The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-12-06

Of the schedules the declared measure
was not followed, but 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 ans sincerely ad-
hered to.
Tariff Boa~8
The timeoin which The @e@iff Gas WSe-
pared undoubtedly was so shoe a. o.
make it impossible foe Che congress-
and its experts 60 acqu@e the inforna
ton necessary @trictly o. conform 60
the declared measure On Greer o. avoiS
criticism of this kin0 in Che Culture an0
@or che purpose 90 more Oearl9 conform
ing to Ole party promise congress at its
last session made Mroy4sAon 90 my @a-
! quest fOrDhe continuance of o board ere
ate@ 0nder che authorize of Che maxi
mum ana minimuT0 clause of the tariff
d bill an6 authorized this board to expene
the money Appropriated under my dt-
rectioB @Or Che ascertainment OF 0he
cost of production at come an@ abroaA
op the various articles GhcludeA in the
schedules of Che Oriff. Whe 0ariff
boar& 4hus appoinSeW ana authorizes
has been diligene in preparing itself for
the necessary Investigations 8he aope
Of chose whe have adsocate@ che use
of this boar3 for aariff purposes Is Ghas
the question of che cate of o duty en-
posed shall become more o4 a Business
question and less of 0 Uolitical ques-
ton, to be ascertaine1 By experts %
long training and accurate knowledge.
The halt in business an@ che shock to
business due to the announcement that
new tariff bill is to be prepared and
put in operation will @e avoided by
treating the schedules one by one as
occasion shall arise for a change In the
rates Of each and only after report
upon the schedule by the tariff board
competent to make such report.
II ID AlUl ILhSIy LhAL l1C DONAN NiAI DS
able to make a report during the pres.
ent session of congress on any of the
| schedules, because proper examina-
ton involves an enormous amount Of
detail and a great deal of care, but
hope to be able at the opening of the
new congress, or at least during the
session of that congress, to bring to
it's attention the facts In regard to
those schedules in the present tariff
that may prove to need amendment.
The carrying out of this plan, Of
course, involves the full cooperation
Of congress in limiting the considera-
ton in tariff matters to one schedule
at time, because If a proposed amend
ment to a tariff bill is to involve
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 grievously
by stagnation and uncertainty, pend
ing a resettlement of a law affecting
all business directly or indirectly, and
the effect of which no wise business
man would ignore in new projects and
new 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
/ fee or bureau, the officers and en-
ployees of which have made their life
work the study of tariff matters, of
foreign and home prices and cost of
articles imported and the effect of the
tariff upon trade, so that whenever
change is thought to be necessary in
the tariff law this Office is the source
of the most reliable information as to
the propriety of the change and its eff
feet
/ am strongly convinced that we
need in this government just such an
Office and that It can be secured by
| making the tariff board already ap-
pointed permanent tariff commission
with such duties, powers and emolu-
ments as it may seem wise to congress
to give. 1t has been proposed to en-
large the board from three to five. The
present number is convenient, but
do not know that an increase of two
members would be Objectionable.
i I recommend that congress establish
commission to determine as early as
practicable comprehensive policy for
the organization, mobilization and adj
ministration Of the regular army, the
organized militia and the volunteer
forces in tho event of war.
Need For Additional Officers.
One of the great difficulties in the
prompt organization and mobilization
of militia and volunteer forces is 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 taking
care of themselves so as to render eff
fective service. This need of army
officers can only be supplied by pro-