The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-09-08
Still Defends the Tariff Law,
but Will Help Revision Of
Some Schedules.
HIS LETTER TO M'kiNLEY

HIS LETTER TO M'kiNLEY
New York, Aug. 2s.-The letter Of
President Taft to Chairman Mckinley,
mittee, on the issues of the fall cam
paiGn was made public at the New
York headquarters of the committee
yesterday. 1t is as follows:
] assume that when this letter is given
publicity the lines will be drawn, the party
candidates viii have been selected, and the
question for decision will be whether we
shall have In the House of Representa-
tives a republican or a democratic major
Gty. The question, then, will be not what
complexion Of republicanism one prefers,
but whether 1t is better for the country
to have the republican party control the
legislation for the next two years and
further redeem its promises, or to enable
a democratic majority in the House either
TO interpose a veto to republican measures,
or to formulate and pass bills to carry
has been given during the preliminary
.canvasses just ended to the differences
between republicans; but in the election
such differences should be forgotten.
Differences within the party were mani
Tested in the two sessions of the present
congress-. and yet never in its history has
the republican party passed and become
responsible for as much useful and pro-
.gressive legislation. So while issues will
doubtless arise between members of a re-
publican majority as to the details of fur
Their legislation, the party as a whole, will
show itself In the future, as in the past,
practical and patriotic in subordinating
Individual opinions in ofde.eSo secure real
progress. Hence it is important that after
republican congressional candidates have
been duly and tairiy chosen, ali Republic
ans who believe in The party principles as
declared In its national platform of 1908
Sective support. If this is done, there will
be no doubt of a return of a republican
majority.
Democratic Reputation.
The only other alternative Is a demo-
cratic majority; It is difficult, very diff,
cult, to state all the principles that would
govern such a majority in its legislative
course; and this because its party plat
forms have presented a variety of planks
not altogether consistent, and because In
the present ongress leading democrats in
the Senate and the House have not hesi-
sated to repudiate certain of their party
pledges and to deny their binding char
acter. We may reasonably assume, how
ever, that a democratic majority in the
House would reject the republican doc
%rine of protection as announced in 1908.
What, therefore, has a republican who
believes in protection, but objects to some
rates or schedules in the present tariff
act, to hope for from a democratic ma
jority which, if allowed its way, would
attack the protective system, and halt
business by a threatened revision of the
whole tariff on revenue basis, or if pre-
vented by the Senate or the executive
"VGit lllcteIN ~ IlCllilllS .
Such a legislative program as that set
forth in the republican national platform
of 1908 could not be carried out n full by
one congress. Certainly if all its prom
Sses are executed In one administration.
1t will be within q proper time. The pres
sent congress has not only fulfilled many
party pledges, but it has by its course set
higher the standard of party responsibility
for such pledges than ever before in the
history of American parties. Hereafter
those who would catch voters by declara-
lions in favor of alluring remedial legisla-
ton will not make them except with much
more care as to the possibility of its enact
-ent congress, the return of a republican
majority in the next congress may we'll
inspire confidence that the pledges still
unredeemed will be met and satisfied.
The Tariff.
Let US consider, sutnmarily, the prom
ases made and the legislation enacted by
the present congress-: First and of pri-
mary Importance was the promise to re-
wise the tariff N accordance with the rule
laid down in the platform, to-wit: That
the tariff on articles imported should be
equal to the difference between their cost
of production abroad and that cost in this
country, including a reasonable profit for
tht domestic manufacturer. A very full
investigation-flll, al least, as sucn in
yeStigations have been conducted in the
past-was made by the ways and means
committee of the House to determine what
rates should be changed to conform to this
rule, A reduction was made in 654 num-
bers, and an increase in some 220, while
1.150 remained unchanged. The bill was
amended in the Senate, but the proportion
or increases to decreases was maintained.
The president here Incorporates the
memorandum on the bill, which accom-
panied his approval of it, and con-
tinueS:
This fairly states the effect of the bill.
The bill has been criticised for certain of
ats rates and schedules. Some of the
criticisms are just and some are wide OF
the mark and most unjust.
The truth &c that .IO1ar tho old rnrofep-
tive idea the only purpose was TO make
the tariff high enough to protect the home
the difference in the cost of production
here and abroad was not regarded as oh.
5ectionable because it was supposed that
competition between those who enjoyed
the high protection would keep the price
for the consumer down to what was rea.
sonable for the manufacturer. The evi
of excessive tariff rates, however, showed
itself in the temptation of manufactures
= to combine and suppress competition, and
then to maintain the prices SO as to take
advantage of the excess of the tariff rate
over the difference between the cost OF
production abroad and here.
The Payne tariff bin is the first bill
passed by the republican party in which
the necessity for reducing rates to avoit
this evil has been recognized, and it ]:
therefore a decided step In the right diree;-
On the whole, it was a downward revision
particularly on articles of necessity ant
on raw materials. The actual figures OF
the first years operation of the law dem
.onstrate this: It must a'se be rememheref
that the tariff rates in the new law OF
imported liquors. wines and silks We're in
creased substantially over the Dingle,
was intended to increase the revenue.
The charge that the present tariff is re
,sponsible for the increase in the prices o.
necessities is demonstrably false. becaus,
the high prices, with very few exceptions
affect articles in the tariff upon which
there was no increase In rates or in re
spect to which there was a substantial re
duction.
Tariff Board.
Perhaps more important than any on,
Feature of the operative part of the tariff
law is that section which enables the eX
,ecutiye to appoint a tariff commission o
for the proper amendment and perfec
tion of the law. The difficulty in fixinl
tho proper tariff rates in accord with tn
principle stated in the republican plat
form, is in securing reliable evidence a
-ductio. at home re- and the cost st Of prodnc
tmrer seeking protection and Of the I'm
porter opposing it weakens the weight 0
g r. NJ4ranuar x,yl,an VIC III