Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-07

great deal of criticism some of It just,
more of 1t unfounded, and TO much mis-
representation. The act was adopted in
pursuance Of a declaration by the party
which is responsible for it that a customs
bill should be a tariff for the protection
of home Industries, the measure of the pro-
lection to be the difference between the cost
of producing the imported article abroad
and the cost of producing II at home, to-
gether with such addition to that difference
as might give a reasonable profit to the
home producer The basis for the criti-
cism Of this tariff is that in respect to
number Of schedules, the declared measure
was not followed. but a higher difference
retained or inserted by way of undue dis
elimination In favor OF certain 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 at
tempt to conform to the measure Of protec-
ton was not honestly and sincerely ad-
hered to.
The time in which the tariff was pre-
pared undoubtedly was so short as to
make II impossible for the congress and
its experts to acquire the information nee
essary 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 conforming to the party
promise, congress at its last session made
provision at my request for the continu-
ance Of a board created under the author
ity of the maximum and minimum clause
Of the tariff bill, ans authorized this board
to expend the money appropriated under
my direction for the ascertainment OF the
cost OF production at home and abroad of
the various articles included in the sched-
ules Of the tariff. The tariff board thus
appointed and authorized has been diIigent
in preparing itself for the necessary in
vestigauons. The hope Of those who have
advocated the use Of the board for tariff
purposes is that the question Of the rate
OF a duty imposed shall become more OF "a
business question and less Of a political
! question: to be ascertained by experts of
| long training and accurate knowledge The
4 halt In business and the shock to business
due to the announcement that a new tariff
bill Is TO be prepared and put in opera ton
Will be avoided by treating the schedules
one by one as occasion shall arise for a
change in the rates of each, and only after
a report upon the schedule by the tariff
board competent - make such a report
IL is not likely that the board will be able
to make a report during the present SEES
sion OF congress on any OF the schedules
because proper examination involves an
enormous amount of detail and a erea
deal Of care; but l hope TO be able at the
opening OF the new congress or Al least
during the session Of that congress IN
bring 20 its attention the facts In regard IN
those schedules in the present tariff tbot
may prove 70 need amendment. The CARR,
ing out Of this plan, Of course, Involves IN,
full cooperation Of congress in limiting m
consideration In tariff matters 10 ono
schedule at a time, because II a pronosed
amendment to a tariff bill Is to invoIv.
a complete consideration Of all the scbad
uies and another revision, tken we sbsIl
| only repeat the evil from which the b,,si
ness Of this country has in times ma
suffered most grievously by stagnatlon and
uncertainty, pending a rssettlement Of ,
/ law affecting all business directly ar ~
directly, and the effect OF which no v,is,
business man would ignore IN new protect,
and new investments. / cannot too r,,ct
emphasize the importance and benefit q,
/ the plan above proposed for the defeets A.
an important law without a disturbspo,
| Of business prosperity, which Is even NOR,
important 70 the happiness and the com.