The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-02
PRESIDENT TAFTS SPEECH AT NEW YORK


Republican Clubs:
I am here because believe this league
Is most important aid in the upbuilding
and defense OF Republican principles. AS
President 1 prefer to avoid partisan con-
troversy. but there are Occasions-and II
seems 10 me the present Is one-when it
is not improper for me 10 discuss the
issues soon to be considered and decided
by the electorate.
In the pursuit OF promises made in its
last national platform. the Republican
party, in the short period of eighteen
months, presented to the public, as ac-
compiished facts. the following most i'm
portant legislation and Executive action:
The powers OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission were enlarged.
The commission was empowered 10 sus-
pend any proposed increase of rates until
the shipper shall have chance to be
heard as TO its reasonableness-
Interstate telegraph and telephone COM
panies were brought within the regula-
ton OF the commission.
A new court of,commerce was provided,
in order that shippers and railways might
secure prompt decisions.
Aid Given Labor.
Railway employees were protected by
new safety-appliance law.
The employers liability act was per-
fected.
An inquiry into workingmen's compen-
sation for injuries received was instituted.
An inquiry into the issuance of railway
stocks and bonds was inaugurated.
A new customs court was established.
A postal savings bank system was au-
thorized.
A corporation tax was adopted. which
IS an important source of revenue, and
new and effective method of assisting the
government in supervising corporations.
Two battle ships were added 10 the
navy.
A Bureau of Mines was established.
Seventy million acres of the public do
main were legally withdrawn from entry.
Twenty million dollars in bonds were
authorized to complete reclamation pro-
tects, after a board of army engineers
now at work should complete its invsstI-
cation of existing projects.
Enlarged appropriations were made to
survey public lands.
a definite commitment was made
against the ''piecemeal" or ''pOrk-barrel'
system of river and harbor Improvement
New Mexico and Arizona were adj
vanced toward Statehood.
A peace commission was authorized.
An investigation into business methods
Of conducting the government was be-
gun.
The appropriations for the current year
were cut s26.OCO.OOO be-ow the appropria-
tons of the year before
Tariff Revision.
The tariff was revised without the
usual disturbance of business. Because
of its reduction of tariff rates. its maxi
mum and minimum provisions the free
trade IL secures for the Philippines. its
fine revenue-producing qualities, the
Payne law is coming generally 10 be
recognized as a most creditable bill
Our platform promised TO revise the
tariff Immediately. and also to revise it
20 accord with the difference between the
cost of production at home and abroad.
These two promises proved somewhat in
conforming 10 such plan was impracti-
cable. because the information needed
was not at once available; but the ineon-
sistency was met by the provision of
tariff board 10 report the necessary facts.
The new tariff commission, for the
work OF which $25OO00 was appropriated,
has already completed its preliminary re-
port, and the commission is now at work
in this country. / have authorized the
chairman 10 make a public statement of
the purposes and methods of the COM
mission. but I have directed him not to
make that statement until after the cleo
ton, because in so far as possible desire
the tariff commission from its very in
ception 10 be kept free from the vlcissi-
tudes OF partisan politics. so that II will
gain the respect and the confidence of the
whole country, regardless OF party lines
Finally, since the bill passed, I have
recommended and nearly every Re
publican candidate for Congress and
% Republican State platforms generally
have declared that hereafter when the
tariff shall be revised by Republicans. il
shall be revised one schedule at a time.
instead OF by a general revision of the
entire tariff
Further Revision.
We have provided the machinery for
a further revision on the protective prin-
ciple when the necessary information
has been secured. In my judgment, the
country will hesitate before intrusting a
further revision of the tariff TO the Dem
Ocratic party on free trade or tariff for
revenue principles. That party has not
within our memory. revised the tariff
without creating profound business dis
turbance, and its revision was immediate
" repudiated by the country after
short but bitter experience
l have thus summsrily stated the Re-
publican accomplishments OF a short
eighteen months. Everything foreshad-
owed in our platform. however. there WAS
not time to consider and carry out.
Legislation Needed.
We agreed TO adopt measures for the
Improvement OF our foreign merchant
marine, which every one viii admit to be
In condition of decadence disgraceful
TO a country of our size and power
We agreed 10 pass a law embodying the
best practice liz the issuing of injunctions
without notice. When this is carried out,
IL will. I believe. do much 10 remove a
fruitful source of political discussion,