The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1910-12-09
TAFT'S MESSAGE
Continued from page 81

safe are uITecIeu 10 I've open 10 tue IN
spectiOn aud examination Of creditors
and stockholders Of the corporation
whose record is sought. The returns
Of all corporations are subject to the
inspection Of any government officer or
to the examination Of any court. In
which the return made by the corpora.
ton is relevant and competent evi.
dence.
The Payne Tariff Act.
The schedules of the rates Of duty
in the Payne tariff act have been sub
jected to 4 great deal of criticism.
some Of 1t just. more of II unfounded,
and to much misrepresentation. The
act was adopted in pursuance of a
declaration by the party which Is re
spOnsible for II that customs bill
should be tariff for the protection
Of home industries. the measure Of the
protection to be the difference between
the cost Of producing the imported ar
ticle abroad and the cost of producing
1t at home, together with such addi
ton to that difference as might give
a reasonable profit to the home pro.
Queer.
The basis for the criticism Of this
tariff is that in respect to number
Of the schedules the declared measure
was not followed. but a higher differ.
ence retained or inserted by way Of
undue Discrimination In favor of Ger
tain industries and manufactures
Little. If any. Of the criticism Of the
tariff has been directed against the
protective principle above stated. but
the main body of the criticism has been
based on the charge that the attempt
to conform to the measure Of protec
ton was not honestly and sincerely ad
hered to.
Tariff Board.
The time IN which the tariff was pre-.
pared undoubtedly was 50 short az to
make 1t impossible for the congress
and its experts to acquire the inforna
ton necessary strictly to conform to
the declared measure In order to avoid
criticism Of this kind In the future and
for the purpose Of more nearly conform
ing to the party promise congress at Its
last session made provision ut my re-
quest for the continuance Of board ere
ated under the authority Of the maxi
mum and minimum clause Of the tariff
bill and authorized this board to expend
the money appropria ted under my d.
rectiOn for the entertainment Of the
cost Of production at home and abroad
Of the various articles included 10 the
schedules Of the tariff. The tariff
board thus appointed and authorized
has been diligent in preparing itself for
the necessary invest igations. The hope
Of those who have advocated the use
Of this board for tariff purposes is that
the question OF the rate OF duty Inn
posed shall become more Of business
question and less OF political Ques'
ion, TO be ascertained by experts OF
ong training and accurate knowledge
The halt In business. and the shock to
business due to the announcement that
new tariff bill is TO he prepared and
)ut In operation will be avoided by
reating the schedules one by one as
occasion shall arise for change In the
ates Of each and only after a report
lpOn the schedule by the tariff board
to make such report.
II is not likely that the board will be
lble to make u report during the pres
mt session Of congfess on any of the
because d proper examina.
ion involves an enormous amount of
letail and great. deal Of care. but |
lOpe to be able at the opening Of the
lew congress. or at least during the
ession OF that congress. to bring to
is attention the facts In regard to
hose schedules Ain the present tariff
hat may prove to need amendment.
The carrying out Of this plan. of
curse, involves the full cooperation
4 congress In limiting the cOnsidera
ion In tariff matters to one schedule
t time, because II proposed amend
nent to a tariff bill il to involve d
omplete consideration of all the
chcducs and another revision then
70 shall only repeat the evil from
Vhich the business Of this country has
, times past suffered most grievously
y stagnation and uncertainty. pend
lg a resettlement Of a law affecting
u business directly or indirectly. and
he effect Of which no wise business
IAN would ignore In new projects and
ew investments.
The inquiries which the members OF
he tariff board made during the lust
lmmer into the methods pursued by
thcr governments with reference to
ne fixing of tariffs and the deterlnina.
on OF their effect upon trade show
nat each government maintains an Of.
CO or bureau. the officers and en-.
lOyeos OF which have made their life
'Ork the study OF tariff matters. OF