The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-29
PLEA FOR PEACE.
CONTINUED from Fac one.l

membered that the tariff rates in the
new law on imported liquors, wines,
and silks, were increased substantial
~ over the Dingley rates, because
these were luxuries and it was intend
ed to increase the revenue
THE charge that the present tariff
Is responsible for the increase in the
prices of necessities is demonstraDly
false, because the high prices. with
very few exceptions, affect articles in
the tariff upon which there was no IN
crease in rates or in respect to Whlch
there was a substantial reduction
Perhaps more important than any
one feature of the operative part OF
the tariff law is that section which
enables the executive to appoint a
tariff commission or board to secure
the needed information for the proper
amendment and perfection of the law.
When the commission completes lts
work, either on the entire tarin or
on any of the schedules in respect to
which issue has arisen, and the work
of the commission shows that the
present tariff is wrong and should be
changed, I expect to bring the mat
ter to the attention of the congress
with a view to its amendment of the
tariff in that particular.
"Of course, this will be impract1c-
able unless congress itself shall adopt
the parliamentary rules, as 1 hope 1T
will, that a bill to amend one sched-
uIe of the tariff may not be subjected
to a motion to amend by ADDING
changes in other schedules.
'It will thus be possible TO reach
fair conclusion, and this method will
tend to avoid disturbing business con-
ditions. For these reasons it seems
TO me that all Republicans-conserV
alive, progressive and radical-may
we'll abide the situation with respect to
the tariff until evidence now being ac-
cumulated shall justify changes in the
rates; and that it is much better for
them to vote for Republicans than to
help create a Democratic majority
which would be utterly at war with
the protective principle and therefore
would have no use for the findings of
the tariff commission, as we may GER
tainly infer from the solid Democratic
vote in the present congress against
the necessary appropriation for the
commissions work.
The Corporation Tax.
zone great virtue in the new tariff
law, including the corporation tax is
that taken with the current effort of
the administration to keep down or re-
duce governmental expenses and to re-
form the method of collecting the Gus
toms revenue. 1t has by it's revenue
producing capacity, turned deficit in
the ordinary operations of the govern
ment of $5S,000,000 for the year end
ing June 80, 1909, to a surplus in the
first full year of the law ending Au-
gust 5, 1910. of $26,000000. From
revenue standpoint, then, there can be
no controversy over the effectiveness
of the new law. Generally speaking
q full measure of industrial activity in
production, transportation and distri-
button has accompanied the operation
of the new law.
Again, the present law in it's cor
poration tax. imposes a new kind of
tax which has many of the merits of
an income tax. 1t is one of the most
useful and important changes in our
revenue laws. as the future will show.
In spite of the criticisms heaped upon it
at its passage. no party responsible for
revenue or anxious to retain every
means of legitimate supervision of cor
porations will repeal 1t.
The next most important work of
the present congress was the passage
of the amendment to the interstate
commerce bill. The bill as at present
in force Is an excellent bill. 1t is not
enacted in a spirit of hostility to rail-
roads but submits them to closer and
more effective supervision by the in
terstate commerce co. mission to avoid
injustice in their management and
control.
The important part that railways
play as the artereal circulation in the
business of the country. the million
and half of their employees and the
portance of their purchasing power as
affecting the prosperity of general
business all require in the public inter
est that no unfair treatment should be
accorded them. But I am glad to note
that the railway managers have acQui-
esced in the fairness of the present bill
and propose loyalty to comply with it's
useful provisions.
Fulfilled a Pledge.
"It was supported by the whole Re
publican party in congress and that
party is entitled to credit for it's pass
sage. The whole Democratic strength
was exhibited against 1t in both houses.
1t was a performance of a pledge in
the platform and only needs time to
vindicate the wisdom of its enactment.
'The postal savings bank bill has a
similar history. 1t is one of the great
congressional enactments. 1t creates an
epoch. Like the tariff bill and the
railroad bill, this was put through
each house of congress by a Republi-
can majority and was signed by Re-
publican president. The legislation of
congress in respect to the navy depart
ment is a full compliance with the
promises of the Republican platform.
THE Republican party at the last
session of congress again exhibited its
deep and sincere interest in the gem
eral welfare of the working men and
women of the country by adding i'm
portant enactments to its already long
record of legislation on this subject
''In this connection are mentioned
the estimate of the bureau of mines, to
aid, among other things in preventing
loss of life; ampler laws giving powers
to the interstate commerce commission
for the prevention of accidents to en-
ployees and passengers, perfecting the
employers liability act to enable in
jured employees more especially to re-
cover just damages: creation of con-
greSsional commission to report a prac-
teal bill for tie fixing of workmen' s
compensation for injuries received in
the employment of interstate carriers. >
Continuing the letter says: zone Of
the great questions which has made q
national issue and aroused public in
terest through insistence of President
Roosevelt is that of conservation OF
our natural resources"
Conservation Measures.
Measures in the interest of conserva