The San Francisco call., 1910-09-04
Comment on Taft's Work


I was particularly pleased with
what the president said in his
last letter on the subject of the
tariff commission. A number OF
senators and congressman have
for some years advocated this as
the proper method of dealing
with the tariff, and | am glad
that the country seems now to
have definitely awakened to the
idea that a tariff commission Of
fers the only solution of the
problem which is both rational
and insures the absence of job
berry. The president from the be-
ginning advocated this commits
sion.
call your attention to the
fact that the amendment propos-
ing to provide for such a COM
mission in the original bill, when
the tariff bill was under consid-
Grafton in the senate, was intro
duced by your own senator; here
a characteristic act of service to
the people on the senator's part,
and 1 wish to take this oppor-
tunity of saying that throughout
my term as president on every
important question 1t was my
privilege to stand shoulder TO
shoulder with Senator Dolliyer.
Let me add, my friends, that
what l have said of Senator Dol
liver l can also say of your con-
gressman, Mr.. Hubbard. A word
here for my friend, Congressman
Iowa, but from South Dakota. He
also was a man who absolutely
stood by me on every point
throughout my term, and with
whom / was able to work in
hearty sympathy for every pro-
n
these men | found after trying
them out stood without hitching.
Perhaps that simile suits South
Dakota better than Iowa, where
| should say that they never
kicked over the pail.
1t was only by a bitter fight
that the friends of the commits
sion idea in the senate and
house got through the provision.
1t is not yet in satisfactory shape.
The commission itself should be
enlarged and its powers greatly
necessary changes made that will
make its work more effective
from the standpoint both of the
executive and congress. But the
establishment of it makes an eX-
cellent beginning in the right di-
rection. Moreover, the value of
the commission as provided has
been real by the action OIL the
administration in constituting in
broad fashion the law that pro-
vided for it.
There is another feature of the
tariff law which is admirable and
points our course in the right
direction, the maximum and
minimum provision. And here
again / wish to point out that
the value of the provision has
depended largely upon the excel
hxy l,n oil, f,ate
tration in the negotiations with
foreign powers for its applica-
tion, especially the negotiations
with the dominion of Canada,
which were the most difAcult of
all, and yet in my eyes the most
important because | esteem it of
vital consequence that we should
always be on relations of the
highest friendship and good will
with our great and growing
neighbor of the north.
In addition 1t was of very real
present tariff does provide. for
proper treatment of the Philip
pines.
/ believe in such tariff meas
ure Of protection as will equaliZe
the cost of production here and
abroad-that will equalize the la
Dor cost. [ believe in such su-
pervision in the working of the
law as to make certain that the
protected industry gives that diff
ference TO the men that we are
most anxious TO protect-the Ia
boring men-and if / find it is
not given / would take off the
tariff duty on the particular
thing.
/ believe in protection on that
basis as a principle, but when it
is mere tumble of preferences
and privileges, then l am
against it.
Two great railroads are now at
work on piece of construction
work. where [ have no question
that the stock is being honestly
provided for and represents hon
est work, but under the present
system | have reason to believe
that great mass of bonds will
be issued which will represent
in effect a bonus to certain big
men who ought to have some
thing for what they have done.
but who ought not to have any
thing like what they will get.
Under the laws at present we
can not stop it. and instead of
denouncing the big men for what
they have legal right TO do the
wise thing is to give us a power
to prevent the recurrence of such
an abuse. SO in dealing with
everything affecting corporations.