The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-12-07


t4c schedules the dee arcd measure
yas not followed huj n higher differ
nee peln nined or inserted by way OF
undue Discrimination in favor Of Ger
tain Industries and manufactures
Little. II amy. of the criticism Of the
'riG has been directed against the
.atrytivc principle above stated, but
| lu maiu body of the criticism has been
based on the charge that the attempt
to conform TO the measure OF protec-
tion was not honestly and sincerely nd
hered to-
Tariff Board.
The time in which the tariff was pre-
pared undoubtedly was so short as to
make It impossible for the congress
and Its experts to acquire the informa
ton necessary strictly to conform to
the declared measure In order to avoid
criticism of this kind in the future and
for the purpose of more nearly conform
ing to the party promise congress at It's
last session made provision at my re
quest for the continuance of board ere
ated under the authority of the maxi
mum and minimum clause of the tariff
bill and authorized this board to expend
the money appropriated under my di-
rection for the ascertainment of the
cost of production at home and abroad
of the various articles included in the
schedules of the tariff. The tariff
board thus appointed and authorized
has been diligent in preparing itself for
the necessary investigations. The hope
of those who have advocated the use
of this board for tariff purposes is that
the question of the rate of duty i'm
posed shall become more of business
question and less Of political ques-
ton, to be ascertained by experts of
long training and accurate knowledge.
The halt in business and the shock to
business due to the announcement that
a new tariff bill is to be prepared and
put in operation will be avoided by
treating the schedules one by one as
occasion shall arise for change in the
upon the schedule by the tariff board
competent to make such report.
1t is not likely that the board will be
able to make n report during the pres
ent session of congress on any of the
schedules, because proper eXamina-
ton involves an enormous amount of
detail and a great deal of care, but
hope to be able at the opening of the
new congress, or at least during the
session of hat congress. to bring to
its 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 congress in limiting the considera-
tion in tariff matters to one schedule
at time, because if a proposed amend
ment to a tariff bill is to involve q
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 grfevously
by stagnation and uncertainty, pend
ing a resettlement of a law affecting
all business directly or indirectly, and
the effect of which no wise business
man would ignore in new projects and
new investments.
The inquiries which the members of
the tariff board made during the last
summer into the methods pursued by
other governments with reference to
the fixing or tariffs and the determine.
ton of then effect upon trade show
that each government maintains an of.
fee or bureau, the officers and em.
ployees of which have made their life
work the study of tariff matters. OF
foreign and home prices and cost OF
articles imported and the effect of the
tariff upon trade, so that whenever q
the tariff law this Office is the source
of the most reliable information as tC
the propriety of the change and its eff
feet
am strongly convinced that we
need in this government just such ar
office and that 1t can be secured by
making the tariff board already ap
pointed permanent tariff commission
with such duties. powers and emolu
ments as it may seem wise to congress
to give. 1t has been proposed to en-
large the board from three to five. Tn,
present number is convenient, but
do not know that an increase of tive
members would be Objectionable.
recommend that congress establish
a commission to determine as early al
practicable a comprehensive policy fo
the organization, mobilization and ad
ministration of the regular army, tn,
organized militia and the voluntee
forces in the event of war.
Need For Additional Officers.
One of the great difficulties in tn
prompt organization and mobilization
Of militia and volunteer forces is tn
absence Of competent officers Of tn
rank Of captain to teach the new army
by the unit Of the company. the bust
ness of being soldiers and of takinI
care of themselves so as to render et
'ective service. This need of arm
ulcers can only be supplied by pre-
} risions of law authorizing the appoint
: nent of greater number of army OF
/ ficers than are needed to supply tn