Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-12-06

bill and authorized this board 10 eSpend
the money appropriated under my d.
rection for the entertainment OF the
cost Of production at home and abroad
Of the various articles Included In the
schedules Of the tariff. The tarin
board thus appointed and authorized
has been dillgent 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 iii
posed shall become more Of business
question and less Of political ques.
ton, TO be ascertained by experts o!
long training and accurate knowledge.
The halt in business and the shock to
business due to the announcement that
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
rates Of each and only after report
upon the schedule by the tariff board
competent to make such report.
1t is not likely that the board Will be
able to make a report during the pres.
ent session of congress on any or the
schedules, because proper examlna-
ton involves an enormous amount OF
detail and great deal Of care, but, |
hope to be able at the opening of the
new congress. or at least during the
session Of that congress. to bring 70
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.
ton in tariT matters to one schedule
at time, because il 81 proposed amend
ment to tariff bill is to involve
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 Gripvnnsiy
by stagnation and uncertainty. rcEd
ing n rescttement Of 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
tho fixing or tariffs and The determine
ton Of their effect upon trade show
that each government maintains an Of
flee or bureau, the officers and en-
ployccs OF which have made their if.
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
change is thought TO be necessary in
the tariff law this office is the source
of the most reliable information rs to
the propricty of the change and its eff
feet.
| am strongly convinced that we
need in this government just such an
office and thar it can be secured by
making the tariff board already up.
pointed permanent tariff commission.
with such duties. powers and emolu-
mcnts as it may seem wise to congress
10 give. 1t has been proposed to en-
large the board from three to five. The
present number is convenient, but
do not know that an increase Of two
members would be Objectionable.
recommend that congress establish
commission to determine as early as
practicable comprehensive policy for
the organization, mobilization and nd.
ministration Of the regular army, the
organized militia and the volunteer
forces in the event Of war
Need For Additional Officers.
One of the great difficulties in the
prompt organization and mobilization
of militia and volunteer forces is the
absence of competent officers Of the
rank OF captain TO teach the new army.
by the unit OF the company, the bust
ness of being soldiers and Of taking
care of themselves so rs TO render eff
fective service This need Of army
officers can only be supplied by pro
visions OF law authorizing the appoint
mcnt Of 4 greater number Of army of.
ficcrs than are needed to supply the
commands Of regular army troops now
enlisted in the service.
IN order that the militia OF each
state should be properly drilled anu
made more like the regular army, res
ular army officers should be detailed
to assist the adiutant general OF each
state in the supervision Of the state
militia. But this is impossible unless
provision is made hy congress for Il
very considerable increase in the mum.
Der of company and field officers OF
the army.
Fortifcations.
| have directed that the estimates
ror appropriation for The Improvement
of coast dcfenSes IN the United States
should be reduced TO a minimum
while those for the completion Of the
needed Notifications ut Corregidor In
tho Philippine Islands. and ut Pearl
Harbor. in the Hawaiian Islands
should be expedited as much as posi-
bic.
Philippine Islands.
During the last summer at my re-
quest the secretary Of war visited the
Philippine Islands and has described
his trip in his report. He found the
islands in u state OF tranquility and
growing prosperity, due largely to the
change in the tariff laws which has