Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-28
President Taft Asks That.
Tariff Board Be Continued.
SENDS SPECIAL MESSAGE
Informs Congress Of the Negotia-
tons Recently Completed.
RESULTS ARE SATISFACTORY
suggests Appropriation Of $3.50, 600
far the Board, to. Be Immediate.
" Available.

PRESIDENT Taft. in a. special. message. 70
rousress today, praises the work Oh Tue
..,;1 board and asks for money Tor us
..usinuance The message is as foiioWs'
..ro ,he Senate and House Of Representa-
tires:
On nv annual message, in discussing
.n. tariff act of August s. 1909, referred
;. the maximum and minimum clause AND
discussed the power reposed in the Presi-
dent in that clause, and expressed the
opinion that it would enable the President
and the State Department. through friend
,y negotiations, to secure the elimination
from the laws and the practice under
them IN any foreign country of that which
is unduly discriminatory against the
United States. l am glad to say that
negotiations under that clause are now
substantially completed with all the ma
lions of the world with results that are
satisfactory; and | come now to the FUR
Their functions Of the tariff board by vir-
tue of the power given the President IN
the maximum and minimum clause.
Quotes From Annual Message.
Upon the subject of this tariff board l
used the following language:
The new tariff law enables me to ap-
point a tariff board to assist me in con-
nection with the Department of State in
The administration of the minimum and
maximum clause of the act and also TO
assist officers of the government in the
administration Of the entire law. An ex-
animation Of the law and an understand
ing of the nature of the facts which
should be considered in dischargfng the
functions imposed upon the executive
show that have the pow.r to direct the
tariff board TO make comprehensive
glossary and encyclopedia OF the terms
used and articles embraced in the tariff
law, and to secure information as to the
cost of produ ,tion of such goods in this
country and the cost of their production
In foreign countries. l have, therefore,
appointed a tariff board consisting Of
three members and have directed them to
perform all the duties above described.
This work will perhaps take two or three
years, and l ask from Congress a CON-
tinuing annual appropriation equal to
that already made for its prosecution. 1
believe that the work of this board will
be of prime utility and Importance when
ever Congress shall deem ii wise again
TO readjust the customs duties.
pase of Future Action.
IF the facts secured by the tariff board
are of such character as to show gen.
sfally that the rates of duties imposed by
the present tariff law are excessive under
the principles of protection as described
in the platform of the successful party at
the late election. l shall not hesitate to
Invite the attention of Congress to this
fact and to the necessity for action pre-
dicted thereon. Nothing. however. halts
business and interferes with the course Of
prosperity so much as the threatened re-
vision OF the tariff, and until the facts are
lot hand, after careful and deliberate in
vestigation. upon which such revision can
properly be undertaken, it seems to me
nnwise to attempt ii. The amount of mis-
information that creeps into arguments
pro and con in respect to tariff rates IL
eneh as to require the kind of investisa-
Gtion that ! have directed the tariff board
10 make, an investigation undertaken by
Ut wholly without respect to the effect
which The facts may have in calling for q
establishment of the rates of duty.
Appropriation Needed.
Upon consulting the members of the
tariff board I find that to carry out the
purpose announced in my annual mes
sage it will be necessary to have an ap-
preparation by the Congress. immediately
available, for the current and the next
fiscal year, of 100000 and / respectfully
urge upon Congress this appropriation. I
nave directed the Secretary of the Treas
ury 10 submit an estimate of the same in
tine statutory method. The statement of
the chairman of the tariff board, show
ing the necessity for the amount asked,