The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-12-06

no appropriations this year for FORTH
cations then there would be, even in
Guiding the Panama canal appropria-
ton, surplus of about $12,0O0,000.
At Is not essential to the preventing
of smuggling that customs districts
should be increased in number. The
violation of the customs laws can be
quite as easily prevented and much
more economically by the revenue cut
ter service and by the use of the spe-
| c1al agent travelling force of the treas
ury department.
Very great Improvements have been
made in respect to the minis and as
say offices. Diminished appropriations
nave been asked for those whose con-
tinuance is unnecessary, and this
years estimate of expenses is 1926, GOO
less than two years ago.
In the bureau of engraving and
printing great economies have been
effected. Useless divisions have been
abolished, with the result Of saving
$4,000 this year in the total ex-
penses of the bureau despite increased
business.
Public Buildings.
In our public buildings we still suffer
from the method of appropriation
which has been so much criticised in
connection with our rivers and har-
bors. Some method should be devised
for controlling the supply of public
buildings SO that they will harmonic
with the actual needs of the govern
| ment.
Revenues.
AS the treasury department is the
one through which the income of the
government is collected and it's expend-
lures are disbursed this seems a
proper place to consider the operation
of the existing tariff bill, which be-
came law Aug. 6, 1909. AS an in
come producing measure the existing
tariff bill has never been exceeded by
any customs bill in the history of the
country.
The corporation excise tax. proper
toned to the net income of every bust
ness corporation in the country, has
worked well. The tax has been easily
collected. Its prompt payment indi-
Gates that the incidence of the tax has
not been heavy. 1t offers, moreover,
an opportunity for knowledge by the
government of the general condition
and business of all corporations, and
that means by far the most important
part of the business of the country. In
the original act provision was made
for the publication of returns. This
provision was subsequently, amended
by congress and the matter left to the
regulation of the president. have di-
rected the issue of the needed regula-
lions and have made it possible for the
public generally to know from an ex-
animation of the record the, returns of
all corporations the stock of which is
listed on any public stock exchanges ar
is offered for sale to the general pub
lie by advertisement or otherwise. The
returns of those corporations whose
stock Is not so listed or offered for
sale are directed to be open to the in
spection and examination of creditors
and stockholders of the corporation
whose record is sought The returns
OF all corporations are subject to the
inspection of any government officer or |
to the examination of any court. in
which the return made by the corpora-
ton is relevant and competent evil
dence.
The Payne Tariff Act.
The schedules of the rates Of duty
in the Payne tariff act have been sub
jected to q great deal of criticism,
some of 1t just, more of it unfounded.
and to much misrepresentation. The
act was adopted in pursuance of a
declaration by the party which is re-
sponsible for 1t that a customs bill |
should be a tariff for the protection
of home industries, the measure of the
protection to be the difference between
the cost of producing the imported ar
ticle abroad and the cost of producing
1t at home. together with such addi. |
ton to that difference as might give
a reasonable profit to the home pro-
Queer.
The basis for the criticism of this
tariff is that In respect to number
OF the schedules the declared measure
was not followed. but a higher Cifrfer- |
ence retained or inserted by way of
undue discrimination in favor of GER
tain industries and manufactures.
Little, If any, of the criticism of the /
tariff has been directed against the /
protective principle above stated, but
the main body Of the criticism has been
based on the charge that the attempt
to conform to the measure of protec-
ton was not honestly and sincerely adj
hered to.
Tariff Board.
The time in which the tariff was pre-
pared undoubtedly was SO short as to /
make 1t 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
ne to the party promise congress at it's
asst session made provision at my re-
luest for the continuance of a board Gre
ated under the authority of the maxi
mum and minimum clause of the tariff
bill and authorized this board to expend
he money appropriated under my di-
section for the ascertainment OF the
'ost Of production at home and abroad
of the various articles included In the