The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1910-09-29
The Tariff.

deemed will be met and satisfied.
The Tariff.
Let us consider. summarily. the
promises made and the legislation
enacted by the present Congress:
First and OF primary importance was
the promise TO revise the tariff In &C
cordance with the rule laid down In
the platform, to-wit: that the tariff
on articles imported should be equal
TO the difference between their cost
OF production abroad and that cost in
this country, including a reasonable
profit for the domestic manufacturer.
A very full investigation-full, at
least, as such Investigations have
been conducted in the past--was
made by the Ways and Means Com
mittee OF the House TO determine
| what rates should be changed to con-
form to this rule. A reduction was
made In six hundred and fifty-four
numbers. and an increase In some
two hundred and twenty, while
eleven hundred and fifty remained
unchanged. The bill was amended
in the Senate, but the proportion of
| increases to decreases was maintain
ed. When | signed the bill, l accom-
panied my approval with the follow
ing memorandum:
81 have signed the Payne tariff
bill because I believe it to be the
result of sincere effort on the part
of the Republican party to make a
downward revision, and to comply
with thep romises of the platform as
they have been generally understood,
and as / interpreted them in the cam
paign before election.
THE bill is not perfect tariff bill.
or a complete compliance with the
promises made strictly interpreted,
but a fulfllment free from criticism
in respect to a subject matter in
volving many schedules and thou
sands of articles could not be ex-
pected. 1t suffices to say that except
with regard to Whiskey, liquors, and
wines, and in regard to silks and as
to some high CLASSES of eottons-all
Of which may be treated as luxuries
and proper subjects Of a revenue ia
riff--there have been very few ia
Il creases in rates. There have been
II a great number OF real decreases in
y rates, and they constitute a sufficient
i amount to Justify the statement that
q this bill is a substantial downward
I revision, and a reduction Of excess
sive rates. This is not a free-trade
bill. 1t was not intended to be. The
Republican party did not promise to
) make free-trade bill. 1t promised
to make the rates protective, but to
reduce them when they exceeded the
Offence between the cost of produc-
) ton abroad and here, making allow
ance for the greater normal profit on
: active investments here. I believe
| that while this excess has not been
reduced in number Of cases, in a
: great majority the rates are such as
: are necessary to protect American
industries, but are low enough, in
case of abnormal increase of demand
and raising of prices, to permit the
) possibility of the importation of the
foreign article and thus to prevent
? excessive prices.
"The power granted to the Execu-
tive under the maximum and mini
mum clause may be exercised to Sc
cure the removal of obstacles which
have been interposed by foreign gov
= ernments in the way Of undue and
unfair discrimination against Amer
lean merchandise and products.
1.-THE Philippine tariff section I
have struggled to secure for ten
, years last past, and it gratifies me
exceedingly by my signature to give
it the effect of law. am sure it
l will greatly increase the trade be-
. tween the two countries, and it will
do much to build up the Philippines
in healthful prosperity.
"The administrative clauses of the
{ bill and the Customs Court are ad-
mirably adapted to secure a more
uniform and more speedy final con-
struction of the meaning of the law.
; ''The authority to the President to
use agents to assist him in the ap-
1 plication of the maximum and mini
l mum section of the statute, and to
enable officials to administer the
law, gives a wide latitude for the &C
QUESTION, under circumstances favor
Z able to it's truth, of information in
, respect to the price and cost of pro-
: duction of goods at home and abroad,
which will throw much light on the
1 operation of the present tariff and be
Of primary importance as officially
collected data upon which future Ex-
ecutive action and Executive recon-
mendations may be based.
"The corporation tax is just and
equitable exercise measure, which it
l. is hoped will produce a sufficient
amount to prevent deficit and
= which incidentally will secure valu-
able statistics and information con-
corning the many corporations of the
country, and will constitute an i'm
: portant step toward that degree of
Al