Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-24
REVISE TARIFF
GRADUALLY IS
BOUTELL PLAN
ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN FAvoRs
NEW RULE IN CONGRESS THAT
WOULD PERMIT REVISION OF
SCHEDULE WHEN NEEDED.

WOULD PERMIT REVISION OF
SCHEDULE WHEN NEEDED.
Detroit, Mich, May 23.-Removal Of
the tariff from the domain of partisan
politics was urged by Representative
Henry S. Boutell in speech delivered
here today at luncheon given at the
Bankers club.
Mr.. Boutell spoke in support of the
item III the Sundry Civil Appropria-
ton bill appropriating $250,000 for Sc
curing information bearing upon the
tariff and outlined the change in the
parliamentary procedure in congress
that must be made by joint rule be-
fore it will be possible to make
specific changes in the tariff.
Every one must concede," said Mr.
Boutell, "that, judged solely as a
revenue increase, the Payne tariff
act, has justified the opinion OF
President Taft that it is the best
tariff law that has ever been passed.
"The charge that the Payne tariff
has been the cause of the increased
cost Of living is found on investiga-
ton to be without the slightest foun-
dation. There is not in the Payne
tariff any advance in rates above the
rates in the Dingley tariff that justi-
fies the increase in final retail price
to the ultimate consumption of sin
gle necessary article Of food, clothing
or household use. Notwithstanding
this, some unscrupulous dealers have
put up the prices of their goods, giving
the Payne tariff as the necessity for
the advance.
"The Payne law is the most log
ically constructed and scientific
tariff that we have had It is well
adapted to serve as permanent gen
eral revenue statute that shall De
amended from time to time to meet
the exigencies of the treasury, and
conform to industrial changes
Would Revise Tariff Gradually.
eve ought now to do away with
political tariff revisions with their ac-
companying upheavals in the bust
ness world and inaugurate system of
tariff development by way of natural
growth. In other words, we should
from now on revise the tariff grad
ually by scientific business methods.
This cannot be done and ought not TO
be attempted by tariff commission.
The idea of tariff commission au-
thorized to report rates OF duty vio-
lates the spirit of that clause of the
constitution of the United States
which provides that all bilsl for rails
ing revenue shall originate in the
house Of representatives. An execu-
tive tariff commission vested with
power to recommend rates might and
frequently would be in open conflict
with the house of representatives.
Such situation would be intolerable
and the possible creation of such a
situation Is not to be thought Of.
"An executive tariff bureau could ac-
complish nothing in the way of collect
ing facts that cannot be done by the
existing departments under direction
of the president with ample appropria-
tions in accordance with the congress
sional authority. But the suggestion
and adoption of specific duties and
taxes always have been and always
must be solely a legislative function.
Even If a tariff commission should be
created and should recommend
changes in rates of duty, it's recon-
mendations would be abortive under
the present legislative procedure IN
congress.
New Rule Needed.
"1n order to replace the present
unsatisfactory method, two things are
necessary. The first requisite is up-to-
date information, the fullest and most
searching, on every subject related to
the tariff This information should he
gathered through the various depart
ment and by specially trained experts
under the direction of the president
and should be transmitted as rapidly
as secured to the house Of represen-
tatives.
.sWhen this information disclosed a
defect in the tariff tie information
would be like vast, complicated ma
chine, that no one could start, because
the lever for setting it in motion
could not be found. In the house OF
representatives an amendment to a
paragraph Of the tariff might be con-
Sidered without opening up the whole
tariff but under present rules such q
bill in the senate could be amended
without limit.
.'The second requisite therefore for
scientific tariff adjustment, the means
Of making information fruitful, the
lever for starting the engine, is a
Joint rule Of the two houses of con-
gress whereby paragraph of reve-
nue. law can be amended without open
ing up for consideration any other por-
ton of the law. The rule should pro-
vide that when the ways and means
committee reports bill to alter a
paragraph of a revenue law, no amend
ment to the bill that is not germane
to the paragraph shall be in order"
Chinese Loan Negotiated.
London, May 23.-It Is reported in
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