Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-13

appears the following plank in regard
to the tariff:
That Tariff Revision
"The Republican party declares un-
equivocally for the revision of the
tariff by special session of congress
Immediately following the Inaugural
tion of the next president and COM
mends the steps already taken to this
end in the work assigned to the ap-
propriate committees of congress which
are now investigating the operation
and effect of existing schedules. In all
tariff legislation the true principle of
protection is best maintained by the
imposition Of such duties as will equal
! the difference between the cost of pro-
duction at home and abroad together
with reasonable profit to American
industries. We favor the establishment
of maximum and minimum rates to be
administered by the president under
limitations fixed in the law, the max
imum to be available to meet discrini-
nations by foreign countries against
American goods entering their markets
and the minimum to represent the nor
NAL measure of protection at home, the
aim and purpose of the Republican pol
icy being not only to preserve without
excessive duties. that security against
foreign competition to which American
manufacturers, farmers and producers
are entitled, but also to maintain the
high standard of living of the wage
earners of this country, who are the
most direct beneficaries of the protec-
tive system. Between the United States
and the Philippines we believe in a.
free Interchange of products with such
limitations as to sugar and tobacco as
will afford adequate protection to do
mestic interests"
They "Revised" 1t
We did revise the tariff 1t is inn
possible to revise the tariff without
awakening the active participation in
the formation of the schedules of those
producers whose business will be af-
fected by a change. This is the in
herent difficulty in the adoption or re-
vision of a tariff by our representa-
tive system.
Nothing was expressly said in the
platform that this revision was to be
a downward revision. The implication
that it was to be generally downward.
however, was fairly given by the fact
that those who uphold a protective
tariff system defend it by the claim
that after an industry has been es-
tablished by shutting out foreign COM
petition, the domestic competition will
lead to the reduction in price so as to
make the original high tariff unnec-
essary.
Ill IH6 new ldrlII tIere were o04 ue-
creases, 220 increases and 1850 items of
the dutiable list unchanged, but this
did not represent the fair proportion
in most of the reductions and the in
crease because the 'luties were de=
creased on those articles which had a.
consumption value of nearly $5,000000,-
900. while there were increases on those
articles which had a consumption valus
of less than 81 ,000 100000.
Of the increa SeS the cOnSI1nan ntinya
value of those affected which are OF
luxuries to wit: Silks, wines, liquors,
perfumeries, pomades and like arti-
cles. amounted to nearly $600,000,000,
while the increase not on articles of
luxury affected but about $500, 900, 900 as
against decreases on about $5,000,000,-
900 of consumption.
Downward, He Says
And repeat, therefore, that this was
a downward revision. 1t was not down
ward with reference to silks or liquors
or high priced cottons in the nature OF
luxuries. 1t was downward in respect
to nearly all other articles except wool-
ems, which were not affected at all
Certainly 1t was not promised that the
rates on Iuxuries should be reduced
The revenues were falling off, there
was a deficit promised and it was
essential that the revenues should be
increased 1t was no violation of the
promise to increase the revenues by
increasing the tax on luxuries, provided
there was downward revision on all
other articles.
The one substantial defect in conf
pliance with the promise of the plat
form was the failure to reduce woolens.
Does that defect SO color the action of
the Republican party as to make it a
breach of faith leading to its condeIn-
nation? I don't think so. Parties are
like men. Revisions are like the work
of men-theyf are not perfect The
change which this tariff effected was a
marked change downward in the rate
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