The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-29

spect to subject matter involving
many schedules and thousands of arti
cies could not be expected 1t suflice
to Ny that except with regard Il
whiskey. liquors and wines. and II
regard to silks and as to some higi
classes OF cottons--all of which may b,
treated as luxuries and proper sub
jects of a revenue tariff--there have
been very few increases in rates. There
have been n great number of real de
crcases In rates. and they constitute
sufficient amount to Justly the state.
nent that this bill is substantial
downward revision, and reduction oi
excessive rates. This Is not free
trade bill, II was not intended t.
be. The Republican party did not
promise to make n free trade bill. II
promised to make the rates protective
but to reduce them when they exceeded
the difference between the cost of pro.
duction abroad and here, making al.
lowances for the greater normal profit
on active investments here believe
that while this excess has not been
reduced in number of cases, in a
great ma jortty the rates are such as
are necessary to protect American IN,
dustries. but are low enough, in case
raising OF prices, to permit the possi-
bility of the Importation Of the foreign
article and thus to prevent excessive
prices
The power granted to the Executive
uLder the maximum and minimum
clause may be exercised to secure the
removal of obstacles which have been
interposed by foreign governments in
the way of undue and unfair discrim-
tnation against American merchandise
and products
THE Philippine tariff section l have
struggled to secure for ten years last
past. and it gratjfes me exceedingly
by my signature to give 1t the effect
OF law. am sure 1t will greatly in
crease the trade between the two coun-
tries, and 1t will do much to build up
the Philippines In a healthful- pros
perity.
1.-THE administrative clauses of tho
bill and the Customs Court are ad-
mtrably adapted to secure n more .uni-
form and more speedy final construo
ton of the meaning of the law.
The authority of the President to
use agents to assist him In the appli
cation OF the maximum and minimum
section of the statute. and to enablo
officials to administer the law, gives
III WIdc idlllbue iOl tIlt bCNulSlllOIl,
der circumstances favorable to It's
truth, of information in respect to the
price and cost of production of goods
at home and abroad, which will throw
much light on the operation of tho
present tariff and be of primary i'm.
portance as officially collected data
upon which future executive action
and executive recommendations may
be based
THE corporation tax is a just and
equitable excise measure. which 1T is
hoped will produce sufficient amount
to prevent deficit and which incl
dentally will secure valuable statistics
and information concerning the many
corporations of the country, and will
constitute an important step toward
ton which the tendency in corporate
enterprises in the last twenty years
has shown to be necessary
This fairly states the effect of the
bill. The bill has been criticized for
certain OF its rates and schedules. Some
of the criticisms are just and some are
wide of the mark and most unjust.
The truth is that under the old pro-
tective idea the only purpose was to
make the tariff high enough to protect
the industry. The excess of the tariff
over the difference in the cost of pro-
duction here and abroad was not re-
garded as Objectionable, because it
was supposed that competition between
those who enjoyed the high protection
would keep the price for the con-
sumer down to what was reasonable
Tor the manufacturer The evil OF
excessive tariff rates, however. showed
Itself in the temptation of nanufac-
tuners to combine and suppress compe-
tftion. and then to maintain the prices
go as to take advantage of the excess
of the tariff rate over the difference
between the cost of production abroad
and here.
The Payne tariff bill is the first bill
passed by the Republican party In
which the necessity for reducing rates
to avoid this evil has been recognized,
and 1t is. therefore, a decided step in
the right direction and it ought to be
accepted as such. On the whole, it was
a downward revision, particularly on
articles of necessity and on raw mate
rails. The actual figures on the first
years operation of the law demon.
strates this. 1t must also be remem.
bered that the tariff rates in the new
law on imported liquors, wines and
silks were increased substantially oves
the Dngley rates, .hncause these We're
Injuries ard n was intended to In
crease the revenue.
The charge that the present tariff is
responsible for the increase in the
prices of necessities is demonstrably
false. because the high prices. with
Very few exceptions. affect articles in
the tariff upon which there was no
increase in rates or in respect to which
there was substantial reduction.
Tariff Board.
Perhaps more important shan any