Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-26
TAFT TELLS ST. LOUIS CROWDS
WHY HE KILLED TARIFF BILL
Big Audience in ST. Louis Coliseum Listens Patiently to the
President as He Explains Reasons for the Now Famous
vetoes-He Is Long Ora tory and Has Many Excuses
for His Actions L

fdent Taft delivered the first speech TO
be made west of the Mississippi on his
Is. ooo-mile swing around the circuit"
The president said:
| THE TARIFF BOARD.
My Fellow Citizens: The issue which
has arisen in respect to the wisdom and
propriety of the veto Of the three tariff
bills which passed congress at the last
session and were presented to the ex-
ecutive for signature has brought into
greater prominence than ever before. the
question Of the necessity for tariff
board to advise the executive and con-
gress as to the facts in reference to
the present operation of an existing tar
IN and the future operation OF a pro-
posed tariff
\ The heated discussion that followed the
passage Of the Payne bill developed
among the people OF this country deep
feeling that never again ought tariff Leg
islatfon to be attempted without a fairer
and more impartial investigation than
had been possible under the system
which prevailed in the making OF the
Mckinley bill, the Wilson bill, the Ding
ley bill. and the Payne bill. These bills
were prepared by men OF great ability
and large experience, but they were MEM
bers OF congress. The investigation de-
voted to the work did not exceed more
than a few months, the witnesses who
were called were generally interested in
the matter and prone to give a colored
view OF the facts in reference to the
protection needed, the tariff itself was a
complicated matter, the terms used were
not easily understood. and while the
question was of the utmost Importance
to the people at large the people at
large had little opportunity to know
what the changes were which were be-
ing actually effected and what their oper-
alton would be either upon the industries
protected or upon the cost OF living to
the consuming public
This sense of inadequacy of information
in respect to the operation of tariff
changes naturally reused the business
men OF the country, who could appre-
ciate more than any other class the
possible injury and disturbance of bust
ness by ill-advised legislation, to the
necessity for a reform. An association
was organized among the commercial
bodies OF this country to promote the
passage of a bill providing for a per-
manent tariff commission or board which
should be constantly engaged in the in
vestigation into trade relations, should
have on hand the data from which the
comparative cost of production of dutia-
BILE articles at home and abroad could
gress the revenue-producing capacity of
all rates of duty. and give all the other
facts with reference TO the effect Of the
operation of the tariff which congress
ought to know in determining whether
changes were needed or not and in de-
termining how best taxes might be re-
duced If there was surplus or how
best they might be Increased If there was
deficit
APPOINTED A BOARD.
Through a provision in the Payne bill.
was able to appoint board of three.
and with appropriations furnished by
congress to direct them to make a CLOS
sary of the tariff. or an encyclopedia. by
which any layman might inform himself
as to the meaning of the terms in the
tariff and as to the actual ad valorem
rates imposed. although specific rates
were provided. and all the other facts
enabling one to take up tariff and I'M
diligently to study its meaning.
The movement for the permanent or
ganization of a tariff commission. after
the passage OF a bill for that purpose
was put through both houses, failed by
reason of a flibuster and the shortness
Of the last session of the 61st congress.
Sufficient money was given me, however,
to continue the board which I had al
ready appointed. 1 increased its member
partisan board, and I directed IL to do
the work that the bin which failed had
prescribed for the permanent tariff board
/ to be appointed hereunder. At the in
stance of a Democratic. senator. the
permanent tariff board. in an appropria-
ton bin which is now law, was directed
II established. 20 make report on sched-
ule K on the LIST of December next. I
issued an order TO the tariff board. new
ly constituted. to prepare a report on
schedule X and schedule /. the wooden
and the cotton schedules. by that date,
which bring in the reports at the open
ing OF the regular session of congress-
In order to secure an adoption of the
Canadian reciprocity treaty 1 called a
special session to discharge the promise
I had made TO the Canadian authorities.
At this special session the three tariff
bills were passed which vetoed, and
vetoed them chiefly on the ground
that no time had been taken to inves-
tiga1e the effect Of the changes which
were proposed and that they ought to
await the coming I'm OF the report in De-
cember. when we should have full infor-
nation at least on the question OF wool
and woolens and cotton manufactures.
There were other grounds for withhold
ing my approval from the bills, which
are set forth in the messages, but for
the present I do not wish to consider
them. i am anxious here to bring for
ward the issue as to the necessity for a
tariff board TO advise congress of the
facts in respect 10 dutiable articles and
the operation Of a tariff before it shall
be adopted into law.
II has been said that the tariff board
is a mere pretext, that it is a board or
my hirelings and clerks, and that II Is
absurd for me to delay congress in the
enactment of that which is its highest
privilege-to wit, revenue measures
until I can secure, through an agency
OF mine, information as to the wisdom
OF the proposed bills.
My exercise of the veto power at all
is severely criticized as a remnant OF
the royal prerogative and my attitude
is compared to that of George III. or
course I understand that these periods
Of rhetoric are usual under such cir
cumstances, and / do not find myself
greatly troubled by them when callea
upon to exercise a clearly imposed con-
stitutional function.
The constitution Of the United States