Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1911-12-07
TAFT REVIEWS HIS ADMINISTRATION

First, Mr.. MacVeagh wrote to
friends in leading universities, asking
each to give me a list of the econo-
mists considered by them best e.
quipped for the task in hand. Pro-
fessor Emery's name was on all the
lists and at the top of half of them,
so I made him chairman of the
board. Page comes from the Uni
versity of Virginia.; Sanders is an au-
thority on agriculture; Reynolds, in
interpreting and enforcing the tariff
laws for four years, had presuma-
bly, learned the ins and outs of that
business; and Howard I regarded as
the ablest southern representative in
congress in my day. These men
made no pretense of being tariff ex-
perts; they employ all the expert
help they need.
"I fully realize, and I wish our
people would that the present pros
perity of the treasury is due in no
small measure to the existing tariff,
which, Notwithstanding all its faults,
is revenue producer. There is a
good deal more that can be said for
that act. 1t gave us maximum and
minimum tariff proviso which I deem
of the highest Importance, and which
tended to increase our foreign trade
substantially. It gave us free trade
with the Philippines, which has made
the islands more prosperous than ev-
Ell in their history, without injury
to any American industry. 1t gave
authority that I used to create and
appoint a tariff board, which, tho
not the commission I sought, is do
ing a most useful work; and it i'm
posed a corporation tax on which 1
had set my heart, but which at
times despaired of getting through"
| 1'Now that you have launched your
project for a constitutional amend
ment, you probably have in mind
some particular form of general in
come tax to recommend to congress
when it is free to act?"
''In way, yes, believe, on prin-
ciple, in a general income tax. The
only good arguments against 1t are
that it is inquistorial, and that it Of
fers a temptation to perjury. But l
would not resort to the ordinary in
come tax except in an emergency
like war when would have it grad
uated so that those citizens who had
most at stake should bear cores
pondingly large share of the burden
of the common defense. In time of
peace would avoid temptation to
perjury and would confine the gov
ernment to taxes that do not involve
such inquisitorial methods in their
collection"
"Mr. President, suppose you have
noticed Mr.. Bryan's comments on
your appointment of Chief Justice
White?''
cal that I have to say about my
, judicial appointments is that I have
regarded my duty in respect to them
as the most sacred with which I am
charged, and that have spared no
effort to secure for the supreme court
and other courts the best men
could get, with the fullest apprecia-
tion of the fact that the federal
counts, and especially the supreme
court, constitute the chief bulwark
of the institutions of civil liberty
created by the constitution"
"Now, Mr.. President, something
of the future. What do you pur-
pose treating as your calendar of
unfinished business for the rest Of
your term?"
''In the domestic field, suppose
reductions in the woolen and cotton
schedules, and possibly In the metal
schedule of the tariff, will go to the
top of the calendar. These will
be founded, as far as my rec
concentrations are concerned, on the
report of the tariff board. have
i heard it insinuated that congress
will not heed the suggestions of an
executive board. AS to that I have
no means Of Judging in advance.
What I shall do is to put the whole