Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-12-08

cost Of production at home ana abroad
of the various articles included In the
schedules Of the tariff. The tariff
board thus appointed and authorised
has been dllisent In preparing itself for
tho necessary Investigations. The hope
Of those who have advocated the use
Of this board for thrift purposes is TINT
the question Of the ratio Of q duty i'm.
posed shall become more OF business
question and less Of political ques.
ton, to be asccrtniDed by experts Of
long training and accurate knowledge.
The halt In business and the shock to
business due to the announcement that
q new tariff bill Is to be prepared ana
put In operation will DO avoided by
treating the schedules one by one AZ
occasion shall arise for "A change In the
rates Of each aud only after report
upon the schedule by the tariff board
competent to make such report
II Is not likely that the board will be
able to make report during the pres
ent session Of congress on any OF the
schedules, because proper examna-
ton involves an enormous amount OF
detail and n great deal Of care. but
hope to be able at the opening Of tho
new congress, or at least during tho
session Of that congress-. to bring to
fits attention the facts in regard TO
those schedules IN the present tariff
that may prove to need amendment.
Tho carrying out of this plum, Of
course. involves the full cooperation
of congress in limiting the considcra.
ton in tariff matters to one schedule
Mt time. because If proposed amend
rnent 10 a tstiff hin is to involve a
complete consideration Of all the
schedules and another revision then
we shall only repeat the evil from
which the business Of this country has
in times past suffered most grievouslv
by stagnntion and uncertainty, pend.
Ing reSettle,nrnt of law affecting
al business directly or indirectly, and
the effect of which no wise business
man would ignore in new projects and
now Investments.
The Inquiries which the members Of
the tariff board made during the last
summer into the methods pursued BY
other governments with reference to
the fixing of tariffs and the determine
ton of their effect upon trade show
that each government maintains an Of
iice or bureau, he officers and ON
| ployces OF which have made their life
work the study of tariff matters of
fnr o
articles imported and the effect OF the
! tariff upon trade, so that whenever q
change IS thought to he necessary in
the tariff law this Office is the source
| Of the most relia Bile information ms to
the proprietv of the change and its er-
feet
am strongly convinced that we
need in this government just such an
! office and that It can he secured by
making the tariff board already up.
pointed n permanent tariff commission,
with such duties, powers and emou-
ments as 1t may seem wise to congress
to give. II has been proposed to en-
large the board from three to FIVE. The
present number is convenient, but l
do not know that m increase Of two
members would be OBJECTIONABLE
recommend that congress establish
a commission to determine as early as
practicable comprehensive policy for
the organization, mobiliza ton and nd
ministraton Of the regular army, the
organized militia and the volunteer
forces in the event Of war.
Need For Additional Officers.
One of the great difficulties In the
prompt organization and mobiliza ton
Of militia and volunteer forces IL the
absence Of competent officers OF the
rank Of captain to teach the new army,
by the unit Of the company, the bust.
ness OF being soldiers and Of linking
care Of themselves so as TO render ef-
fecttve service. This need Of army
officers can only be supplied by pro-
visions Of law authorizing the appoint
ment Of a greater number of army Of
hcers than are needed to supply the
commands of regular army troops now
enlisted In the service.
In order that the militia Of each
state should be properly drilled and
mado more like the regular army, reg,
ulnr army onacers should be detailed
to asaist the adiutant general Of each
state In the supervision Of the state
militia. But this Is Impossible unless
provision IS rade by CO y 50 for a
very considerable Increase I'll the mum.
her Of company and field officers Of
the array.
fortftlea.:ona
| | have directed that tho estimate,
for appropriation for the improvemen,
Of eosat defensea Il. the United States
should Re redM nj 20 minimum
while those for the eonpietion IF the
needed foPtifcatieas 81 Carre ytdor, In
the Philippine Islands, and at Pearl
Harbor. In the Hawaiian Isla mis-
should be expedited as much as posi-
BILE.
Philippine islands.
During the last summer at my re
quest tn. secretary Of war visited the
Philippine islands and has described
bis trip IN his report. He found the
islands in state OF tranquility and
growing prosperity, due largely to the
change IN the tariff laws which hns
opened the markets of America to the
products of the Philippines and has
opened the Philippine markets to
American manufactures.
Panama Canal.
A. tho ipetonee 30 C,oIoro, OosXA.,.