The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-07

upon the schedule by the tariff board
competent to make such report.
1t Is not likely that the board will be
able to make q report during the pres
ent session Of congress on any Of the
schedules. because proper examine
ton involves an enormous amount Of
detail and q great deal Of care, but l
hope to be able at the opening Of the
new congress, or at least during the
session Of that 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
ton In tariff matters to one schedule
at a time, because If proposed amend
ment to q tariff bill is to involve a
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 grievously
by stagnation and uncertainty, pend
ing q 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.
l cannot too much emphasize the i'm
portance and benefit Of the plan above
proposed for the treatment Of the tar
III. It facilitates the removal Of note
worthy defects In an important lew
without a disturbance Of business pros
perity, which is even more important
to the happiness and the comfort of
the people than the elimination of in
stances Of injustice in the tariff.
The inquiries which the members of
the arif board made during the last
summer into the methods pursued by
other governments with reference to
the fixing of tariffs and the determine.
ton of their effect upon trade show
that each government maintains an Of
flce or bureau, the officers and EN-,
plOyees Of which have made their life
work the study Of tariff matters. OF
AOASAeA anu hOuC PIlCCS anu CVbt VI
articles imported and the effect of the
tariff upon trade, so that whenever a
change Is thought to be necessary in
the tariff law this Office is the source
Of the most reliable information as to
the propriety of the change and its eff.
feet.
am strongly convinced that we
need in this government just such an
ONCE and that it 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. The
present number is convenient, but
! do not know that an increase of two
members would be Objectionable.
Whether or not the protective policy
is to be continued and the degree OF
| protection to be accorded to our home
industries are questions which the PEG
pie must decide through their chosen
representatives. but whatever policy i.
adopted it is clear that the necessary
| legislation should be based on an i'm
partial, thorough and continuous study
Of the facts.
recommend that congress establish
| commission to determine as early as
practicable comprehensive policy fol
| the organization, mobilization and ad
Z; 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 tn.
prompt organization and mobilization
of militia and volunteer forces is thu
absence Of competent officers of thu
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 as to render eff
fective service. This need of army
officers can only be supplied by pro
! visions of law authorizing the appoint
ment Of a greater number of army of
ficers than are needed to supply tn
commands Of regular army troops nov
enlisted in the service.
In order that the militia Of eacl
state should be properly drilled ant
made more like the regular army, reg
ular army officers should be detaile<
to assist the adjutant general of eacl
state in the supervision Of the stat
militia. But this is impossible unles
provision is made by congress for /;
very considerable increase in the mum
Der Of company and field officers o
the army.
| Fortifieatiens.
l have directed that the estimate
for appropriation for the improvement
OF coast defenses in the United State
should be reduced to q minimum
while those for the completion of tn
needed Notifications at Corregidor. il
the Philippine Islands. and at Pear
| HArhOr in tho Hawaiian Islands