Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-07

Jcc1ed to 4 great deal of criticism
SOME Of it just, more OF it untounded
and to much MISREPRESENTATION The
act WAS adopted in pursuance of a
declaration bT the party which is re-
sponsiblc fcr it that. Il customs bill
should be Il tariff for the protection
Of home industries. the measure of the
protection to be the difference between
the cost Of producing the imported ar
t;cle abroad and the cost of producing
it at home. together with such addi-
ton to that difference as might give
4 reasonable profit to the home pro-
Queer
The basis for the criticism Of this
tariff is that in respect to 4 number
Of the schedules the declared Measure
was not followed, but Il higher differ
ence retained or inserted by way of
undue discrimination in favor of GER
tain industries and manufactures.
Little, if any, Of the criticism Of the
tariff has been directed against the
protective princtIlc above stated, bat
The main body Of the criticism has been
based on the charge that the attempt
to conform to tae measure OF protcc
ton was not honestly and sincerely ad-
heTcd TO.
Tariff Board.
Tho time in which The tarifG-was pre-
pared undoubtedly was So short rs to
make it Impossible for the congress
and its experts tG acquire the infor,Nl.
ton necessary strictly to conform to
the declared measure. In order to avoid
criticism Of this Kind in the future and
for the purpose Of more nearly conform,
iI% to the party promise congress ut its
last session made provision at my re
quest for the continuance OF a beard ere
atcd under the authority Of the maxi.
mum and minimum clause of the tariff
Iili%nd authorized This board to cXpend
the money appropriated under my di-
roction 70. the asccTtaiMmpnt Of the
cost OF production ut home and abroad
Of the various articles included III the
schedules Of tAa tariff. The tariff
hoard thus appointed and authorized
has Eecn dili&ent iii preparing itself for
tie necessary Investigations. The hope,
-et those who have advocated the. use
Of 'Ai; board for tariff purposes IS that
'thn question Of }ha rate OF duty I'm,
posed shall haGniiie more Of 4 business
question and less of Il political qucs-
ton, I" hr asccriained hy experts of
l.rt.r "a
The halt in business and the shock to
business due TO the announcement that
Il EeW tariff bill is to be prepared and
pat in operation will he avoided by
treating IL" schedules one by one rs
occasion shall arise for change in the
rates Of each ana only after report
upon the schedule by the tariff board
competent TO make such report
II is not likely that>tle board will be
abe To make n report, during the pres
ent session Of congress on any of the
schedules. because Il proper examina-
ton involves an enormous amount OF
detail and Il great deal of care, but /
hope to be able Mt the opening of the
new congress, or at least during the
session of that congress. to bring to
lis attention the facts in regard to
those schedules il 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
III time. because if a proposed amend
nant to tariff bill is to involve
complete consideration of all the
schedules and another revision then
We shall >Qnly repeat the evil from
which the business of this country has
in times past sufered/most grievously
by staGnation and uncertainty. pend
ing a resettlement Of law affecting
I'll business directly or indirectly. and
the cflecs 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 10
the fixing of tariffs and the determina-.