Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-13

- NNN NV AAnN
Bill Produces Revenue.
"For the production OF revenue the
Payne law is even more an Improvement
on the Dingley bill. During the six
months that the Payne tariff was In
force, from August 8 to the night Of
February s, the customs receipts amounted
to $i66,oo2 ,sBe.b4. Under the wilson-Gor-
man tariff the semi-annual average was
tS3,147 ,62b.S0. Under the Dingley tariff
the semi-annual average was $3.50, 265,-
s41.s4. Under the Wilson tariff the
monthly average was l S,s57,ss7.65.
Under the Dingley tariff the monthly
average was 21,71O,s 7S.s4. while under
the Payne tariff the monthly average has
been 2 T,s7T,142.75 or 100 per cent greater
than the monthly average under the Will
son tariff and 26 peg cent greater than
the monthly average under the Dingley
tariff.
"of course as the country increases in
population the customs receipts increase.
but even considering the population the in
crease in the tariff receipts has been
marked. Under the Wilson tariff the aver
age annual customs receipts per capita
were 81. 80; under the Dingley tariff 81. rs,
while under the Payne tariff they are 1911
VIII wipe out Deficit.
"Eor the six months that the Payne tar
III has been In force the total receipts both
from customs and internal revenue have
been $50. 500, HS1 81, while the disbursement
have been $3.50, 1885, s5. Os, showing that the
expenditures exceeded the receipts by only
$8,sS4,O51, II, with no collection as yet from
the corporation law. For the corresponding
period last year the expenditures exceeded
the receipts by over $4,000, 900. This show
ing indicates that under the present GUS
toms law the deficit will be promptly wiped
out, and that TO meet our normal expendi-
lures we shall have ample revenue. l
therefore venture to repeat the remark |
have had occasion to make before that the
present customs law Is the best customs
law that ever has been passed, and II is
most significant in this that it indrea1es
on the part Of the republican party the
adoption Of a policy to change from an
increase in duties to a reduction of them
and to effect ar increase of revenues at
the same time,
The act has furnished to the executive
the power TO apply the maximum and min
imun1 clauses In order to prevent Undue
discrimination on the part OF foreign coun-
tries and this ts securing additional con-
cessions in respect to impositlons on our
AOAViBH' bIouCs
"The act has done justice to the Philip
pine islands by giving them free trade
viii the United States.
Value of Tariff Board.
More than all this, the new tariff act
has provided for the appointment of a
tariff board to secure impartial evidence
upon which, when a revision of the tariff
seems wise, we shall have at hand tho
data from which ran ha AaNonpato ~ ,,s4t 4.
some degree of accuracy the difference
between the cost of producing articles
abroad and the cost Of producing them
In this country.
The great difficulty in the hearing and
discussion of the present tariff bill was
the absence OF salts fRctory and credible
evidence on either side of the issues as
to lower or higher tariffs. The importer
on the one hand and the manufacturer on
the other were present to give their falli-
bic judgments affected by their own Pc
cuniary interests as to the facts under
investigation. Men who were struggling
to find the truth were greatly perplexed
by the conflicting testimony.
THE tariff bin authorizes the presi-
dent to expend $4,000 in employing per-
sons TO assist him, in the administration
of the maximum and minimum clause and
W dbhlSl MN uHu ONilO OlllCcES VI the
government In the administration OF the
tariff law. l nave construed this to mean
that / may use the board appointed under
this power not only to look into the for
eign tariffs, but also 10 sxsmin the ques-
tipn in respect to each item in our tariff
bill, what the cost Of production Of the
merchandise tat Is and what its cost is
abroad. This IS not In easy task for
impartial experts and II requires a large
force. I expeot 10 apply TO congress this
year for the sum o3 $4,000 TO organize
a force through which this investigation
may go on and the results be recorded
for the use OF the executive ana con-
greaH when they desire to avail themselves
OF thB record. In this way any subse-
quent revision may be carried on with
the aid OF data Secured officially and
without regard 20 its argumentivo effect
upon the question OF raising or lowering
duties. Taken as a whole, therefore, l do
not hesitate to repeat that the republican
party has substantially complied with it's
promise in respect to the tariff. and that
il has set itstlf strongly in the right
direction toward lower tariffs and fur
nished the means by which such lower
tariffs can be properly and safely fixed.
AN Investigation by the tariff board OF
the sort proposed will certainly take q full
two years or more. Meantime the operation
OF the present tariff promises to be con-
slstent with the prosperity OF the country
and with the furnishing OF sufficient funds
with which to meet the very heavy but
necessary, expenditures OF carrying on our
great government.
Postal Savings Banks.
The republican national platform con
tanned the following:
1--WE favor the establishment Of q postal
savings bank system for the convenience
OF the people and the encouragement OF
thrift.
"A bill has been introduced to establish
a postal savings bank. The great difficulty
In the bill seems to have been to secure a
proper provision for the management and
Investment OF the money deposited. The
great advantage Of a postal savings bank
ID the encouragement to thrift Of those
whose fears OF the solYeney Of any depos-
itory except a government depository
tsmpts them away from saving. A govern
ment promise TO repay seems to be specially
effective In leading people 10 save and de-
poslt their avinS The machinery OF the
Postoffice department. with It's e0.OOO post
offices and 1900 money order offices Of
fsrs an economical ana far-reaehins ma