The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-25

business men OF the country, VINO
could appreciate more than any other
class the possible injury and distur-
bance Of business by ill-advised leg
isiation, to the necessity for a reform.
An association was organized among
the commercial bodies OF this country
to promote the passage Of a bill pro-
viding for a permanent tariff commis-
sion or board which should be con-
stantly engaged In the investigation
into trade relations, should have on
hand the data from which the com
parative cost of production Of dutia-
Bile articles at home and abroad could
be promptly stated, could furnish to
congress the revenue producing ca
pacity 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 de-
termining whether changes were
needed or not and In determining
how best taxes might be reduced If
there was a surplus or how best they
might be increased II there was a de-
felt.
Through a provision Of the Payne
bill, was able to appoint a board OF
NANtNSs anu WALL
ished by congress to direct them to
make a glossary of the tariff. or an
encyclopedias, by which any layman
might inform himself as to the mean
ing Of the terms in the tariff and as to
the actual ad valorem rates imposed,
although special rates were provided,
and all the other facts enabling one
to take up tariff and intelligently
to study its meaning.
The movement for the permanent
organization OF a tariff commission,
after the passage of bill for that
purpose was pitt through both houses,
failed by reason OF q flibuster and
the shortness OF the last session OF
the sixty-first congress. Sufficient
money was given me, however, to con-
tinue the board which I had already
appointed I increased its member
ship by two, in order to make It q
non partisan board, and I directed 1t
to do the work that the bin which
failed had prescribed for the perman-
nent tariff board to be appointed
hereunder At the instance Of q
democratic senator, the permanent
tariff board, in an Appropriation bill
which is now law, was directed If es-
tablished, to make report on sched-
ule X on the first Of December next.
issued an order to the tariff board
newly constituted, to prepare a report
on shedule X and schedule !, the wool
en- and the cotton schedule ], the WOOL
date, which brings In the reports at
the opening of the regular session Of
congress.
Reasons for Veto.
In order to secure an adoption of the
Canadian reciprocity treaty l called a
special session to discharge the PROM
lse / had made TO the Canadian au-
thorities. At this special session the
three tariff bills were passed which L
vetoed, and vetoed them chiefly on
the ground that no time had been TAX
en- to investigate the effect Of the
changes which were proposed and
that they ought to await the coming
In Of the report in December, when we
on the question Of wool and woolens
and cotton manufactures. There were
other grounds for Withholding my APP
prevail from the bills, which are set
forth in the messages, but for the
present I do not wish to consider
them. am anxious here TO bring
forward the issue as to the necessity
For tariff board to advise congress
81 the facts in respect to dutiable ar
ticles and the operation Of a tariff be-
fore 1t shall be adopted into law.
1t has been said that the tariff board
Is mere pretext, that II is a board of
my hirelings and clerks, and that it is
absurd for me to delay congress in
the enactment Of that which is its
highest privilege - to-wit, revenue
can secure, through
an agency Of mine, information as to
the wisdom Of the proposed bills.
Ny exercise of the veto power at all
Is severely criticized as a remnant Of
the royal prerogative and my attitude
s compared to that of George III.
OF course understand that these per-
ods OF rhetoric are usually under such
and do not find my
self greatly troubled by them when
called upon to exercise a clearly i'm
posed constitutional function.
The constitution of the United
States says that
Every bill which shall have passed
the house OF representatives and the
senate shall, before 1t becomes a law,
be presented to the president of the
United States; IL ne approve he shall
sign it, but If not he shall return it,
with his objections, to that house In
which 1t shall have originated, who
shall enter the objections at large on
their journal and proceed to recon
slider it.
Disapproved Them.
I did disapprove these bills, and /
therefore withheld my signature, fol-
owing exactly the injunction OF the
The truth is. that in
strument makes the president part of
the legislative power in the enact
nent OF bills. could not avoid the
responsibility, and having the respon-
sibility, / must meet it and exercise
he function imposed on me In accord
lnce with my best ability. did not |
EEL that the information was at hand, |
either for the use OF congress or my |
'eh, upon which the bills prepared |
ought to have been passed. The mere |
act that In the case OF certain sched- |
Hes there ought to be reductions was
lot sufficient reason for making any
lind OF a reduction. Revenue meas
lres Of this sort. in which the pro-
.ective principle has heretofore been
and enforced, have direct |
bearing upon the business and pros
perity Of the country, and substan-
tial change in the rates ought not to
be made without an earnest inquiry
as to the effect that may be had upon
The industries affected. The reform
aimed at in the organization OF the
tariff board for the purpose of max