Applause on the Republican
side.)
I'VE shall have to meet the charge
that the Payne tariff has raised
prices. This charge. as | stated, has
it's origin in three causes-ignorance,
political prejudice degenerating into
partisan bigotry, and pecuniary self
interest
LET me give you three illustrations
OF self-interest A few weeks ago
city and said they regretfully must
raise the price of common boards on
account of the Payne tariff Think OF
il, Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen!
They must raise the price from SO
cents TO 81 thousand on account Of
the Payne tariff! Why, we reduced
the tariff on common boards IS cents
a thousand, and these men meet In
convention and attempt to deceive and
bunco and hoodwink the people and
tell them that on account of the
Payne tariff they have got to raise
the price of common boards 81 a
thousand. When any man puts that
up to you, ask him this conundrum
If the lumber dealers have to raise
the price a dollar a thousand wher
we reduce the duties IS cents thou
sand, how much will they have to
raise the price when we put lumber
on the free list? applause and
laughter on the Republican side.)
Tricks Of the Enemy.
"Mr. Chairman. 1t was the same way
in reference to hides. We were told
that the price of hides would come
down if we would put hides on the
free list, and that then the price OF
shoes would be reduced. ! have here
Dun's Review OF last week, giving the
wholesale prices in New York of all
staple commodities, and all kinds OF
shoes have gone up in the wholesale
market-not one reduction quoted In
Dun's. One of the ablest writer's In
the United States on economic sub
jects. in his letter to the Record-Her
aid and other papers last September
said that the Payne tariff law was
the best and most scientifically ad
justed tariff law that had ever beer
passed.
Then he calls attention to the fact
that the wooden dealers had got to
gether and said they must raise the
price of wool on account OF the Payne
tariff.
HE then goes on to say that is a
trick that was attempted under the
Mckinley law in the same way. There
is not in the Payne act one change
made in the wool or wooden schedule
except two minor ones, and both Of
those were reductions. ! give these
three illustrations of how men who
had pecuniary self-interests at stake
are going to attempt to discredit the
Payne tariff law, and | say to you
gentlemen-and am very sure that
am facing men on the other side Of
the house who will agree with me
that that sort of criticism. that at
tempt to discredit a statute law of oul
common country for base. selfish, pc
cuniary gain is little short of mora
treason" Applause on the Republic
an side.)