The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-07-14
New Tariff Methods

tariff revision and in favor OF taking
up only such schedules as need alter
alton, is being received with much ia
yor. The Springfield Republican
says:
Word comes from Washington that
the insurgent Republicans some of
the more conservative Republicans
and the administration favor similar
procedure in future efforts at reyis
ion. The plan which finds much sup
port in the dominant party is to take
up first the wool and wooden sched-
ule; after that has been revised then
the cotton schedule could be taken
up and then the steel schedule and so
on. 1t is stated that this plan so far
finds support with the administration
that the tariff board has been instruct
Z ed to center its yearly inquiries res
pecting differences IN cost of produc-
ton upon wool and woolens to the
end that information may be avail
able at the next or succeeding Con-
gress sessions for dealing with this
troublesome and out of date schedule.
THE idea of piecemeal revision is
good one provided real tariff reform
and reduction are wanted and II Ii
Is true that the administration fayors
such a plan It must be true that it
seeks substantial downward reyis-
ion such as the country failed to get
in the law of 1909. Senator Lodge has
himself lately admitted in substance
that the tariff has been built up
through series of bargainings
among affected interests; and by the
force of bargain It has been and is
being held high where 1t is. gen.
eral revision has to fight all these
interests at once. They are all
aroused at the same time and drawn
to Washington together, where they
unite in common cause of resistance
to any and all reductions quite re-
CARELESS of the merits of any partic
ular case.
III on the other hand Congress
were to take up only one schedule at
a time such as the wool and wooden
schedule the interest affected would
be less able to command the support
or other protected interests in resis-
lance to conform and the case would
stand a much better chance of being
considered on its merits. If the pro-
list, the growers could fume and
: threaten free trade for wooden goods
as Of old but they could not 80 easily
! summon to their support the steel
] and the other protected interests as
when these other interests are them
selves Immediately involved in a re-
vision. IL is to be hoped that this
course will be pursued and that the
wool schedule will first be taken up
." and discussed on the basis either OF
free wool ora small ad valorem duty
on the samoa change which would
be of vast benefit TO the manufacture
ing industry and only in the prosper
ity OF the manufacturing industry can
the wool grower find any permanent
advantage"
The plan commends itself as being
eminently sensible. There seems TO
be no good reason why once in every
g few years the ways and means COM
mittee of the House OF Representa-
ives should be Obliged to hold pro-
tracted sessions giving hearings TO
persons representing the thousands
OF items upon which the duties are
= levied, whether changes are needed
or not. A simpler and a better way
is to correct schedules as they need
revision. merely as an incident OF or.
binary legislation. Some Of our high
tariff friends assert that II Is impossi
BILE to take the tariff out of politics
The possibility surely seems much
greater than II did twenty or ten OF
even five years ago The rank and
file OF Republicans do not hold TO the
Chinese Wall" theory Of protection
with anything like the tenacity that
they did a decade or two ago. In
fact they do not hold to that kind oil
protection at ALL
In this changed sentiment there is
OF necessity. no inconsistency. Dur
ing an earlier stage OF development
when our industries were being es
tablished We needed more protection
than We do today, then we are seeking
markets for our manufactured prod
ucts. William Mckinley, the apostl,
of protection, recognized this fac
clearly in his famous Buffalo speech
delivered just before his death
II is all part of the great process
OF political evolution by which nations
advance from one stage OF develop
ment to another With our indus
tries we'll established we do not fea
competition In production so mucl
as lack Of buyers for our wares w
are beginning to recognize that Il I
possible to have too much politics Il
our business and that a general tar
in bill as ordinarily formulated AM
passed. Is one OF the most unbusness
like propositions imaginable and
must require sublime faith for legis
lators TO adopt the old policy Will
they pray, Lead us, not into tenn
tation."
There is n continual temptation 10
every member who wants n high rat
on some product Of his own dlstric
on one favored by some constituent
to trade with other members, ais
seeking high rates. thus putting IN
rates at figures he knows TO be exc
bitant In order to get his own prai
ticular item through.
The method OF one schedule at
time deserves TO succeed and Is raj
idly growing In favor-MontpellC
Journal.