The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-12-14

tariff is that in respect to a number q
the schedules the declared measur,
was not followed, but a higher differ
ence retained or inserted by way o
undue discrimination in favor of Ger
tain industries and manufactures.
Little, if any, of the criticism of thu
tariff has been directed against thu
protective principle above stated, bu'
the main body of the criticism ha.
been based on the charge that the at
tempt to conform to the measure O
protection vas not honestly and sin
cerely adhered to.
Tariff Board.
The time in which the tariff was
prepared undoubtedly Was so short al
to make it impossible for the congress
and it's experts to acquire the informa
ton necessary strictly to conform to
the declared measure. In order to
avoid criticism of this kind in the flu
ture and for the purpose of more near
~ conforming to the party promise
congress at it's last session made pro-
vision at my request for the continu'
ance of a board created under the au.
thority of the maximum and minimum
clause Of the tariff bill and authorized
this board to expend the money appro-
priated under my direction for the as.
certainment of the cost of production
at home and abroad of the various art.
icles included in the schedules of the
tariff. The tariff board thus appoint
ed and authorized has been diligent in
preparing itself for the necessary in
vestigations. The hope of those who
have advocated the s of this board
for tariff purposes is that the question
of the rate of a duty imposed shall be-
come more Of a business question and
less of a political question, to be as
certained by experts of long training
and accurate knowledge. The halt in
business and the shock to business due
to the announcement that a new tariff
bill is to be prepared and put in op-
Grafton will be avoided by treating the
schedules one by one as occasion shall
arise for a change in the rates of each
and only after a report upon the SEIZED.
ule by the tariff board competent to
make such report.
1t is not likely that the board will
be able to make a report during the
present session of congress on any of
the schedules. because a proper exam.
nation involves an enormous amount
of detail and a great deal of care, but
I hope to be able at the opening of the
new congress, or at least during the
session of that congress, to bring to
its attention the facts in regard to
those schedules in the present tariff
that may prove to need amendment.
The carrying Out Of this plan, of
course, involves the full cooperation
of congress in limiting the considera-
ton in tariff matters to one schedule
at a time, because If a proposed
amendment to a tariff bill is to in
volve a complete consideration Of all
the schedules and another revision
then we shall only repeat the evil
from which the business of this coun-
try has in times past suffered most
grievously by %stagnation and uncer-
OAAty pCHuAAS q ICSC(SIOllCAl VI q
law affecting all business directly or
indirectly. and the effect of which no
wise business man would ignore in
new projects and new investments.
The inquiries which the members of
the tariff board made during the last
summer into the methods pursued by
other governments with reference to
the fixing of tariffs and the determine.
ton of their effect upon trade show
that each government maintains an
Office or bureau, the officers and EN-.
ployes of which have made their life
work the study of tariff matters, of
foreign and home prices and cost of
articles imported and the effect of the
tariff upon trade. so that whenever a
change is thought to be necessary In
the tariff law this Office is the source
of the most reliable information as to
the propriety OF the change and its
effect.
am strongly convinced that we
need in this government just such an
ONCE and that 1t can be secured by
making the tariff board already APP.
pointed a permanent tariff commission.
with such duties, powers and emolu.
ments as 1t may seem wise to congress
to give.
recommend that congress establish
a commission to determine as early as
practicable a comprehensive policy for
the organization, mobilization and adj
ministration of the regular army, the
organized militia and the volunteer
forces in the event of war.
Need for Additional Officers.
One of the great diff culties in the
prompt organization and mobilization
of militia and volunteer forces is the
absence of competent officers of the
rank of captain to teach the new army,
by the unit of the company. the bust.
ness Of being soldiers and Of taking
care Of themselves so as to render
effective service. This need of army
officers can only be supplied by pro.