Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-29

thousands Of articles could not be ex-
pected. 1t suffices to say that except with
regard to whisky, liquors and wines. and
in regard to silks and as to some high
classes Of cottons-ail of which may be
treated as luxuries and proper subjects OF
a revenue tarif-there have been very few
increases in rates. There have been q
great number Of real decreases In rates,
and they constitute a sufficient amount to
justify the statement that this bill Is a
substantial downward revision. and a re-
duction Of excessive rates. This Is not a
free-trade bill. 1t was not intended to be.
The republican party did not promise to
make a free-trade bill. 1t promised to
them when they exceeded the difference
between the cost of production abroad and
here, making allowance for the greater
normal profit on active investments here.
I believe that while this excess has not
been reduced in a number of cases. In a
great majority the rates are such as are
necessary to protect American industries.
but are low enough. in case of abnormal
increase of demand. and raising Of prices.
to permit the possibility of the importa-
ton Of the foreign article and thus to pre-
vent excessive prices
Power Of the Executive.
THE 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
undue and unfair discrimination against
American merchandise and products.
THE Philippine tariff section ! have
struggled TO secure for ten years last
past, and II gratifies me exceedingly by
my signature to give II the effect of law.
am sure II viii greatly Increase the
trade between the two countries. and it
viii do much to build up the Philippines
in healthful prosperity.
THE administrative clauses OF the bill
and the customs court are admirably
adapted to secure a more uniform and a
more speedy final construction of the
meaning of the law.
THE authority to the President to use
agents to assist him in the application of
the maximum and minimum section of
the statute. and to enable officials to ad-
minister the law, gives a wide latitude
for the acquisition, under circumstances
favorable to its truth, of information in
respect to the price and cost of produc-
ton OF goods at home and abroad, which
will throw much light on the operation Of
the present tariff and be of primary i'm
portance as officially collected data upon
which future executive action and
executive recommendations may be based.
THE corporation tax Is a just and
equitable excise measure. which IL Is
hoped will produce a sufhcient amount to
prevent a deficit and which incidentally
formation concerning the many corpora
tions of the country, and will constitute
an important step toward that degree Of
publicity and regulation which the tend
ency In corporate enterprises in the last
twenty years has shown to be necessary"
Criticisms Of the Bill.
This fairly states the effect OF the bill
The bill has been criticised for certain Of
It's rates and schedules. Some of the criti-
cisms are just and some are wide Of the
mark and most unjust.
The truth Is that under the old pro-
tective idea the only purpose was to make
the tariff high enough TO protect the home
industry. The excess of the tariff over
the difference in cost Of production here
and abroad was not regarded as objec-
tionable because II was supposed that
competition between those who enjoyed
the high protection would keep the price
for the consumer down to what was rea-
sonable for the manufacturer. The evil
OF excessive tarfn rates, however showed
itself in the temptation of manufacture
ems 10 combine and suppress competition.
and then to maintain the prices so as to
take advantage of the excess of the tariff
RATE over the difference between the cost
OF production abroad and here.
Step In Right Direction.
The Payne tariff bill Is the first bill
passed by the republican party In which
the necessity for reducing rates to avoid
this evil has been recognized. and IL rs
therefore a decided step in the right d.
rection. and 1t ought to be accepted as
such. On the whole. It was a downward
revision. particularly on articles OF neces-
sity and on raw materials. The actual
figures on the first years operation of the
law demonstrate this. 1t must also be
remembered that the tariff rates in the
| new law on imported liquors. wines and
silks were increased substantially over
the Dingley rates, because these were lux
| uries. and IL was intended TO increase the
revenue.
The charge that the present tariff is re-
| sponsible for the increase in the prices Of
| necessities is demonstrably false, because
| the high prices. with very few exceptions
affect articles in the tariff upon which
there was no increase in rates or in re-
spect TO which there was a substantial
4 rcI.