The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-21
In a Speech Delivered Today at
Grand Rapids, Mich.
HE HAD THE BACKING
Of the Republicans in 2S States
He Declares.
These Passed Resolutions En-
dOrsfng Tariff Board Idea.

Grand Rapids Sept. 21.-PreSident
Taft made his first speech OF his west
ern trip on the tariff and his vetoes OF
the wool. cotton and farmers free list
bills here today. The president at
tackled the Democrats and insurrent
Republicans in the senate and house
who put those bills through congress
at the special session. defended his
own course in vetoing them and de-
clared that he was unalterably opposed
TO revision of the tariff except on in
formation secured by the tariff board.
He defined clearly his own position
with regard to tarif revision and made
1t plain that even If political defeat
stared him in the face he would not
alter his policy. The president pre-
dicted that revising the tarin with
blacksmith tools such as he said the
coalition OF Democrats and insurrenfs
used will lead inevitably to a revulsion
of feeling and a recurrence of the
higher rates and the "old system OF
high tariff" His speech follows.
My Fellow Citizens: I am going to
tell you in as simple a way as I can.
why vetoed the three tariff bills which
congress submitted to me for signature
at the close of this extra session.
called the session to secure the enact
ment in law of the Canadian reciprocity
treaty. This was done on July p.
Thereafter. the wool bill. the free list
bill, and the cotton bill were presented
to me for signature. and returned
them. without my approval. and cx-
planned my reasons for SO doing IN q
special message on each bill
What I say here win be in large part
a resume Of those messages. with some
additional suggestions that the less
formal character of this address per-
mits. am not going to discuss the
Payne bill except to say that the con-
troversy over its merits and demerits
developed a very strong sentiment
among Republicans. and. indeed.
among many Democrats. that a bureau
or commission or board Of competent
persons should be constituted 70 make
investigation into the facts concerning
the dutiable articles in the tarid, and
to report them in such a way that con-
gress and the public might be reliably
advised OF the probable effect OF any
proposed revision OF the tariff in tho
future. It was properly felt that even
when full opportunity for hearings
were given as they had been by. the
committees Of the house and the SEN
ate, in the case OF the Payne bill. the
advocates Of the protected interests
would have the advantage over the
consuming public, who would not or
ganize to secure and present the evil
dence in their behalf for lower duties
needed to secure a just judgment. Tha
Payne bill offered an opportunity 10
me to appoint a board OF competent
persons to assist me in the administra-
tion of the revenue laws and especially
of the maximum and minimum clause
of that act: and the revenue laws were
of sufficient latitude to enable me 70
direct this board to make a GLOSSARY
of the tariff terms and a kind OF ency-
clopedia which would furnish a guide
to the understanding Of the tariff, and
also TO proceed TO determine the com
parative difference between the cost OF
production OF dutiable articles under
the various tariff schedules in this
country and abroad
At the extra session OF 1909, congress
had given me $4,000 which I could
spend for this purpose; at the regular
session of the same congress. the Sixty
first. the appropriation was enlarged
to $3.50, 900. to cover expenses down u
July l. 1911. Meantime. the movement
for a permanent tariff commission or
board to effect these general purposes
acquired great momentum Business
associations the country over united to
form a special society for the promo
tion of such legislation. and the cam
paign for IL was carried on with both
houses OF congress. ] gave the project
as strong support as possible. and made
number Of public addresses in sup
port Of II, and sent a specific recon-
mendation Of the plan in a congres-
sional message. The Republican con-
ventions of % states adopted resolu-
tions strongly advocating a statutory
tariff commission, and deprecatfne~ any
future revision until needed evidence
had been gathered and impartial cen
ciusions drawn as TO the facts urJon
which such revision could be properly
made. I quote the resolutions from
Ohio. New York. Wisconsin, Iowa. and
Kansas.
Quotes the Resolutions
Ohio-"Recognizing inequalities due to
changing conditions or that otherwise
may be found to exist, congress hos
provided a tariff board. with an ample
appropriation. for the Investigation OF
the differences in the cost OF production
at home and abroad. 50 that A. any
rates are found to be higher than
necessary to afford labor a high wage
and capital a fair return, those rates
will be reduced"
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