East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-12-07

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 con-
gress in limiting the consideration Of
tariff matters to one schedule at a
time, because If a proposed amend
ment to a tariff bill is to involve a
complete consideration of all the
schedules and another revision, then
we shall only repeat the evil from
which the business OF this country
has in times past suffered most griev-
ously by stagnation and uncertainty,
pending a resettlement of a law af-
fecting all business directly or indi-
rectly, and the effect of which now
Is business men would ignore in new
projects and new investments, / can
not too much emphasize the import
anee and benefit OF the plan above
given for the treatment of the tariff.
1t facilitates the removal of notewor-
thy defects in an important law with
out a disturbance of business prosper
ity, which is even more important to
the happiness and comfort of the peo-
pie than the elimination of instances
Of in justice in the tariff.
The inquiries which the members
OF the tariff board made during the
last summer into the methods pur-
sued by other governments with ref
erence to the fixing of tariffs and the
determination Of their effect upon
trade, show that each government
maintains an office or bureau, the Of
ficers and employees of which have
made their life work the study of tar
iff matters, and cost of articles i'm
ported and the effect of the tariff
upon trade SO that whenever a change
Is thought to be necessary in the tar
if 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 Of
flee and that it can be secured by
making the tariff board already ap-
| pointed a permanent tariff commits
sion with its duties, its powers and its
emoluments as it may seem wise to
large the board from three to five.
| The present number is convenient,
but l do not know that an increase
of two members would be objection
able.
Whether or not the protective pol
| icy is to be continued and the de-
gree of protection to be accorded to
our home industries, are questions
which the people must decide by their
chosen representatives; but whatever
| policy is adopted, it is clear that the
necessary legislation should be based
on an impartial, thorough and contin-
uous study of the facts.
Banking and Currency Reform.
The method of impartial, scientific
study by experts as preliminary to
| legislation, which / hope to see ulti-
mately adopted as our fixed national
| policy with respect to the tariff, riv-
ers and harbors. waterways and pub
lie buildings, is also being pursued by
the non-partisan monetary commits
sion of congress. An exhaustive and
most valuable study OF the banking
and currency systems of foreign
countries has been completed.
a comparison of the business meth.
DDS and institutions of our powerfu
and successful rivals with our owr
methods, is sure to be of immense
value.
l urge the Importance of a nonpar,
tisan and dsinterested study and con
sideration Of our banking and cur.
rency system. 1t is idle to dream Of
commercial expansion and of the de.
velopment of our national trade or
a scale that measures up to oul
matchless opportunities unless we car
lay a solid foundation in a sound anc
enduring banking and currency sys.
tenn. The problem is not partisan
is not sectional-it is national.
War Department.
The army now numbers about So.
100000 men, of which about $4,000.
600 are engaged in the coast artil.
| lery.
The general plan for an army OF
the United States at peace should be
that of a skeleton organization with
an excess of trained officers and thus
capable of rapid enlargement by en-.
listments, to be supplemented in
emergency by the national guard and
a volunteer force.
There Is now pending in congress
a bill repeating the recent volunteer
act and making provision for the or.
ganization of volunteer forces in time
Of war; which is admirably adapted
| to meet the exigencies which would
| be then presented The passage of the
bill would not entail dollars ex.
pense upon the government at thi.
time. or in the future, until war comes
but when war does come the method.
therein directed are in accordance
with the best military Judgment as tt
4 what they ought to be, and the ac