Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-02-19
BouteH on the Tariff and Prices

The following is quoted from re-
cent speech of Representative Boutell,
of Illinois:
The Payne tariff act must justify
itself or the Republican party must go
out of power The satisfaction in the
applauding of that sentiment by those
who hope to succeed us is as near as
they will come to the enjoyment of the
succession, because the Payne tariff
act has justified itself, is justifying
itself, and will continue to justify
itself. When it had been in operation
about six weeks the president of the
United States said that it was the
best tariff act that had ever been en-
acted in this country. That state
ment met with criticism, but most of
the criticisms were profltless, owing
to the ignorance of political prejudice
even descending to partisan bigotry
or the self-interest Of those who diff
fered with the president. Some of
these critics claimed that the presi-
dent was rash and was indulging in
prophecy as to the effect Of the sched-
ules; but let me call your attention to
the fact that President Taft had in
mind much more than the schedules of
the Payne tariff act. In the Payne
tariff act there are ~ sections, and
only the first section deals with the
schedules. In the other sections are
found legislation improving the admin
istration of the customs, the maximum
and minimum provision enabling us to
deal on an equality with other nations,
an amplification of the present draw.
back provision, freer trade relations
with the Philippines, the provision for
the Panama bonds, Improvement in
many of the internal revenue laws, the
creation Of customs court located
here in Washington, removed from the
distracting influences of the port of
entry, and the establishment of COM
mission or board of tariff experts.
'All these matters were in the mind
of President Taft when he said that
this was the best tariff law that had
ever been enacted. And whoever voted
against the Payne tariff law not only
voted against the general reductions
in the schedules or the Dingley law,
but voted against all of these acts Of
progressive legislation
president Taft, in his expression
concerning the Payne tariff, has
shown that same breadth of vision,
that same lofty craftsmanship, that
healthy ~5mmon sense and sagacity
which augur SO well for the success of
this administration and forctell the
triumphant reelection of President
Taft in 1912
1--WE shall have to meet the charge
that the Payne tariff has raised prices.
This charge, as I stated, has its origin
in three causes-ignorance, political
prejudice degenerating into partisan
bigotry, and pecuniary self-interesr.
Let me give you three Illustrations
of self-interest. A few weeks ago some
lumber dealers met in western city
and said they regretfully must raise
the price of common boards on &C.
count of the Payne tariff. Think of
II, Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen! They
must raise the price from so cents to
81 thousand on account of the Payne
tariff! Why, we reduced the tariff on
common boards rs cents thousand,
and these men meet in convention and
attempt to deceive and bunco and
hoodwink the people and tell them
that on account Of the Payne tariff
they have got to raise the price of
common boards 81 a thousand. When
any man puts that up to you ask him
this conundrum: If the lumber deal
ers have to raise the price a dollar a
thousand when we reduce the duties