The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-14

Continued from Page One)
downward revision of this extent in
those goods which are duitable. Undar
the Payne law SIG per cent of the gross
imports for the last six months have
been entered free, while under he four
years preceding for the same six
months the free list amounted to 4546
per cent of the total importations.
So there was not only a reduction of
duty on dutiabIe imports of about IL
per cent, but also an enlargement of
about the same percentage of the free
list
Good Revenue Producer.
For the production of revenue the
Payne law is even more an improve
ment on the Dingley tariff bill. During
the six months that the Payne tariff
was in force, from August to the night
of February 5, the customs receipts
amounted to $166, 002, S5654. Under the
Wilson-Gorman tariff the semiannual
average was $83,147. $3.50. Under the
Dingley tariff the semiannual average
was $3.50, 265, 81 "a. Under the Wilson
tariff thu monthly average was $13, 1857,
937.65. Under the Dingley tariff the
monthly average was 1,710, 973 GA,
while under the Payne tariff the
monthly average has been $27, ST., Jap rs,
or 100 per cent greater than the month
ly average under the Wilson tariff. and
26 per cent greater than the monthly
under the Dingley tariff.
"Of course as the country increases in
population the customs receipts increase,
but even considering the population the
marked. Under the Wilson tariff the
average annual customs receipts per
capita We're $2.3S; under the Dingley
tariff So. %, while under the Payne tariff
they are 1911.
For the six months that the Payne
thrift has heAQT1 in fOrofa the
ceiptS both from customs and internal
revenue have been 323.SS9, 231 81
while the disbursements have been
1882. 783, 2S3.0S, showing expenditures
So, SS4, O51.17 with no collection as yet
from the corporation tax. For the cor
responding period last year the ex-
penditures exceeded the receipts by
over $4O.OOO,OOO.
Best Tariff Law Ever Passed.
''This. showing indicates that under
the present customs law the deficit
will be promptly wiped out. and that
to meet our normal expenditures we
shall have ample revenue.
II therefore venture to repeat that
the present customs law is the best
law that has ever been passed and it
is most significant in this, that it in
dictates on the part of the Republican
party the adoption of a policy to
change from an increase in duties to
a reduction of them and to effect an
increase of revenues at the same time.
Important Action Provided.
THE tariff bill authorizes the presi-
dent to eXpend $4,000 in employing per
sons to assist him in the administration
of the maximum and minimum clause
and to assist him and other officers of
the government in the administration
of the tariff law, have construed this
to mean that 1 may use the board APP
pointed under this power not only 10
look into the foreign tariffs, but also -
examine the question with respect &C
each item in our tariff bill what the
cost of production of the merchandise
tax is, and what its cost is abroad
This is not an easy task for impartial
experts, and 1T requires a large force
/ expect to apply to congress this yeaI
for the sum of $250.0O0 to organize a
force through which this investigation
may go on and the results be recorded
for the use of the executive and con-
gresS when they desire to avail them
selves of the record. In this way, any
subsequent revision may be carried or
with the aid of data secured officially
and without regard to it's augmenta-
tive effect upon the question of raising
OF lowering duties. Taken as a whole
therefore, 1 do not hesitate to repeat
that the Republican party has substan-
TALLY complied with it's promise in re-
spect to the tariff, and that it has sci
itself strongly in the right direction to-
ward lower tariffs and furnished the
means by which such lower tariffs car
J be properly and safely fixed.
IF the other measures to which :
| have referred are enacted into law and
the party pledges of the Republican
party performed there would seem to be
no good reason why the party should
not receive renewed approval by the
electors of the country in the coming
congressional campaign.
The Insurgent Question.
But there are signs which many