Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-09-01
Taft Gives Outline Of
Republican Policies

,,s-ror,y~es tney 7sSe bee.sxeneralry -ur-
aerstood. and as interpreted them in the
campaign before election.
'sThe bill ia not a perfect tariff bill, or
a complete compliance with the promises
made. strictly interpreted, but fulnlment
free from criticism in respect to a subject
matter involving many schedules ana
thousAnds Of articles could not be ex-
nected. There have been great NUM-
her Of real decreases in rates, and they
constitute a suflcient amount to JUSTIFY
tha Abatement that this bill is substan-
tial downward revision, and reduction
NJ excessive rates. This is not a free
trade bill. It was not intended to be-.
The Republican party did not promise to
make a free-trade bill. 1t promised TO
make the rates protective, but to reduce
them when they exceeded the difference
between the cost Of production ABROAD
and here, making allowance for the great
er normal profit on active investments
here. / believe that while this excess mas
not been reduced in number OF cases
in a great majority, the rates are such
as are necessary to protect American IN
dustries. but are low enough, in case OF
Abnormal increase of demand, and rails
ing of prices, to permit the possibility Of
thus to prevent. excessive prices.
'AThe power granted to the executive
under the maximum and minimum clause
may be exercised to secure the removal
Of obstacles which have been interposed
by foreign governments in the way OF un-
due and unfair discrimination against
American merchandise and products.
The Payne tariff bill IS the first bill
passed by the Republican party in which
the necessity for reducing rates to avoid
this -axil has been raoognized. and 5t Is
therefore a decided step Tn the right d.
reotion and 1t ought to be accepted as
such. On the whole, 1t was downward
revision, particularly on articles OF necss-
sity and on raw materials.
The charge that the present tariff Ia
responsible for the increase in the prices
Of necessities is demonStrably false, be-
cause the high prices, with very few ex-
oeptions. AFFECT articles in the tarlh upon
which there was no increase in rates OF
in respect to which there was substan-
tial reduction.
Tariff CommISSIon.
Perhaps more important than any one
feature of the operative part of the tarin
law is that section which enables the
executive to appoint tarih commission
for the proper amendment and perfection
Of the law. The difilculty in fixing tn'
proper tariff rates in accord with tne
principle stated in the Repubhean piat'
form is in securing reliable evidence a.
to the difference between the cost OF pro
duction at home and rne cost OF pro
ducfian abroad.
The commission, however, already Sc,
Iected and at work, is a commission OF
disinterested persons who will ascertain
the facts. not In a formal hearing Dy ex'
animation and cross-examinatlon OF VIII
nesses, but by the kind Of invesugeuon
that statisticians and sciel inc lnVeSuBa'
tors use When the commission completes
its work, either on the entire tarin OF OF
any Of the schedules In respect to wnlct
issue has arisen, ana the Work OF tnt
commission shows that the present tari4,
is wrong and should be changed, expec,
TO bring the matter to the attention OF
the congress with a view to its amend,
ment of the tariff in that particular. vi
course, this will be impracticable unless
congress itself shall adopt the parha'
mentary rule. as l hope it will, that
bill to amend one schedule Of the tariii
may not be subject to motion 10 aineh1
by ADDING changes in other schedules
It will thus be possible to take up y
single schedule with respect to which II
is probable that a great majority OF eacn
house will be unprejudiced. to submr the
evidence, and to reach fair conclusion,
For these reasons 1t seems to me tna'
all Republicans-conservative, progressive
and radical-may well abide the situation
with respect to the tariff until evldence
now being accumulated shall JusuIy
changes in the rates: and that II Is M nlucn
better fcr them TO vote for ReouDhcs1s