Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
TAFT SAYS TRUSTS MUST OBEY LAWS

! reduction of the tariff. The failure to
| make a larger reduction showed itself
clearly in the editorial columns of a
great number of the newspapers, what
ever their party prediction.
THE amount of Misrepresentation TO
which the tariff bill in its effect as a
downward revision bill was subjected has
never been exceeded in this country. and
1t will doubtless take the actual operation
of the tariff bill for several years to snow
to the country exactly what the leglSia-
ton and its effect are. 1t is perhaps too
early to institute the fairest comparisons
between the Payne-Aldrich bill and the
bill which preceded it. but the Payne
Aldrich bill has been in operation now for
six months and figures are at hand from
which we may make a reasonable infer
ence, first as to whether it is a revision
downward. and second as to Its capacity
producing revenue, for 1t must be borne In
mind that the passage of the law was de-
manded not only for the purpose OF
changing rates in their effect upon the
industries of the country. but also for the
purpose of increasing the revenues. ana
the success of the measure is to be judged
by its results in both these respects
Twelve Per Cent Downward.
1.-THE bureau of statistics is authority
for the statement that during the first
six months of the operation of the Payne
law, which has just ended. the average
rate of duty paid on all dutiable imports
was Il 90 per cent ad valorem. The av-
erage of duty paid on all imports for the
same months for the four preceding
years. under the Dingley law. was 4.O3.
This would show that the reduction IN
the Payne Law is 2.94 per cent of the value
Of the goods, or that the reduction below
the previous tariff rates is Il per cent,
showing a downward revision of this ex-
tent in those goods which are dutiable.
but this is not all. Under the Payne
law 81 e per cent of the gross imports for
the last six months have been entered
free. while under the four years preceding
for the same six months the free list
amounted to 1915 per cent of the total i'm
portations: so there was not only re-
duction of duty on dutiable imports of
about II per cent, but also an enlarge
ment of about the same percentage of the
free list.
Payne law is even more an Improvement
on the Dingley bill. During the six
months the Payne tariff was in force
from August ) to the night of February
) the customs receipts amounted to $780,
CO., $50 "A Under the Wilson-Gorman
tariff the semi-annual average was $751;
47.6259O. Under the Dingley tariff the
semi-annual average was Sl3O,o6o,S 81 81
Under the Wilson tariff the monthly
average was S13. So7 .9i1 rs. Under the
ST.. 71O.973H4: while under the Payne
tariff the monthly average has been ST.
667. 1875. or 100 per cent greater than
the monthly average under the Wilson
monthly average under the Dingley tariff.
Revenue Increase Marked.
'.Of course. as the country increases in
population. the customs receipts increase,
but even considering the population, the
increase in the tariff receipts has been
marked. Under the Wilson tariff the
average annual customs receipts per
capita were $2.3S: under the Dingley
tariff, 1923; while under the Payne tariff
they are $S71.
For the six months that the Payne
tariff has been in force the total re-
ceipts. both from customs and internal
revenue have been $o23, 800, 231.91, while
the disbursements have been 1892, 1885,
2S3.OS, showing that the expenditures
exceeded the receipts by only $8,SS4,-
0o1.71. with no collection as yet from
the corporation tax. For the correspond
ing period last year. the expenditures
exceeded the receipts by over $4,000, 600.
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.
Best Law Ever Passed.
81 therefore venture to repeat the re-
mark 1 have had occasion to make be-
fore, that the present customs law Is the
best customs law that has ever been
passed. and it is most significant in this,
that 1t indicates on the part of the re-
publican party the adoption of policy
TO change from an increase in duties to
a reduction of them and to effect an In
crease of revenues at the same time.
1.-The act has furnished to the executive
the power to apply the maximum and
minimum clauses in order to prevent I'M
due discrimination OH the part of foreign
countries. and this is securing additional
concessions in response to impositions
on our foreign trade.
1.-The act has done justice to the Philip
pine Islands by giving them free trade
with the United States.
more than all this. the new tariff act
has provided for the appointment of a
tariff board to secure impartial evidence
upon which, when a revision of the tariff
seems wise, we shall have at hand the
data from which can be determined with
some degree of accuracy the difference
between the cost of producing articles
abroad and the cost of producing them
In this country.
1.-The great difficulty in the hearing and
discussion of the present tariff bill was
the absence of satisfactory and credible
to low or high tariffs. The importer, on
the one hand, and the manufacturer. on
the other, were present to give their fall
BILE judgments affected by their own pc
cuniary interests as to the facts under
investigation. Men who were struggling
to find the truth were greatly perplexed
by the conflicting testimony.
Authorizes Expert Inquiry.
1.-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. I have construed this to
mean that l may use the board appointed
under this power not only to look into
the foreign tariffs, but also to examine
the question with respect to each item
In our tariff bill, what the cost of pro-
duction of the merchandise taxed Is and
what its cost is abroad.
This is not an easy task for impartial
experts. and 1t requires a large force
expecttto apply to Congress this year
for the sum of s2aO.O0O to organize a
force through which this investigation
may go on. and the results will be re-
corded for the use of the executive and
Congress when they desire to avail them
subsequent revision may be carried on
and without regard to its argumentative
| lowering duties Taken as whole,
fHk.l.a In haSi tata