The Washington herald., 1910-03-29

viii derive much satisfaction from the
tariff discussion that will grow out Of
their proposal
The Presidents Message.
In the Presidents message he praises
the work of the tariff board and wants it
continued.
The message is as follows:
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives;
in my annual message. in discussing
the tariff act of August 5. 1903, ! referred
to the maximum and minimum clause
and discussed the power reposed in the
President in that clause. and expressed
the opinion that 1t would enable the
President and the State Department.
through friendly negotiations. TO secure
the elimination from the laws and the
practice under them in any foreign coun-
try of that which is unduly discrimina-
tory against the United States. am
GLAD to say that negotiations under that
clause are now substantially completed
with all the nations Of the world with
results that are satisfactory; and I come
now 10 the further functions of the tariff
board by virtue of the power given the
President in the maximum and minimum
clause.
Upon the subject Of this tariff board
used the following language:
the new tariff law enables me 10
appoint a tariff board to assist me in
connection 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 examination of the law and an IN
Outstanding OF the nature of the facts
which should be considered in dischaFg-
ing the functions imposed upon the
Executive show that have the power TO
direct the tariff board 20 make a com
prehensive glossary and encyclopedia of
the terms used and articles embraced In
the tariff law. and TO secure information
as TO the cost of production of such
goods in this country and the cost of
their production in foreign countries.
have therefore appointed a tariff board.
consisting of three members. and have
directed them to perform all the duties
above described This work viii perhaps
take two or three years, and I ask from
Congress a continuing annual appropria-
ton equal to that already made for its
prosecution. believe that the work Of
this board viii be of prime utility and
Importance whenever Congress shall
deem it wise again to readjust the Gus
toms duties
Halls Business.
If the facts secured by the tariff
board are Of such a character as to show
generally that the rates Of duties imposed
by the present tariff law are excessive /
under the principles of protection as de-
scribed in the platform of the successful !
party at the late election, I shall not
hesitate to invite the attention of Con-
gress to this fact, and to the necessity |
for action predicated thereon. Nothing. (
however hats business and fnterferes /
with the course OF prosperity so much as
the threatened revision OF the tariff, and /
until the facts are at hand, after careful |
and deliberate investigation, upon which /
such revision can properly be undertaken, |
it seems TO lie unwise to attempt It. The
amount of transformation that creeps
into arguments, pro and con. in respect j
TO tariff rates Is such as to require the |
kind of investigation that I have directed !
the tariff beard to make, an investigation /
undertaken by it wholly without respect /
to the effect which the facts may have /
in calling for a readjustment OF the rates /
of duty.
Upon consulting the members of the /
tariff board 1 find that to carry out the /
purpose announced in my annual mes
sage IL will be necessary to have an ap-
preparation by the Congress Immediately
available, for the current and the next
fiscal year, Of $3.50 coo, and I respectfully
urge upon Congress this appropriation. I /
have directed the Secretary OF the Treas
ury to submit IN estimate of the same in
the statutory method. The statement of
the chairman of the tariff board, show
ing the necessity of the amount asked.
is herewith submitted"