The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-29

make the tariff high enough to pro-
tect the Industry. The excess OF the
tariff over the difference In the cost
of production here and abroad was
not regarded as Objectionable, be-
cause 1t was supposed that cornpeti-
ton between those who enjoyed the
high protection would keep the price
for the consumer down TO what WAS
reasonable for the manufacturer. The
evil OF excessive tariff rates. however.
showed itself in the temptation OF
manufacturers To combine and sup
press competition, and hen to main
tain the prices SO as to take advan-
taxe of the excess OF the tariff rate
over the difference between the cost
of production abroad and here.
The Payne tariff bin Is the first bill
passed by the Republican party in
which the necessity for reducing rates
TO avoid this evil has been recognized.
and IL Is. therefore. a decided step in
the right direction and IL ought to be
accepted as such. On the whole, ii
vas a downward revision, particularly
on articles of necessity and on raw
materials. The actual figures on the
first years operation Of the law DEM
onstrates this. 1t must also be re-
membered that the tariff rates IN the
new Law on imported liquors. wines
n silks were increased substantially
over the Dingley rates. because these
were Injuries and IL was intended to
increase the revenue.
The charge that the present tariff
Is responsible for the increase in the
prices of necessities is demonstrably
false. because the high prices. with
very few exceptions. affect articles In
the tariff upon which there was no
Increase in pa +ga n.y. in rgzneef ~. U~hiHN,
there was IA substantial reduction.
Importance OF Tariff Reform.
Perhaps more important than any
one feature of the operative part
OF the tariff iaw Is that section which
enables the executive to appoint a tar
if commission or board to secure the
needed information for the proper
amendment and perfection Of the law.
The difficulty IN fixing the proper AR
If rates in accord with the principle
stated in the Republican platform is
in securing reliable evidence as 10
the difference between the cost Of
production at home and the cost of
production abroad. The bias OF the
manufacturer seeking protection and
of the importer opposing 1t weakens
the weight OF their testimony. More
over. when we understand that the
cost OF production differs IN one cour-
try abroad from that in another. and
that II changes from year to year and
from month to month. we must e
lice that the precise difference in cost
of production sought for is not capa-
BILE OF definite ascertainment, and that
all that even the most scientific person
ear do in his Observation-Disclosures
consideration Of many facts which he
learns. to exercise his best judgment
in reaching a conclusion.
The commission. however, already
selected and at work. Ia a commission
of disinterested persons who will as
certain the facts, not in a formal
hearing by examination and cross
examination OF Witnesses. but by the
kind OF investigation that statisticians
n scientific Investigators use. The
the commission completes its work,
either on the entire tariff or on any
OF the schedules In respect to which
issue has arisen. and the work of the
commission shows tina the present
tariff is wrong and should be changed.
I expect to bring the matter to the
attention of the Congress with a view
to its amendment OF the tariff in that
particular. OF course, this will be inn
practicable unless Congress itself shall
adopt the parliamentary rule, as ] hope
ii will. that a bin TO amend one sehed-
ule of the tariff may not be subject
to a motion to amend by adding cham
gees In other schedules.
II will thus be possible to take up
a single schedule with respect to which
ii is probable that a great majority of
each house will be unprejudiced.
to admit the evidence, and TO reach a
fair conclusion. and this method will
tend to avoid disturbing business CON
ditions. For these reasons II seems
to me thai all Republicans-conserva-
tive. progressive and radical-may well
abide the situation with respect to the
tariff until evidence now being acou-
mulated shall justify changes in the
rates: and that it is much better for
them to vote for Republicans thar to
help create a Democratic majority
which would be utterly at war with
the protective principle, therefore
would have no use for the findings of
the tariff commission, as we may GER
tainiy infer from the solid Democratic