The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1910-09-16
The PRESIDENTS
PROGRAMME
To Produce Tariff Law on
Scientific Basis.
Any Tariff is a Good Tariff Which
Gives American Markets to
American Producers.

The President doubtless believes
1t to be his duty both to the nation
and to the party which elected him
to hold the Republican party togeth-
er as a constructive political unit.
IS And whatever formal suggestions
he may make to that end are deserv-
ing of the most respectful condition
from all who profess to be Republic
cans
He has made such suggestions in a
formal letter addressed to the Con-
gressional Campaign Committee.
The one traditional policy of the
Republican party is Protection to
home industries, as the one distinc-
tive policy of the Democratic party is
Protection to home industries, as the
one distinctive policy of the Democrat
ic party is the abundant of Protec-
ton. The President therefore, nat
urally confines himself to the discus
sion of the Tariff in respect to which
there has arisen disagreement in the
Republican ranks.
The Presidents suggestion is that
the Payne-Aldrich law, as a whole
be left undisturbed, but that certain
schedules shall be taken up for re-
vision under rules fixed both in the
! Senate and Home under which no
amendments shall be In order unless
germane to the subject matter of
these schedules.
And he also suggests that the select
ed schedules, when taken up, shall
be revised not, as heretofore. by the
|. best attainable compromise with other
interests, but Independently and on
a scientific" basis.
By scientific" the President means
first the ascertainment of the "cost
of production" in this and foreign
countries, and upon that basis con-
structing a Tariff which shall allow
the American manufacturers to receiv
a reasonable profit. and no more.
The first difficulty to be encounter
ed in the selection of the schedules
for revision, which are not indicated
In the outline of the Presidents mes
sage.
Suppose, for example, that some
one should propose the agricultural
schedule for .revision-and this is un
derstood to mean revision downward
and there should be reason to sus-
pect that the proposer had especially
In mind the duties on prunes. raisins.
hops, lemons and oranges?
What would our California delega-
ton do? What would any "Insur-t
gents" in it do?
We all know what they would do.
They would fill the country with their
cutlery against being singled out for
discriminatory legislation, And what
the California delegation would do is
precisely what every other delegation
or member would do-regardless of
party-if the interests of the consti-
tuencies represented were in danger.
But conceding that majorities could
be found to combine against the par
ticular industries assailed, the next
difficulty to be met is the ascertain
ment of costs of production.
In this and all other countries cost
vary In different establishments and
in differnets years. And they vary
greatly in different countries. Take
the foreign cost of pearl buttons"
for example Shall the foreign cost be
that of England, or Germany. or
Japan Shall the foreign cost of steel
: be that OF Germany or China? And
of which establishments in these coun
tries? And OF domestic costs, shall
: they. be those OF the great concerns
able to practice all the economies Of
wealth. or those of the weaker ones
which ; are struggling to compete
agains: them. =
Finally there Is the question OF what
is q reasonable profit, In each indus
tryY who shall decide what Is reas-
onablef Who knows the respective
risks to be compensated? 1t is well
to attempt to regulate profits by sta
tute3 And II in selected industries
profits are to be- 20 regulated, why
not in sallf And II government
urdor<a,oa n, rexulafa profits. should