The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-10-31
The work OF the Tariff Board

Washington reports tell Us that the
tarIff board ~ enCounterlng obstaclcs
in its efforts Ia ascertain the difference
IN the cost II production here and
abroad. American producers are said
TO be little inclined To submit their
expense accounts. and foreign pro-
ducerS are still NOR. reluctant. Grant
ing that the findings 81 IA. tariff
board vii! ~ worth their cot. il will
BE- we'll IN keep expectation regarding
the achievements of the bOard in-Id"
Of comparatively narrow limits II can
undoubtedly make. sometimes bv direct
and sometimes by lndIrect inquiry, IN a
few cas"~ an accurate comparison and
IN larger number Of asses an apprnxI-
mate comIarison In many lines prob
ably mo- tr,Istw orthv comparison can h.
made. no comparison that could h"
reasonably used a. basis for tarih
adjustment
In The impossible or practically i'm
pos-Ible Inst there must be- included
nanv Of the articles most directly
affecting the economy Of m" household
How is u possible IN fiN for instance
the co-t Of producing a bushel Of wheat
IN this country. in Russia. ~ tanada. N
India and IN Argentina In any one Of
these countries he cost ~ this year NAV
~ far bove or far below the ous, 81 last
year or next wear Few farmers m this
country know even approximately th.
cost OF their product, whether m"
product b" wheat, corn. cotton. wool
hogs or butter. Few producers coniine
themselves 10 anv one crop, and profit
or loss Is measured IN sum total for the
business of the year and not ~ detail for
each commodity This uncertainty and
obsCurlty regarding producing costs
obtain m nearly all articles OF food and
clothing Costs IN other lands arc "a III
tie known A. they are here ~ far a. H."
great mass Of the Ueopl" is concerned
the clamor for price adjustment through
arm rates IL excited bv IN" pressIr" %
cost ~ living. nv a supposedly excessive"
chsrge for food and rlorhing. for which
about thr"e-if'hS ~ the averag" income
- expended
Tn" tarif board plan IL widely -Ir-
ported and the great benefits 10 be lie
rived from II are loudly but very care
le-=ly preached There is much reason
10 believe that prediction regarding the
results "a be obtained ia greatly over
lone. that hopes and expectations are
carried far beyond their possl Bile ful.
flment. For instance assuming that
u II found possible 10 ascertain the cost
~ producing wool IN this country and
esewhcrc. and that the actual difeTen, .
j. five cents, ten cents or even fifteen
cents pound It docs not NJ all follow
that tariff based on that discovered
difference would make an actual differ
cncn ~ IN" price 81 SUIT ~ clothes
or ~ pair u blankets. Tn. duty on
wheat - % C"nfS brshel. and "A barrel
II -four represents four and on"-half
duty on wheat would no NOR" reduce
'hr co-t ~ -four by ~ - than IN" trans
fer or hides - N" free list enabled ~
- buv shoes ~ - hover prIo" II ~ hy
~ means certain that free wool would
materially reduce ~" price ~ improve
m" gualtv II cloIhlng and blankets and
carpets The total wool clip ~ tho
world Is only about 7D ~ .uOO pounds
and even thar - tho weight ~ tho
unsecured wool ~ both sheep and
lamb. when the net weight ~ tho
finished wool - divided bv the number