The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-10-19
TARIFF BOARDS ]
funds ARE Low
lis Expenses Amount to $685.
600 a Month.
May LIMIT INVESTIGATION.

Probably Will Not Get Beyond Wool
and Cotton Schedules-No Additional
Appropriation Likely From the Pres
ent Congress.
The tariff board, organized for OBJ
tanning the scientific data upon which |
President Taft proposes to reduce the |
customs duties, assuming that the |
board finds that duties can be reduced, |
is running short of funds and may not |
have more than enough money to CON-
plete full investigation and report of
two schedules Of the existing tariff |
law. These schedules, however, are
of vast Importance, being those deal
ing with wool and cotton.
Congress appropriated for the ex-
penses Of the board for the present
fiscal year, ending June 80 next, $685.
900, and authorized the use Of the un-
expended balance from the last fiscal
year, close to $4,000 giving total Of
nearly $275,000 for the important work
in hand.
In his veto of the wool and cotton
bills President Taft promised congress
that he would be able to present to
that body at the coming session of
congress valuable data, scientifically
secured, upon which revision could
be made, not only with safety to the
manufacturing and business interests
Of the country, but with benefit to the
masses of the people. This data is in
tended to show the difference in cost
Of production of given articles abroad
and at home, the object Of the presi-
dent being to establish the duties upon
these articles at figure that will pro-
tect the American manufacturer and
laborer against the cheap labor Of for
eign countries, but at the same time
will remove the excessive protection
| it Is claimed now exists to the detri-
| ment Of the American consumer.
May Have to CurtaiI Work.
1t had been the purpose Of the board
| and the president to complete the re-
| ports upon wool and cotton by the
beginning Of the session and then has
ten the work upon the steel, iron and
| iron ore schedule, so that congress
| would have that also in time to act
before adjournment next year.
| It now looks as if the board will not
have the money to finish the steel and
iron investigations and make a repa<t
so that congress can act, If it should
have the slightest desire to act upon
that report. By reason Of the stead
lily decreasing supply Of money the
board has decided to concentrate its
work upon wool and cotton, partly
setting aside the other investigation
until it is ascertained what money
will be left. 1t is already known that
the amount will be comparatively
small, and it is certain that there Will
be no funds for going into otheT SEIZED
ules in complete way.
The board is now spending 5000
month in its work. having large
number Of men in the field. whose
salaries and expenses; together with
those Of the beard members and the
clerks, have to be paid out of the al
lotted sum.
limit to Tariff Legislation.
If President Taft should persist in
vetoinG all tariff bills Of the next SEES
sion OF congress, except those based
upon tariff board reports, the situation
is such as to- limit tariff Legislation
|,next winter to- wool and COTTON. moth
ling else having a chance. 1T is nov
understood that President Taft will
confine his energies to attempting t.
force revision in these two schedule
and that he will not consent t.
placing before congress partially com
pleted reports on other schedules. Hi
arguments have been that the Demo
| cratic and fnsurgent revision at tn
last congress was guesswGFk, pure an
simple, and the same would be trr
of a revision based upon partial IT
, ports by the tariff board. Consequen
" the big fight will be over wool 81
cotton. with the president stan&fn
q ready to veto all other bills and for
o. ing revision in these two sche9al'
+ only.
The Democratic honse will not gi'
: the tariff board any money for the f
cal year beginning July /, 1912. and
I will probably never get another penn
unless the voters i'm November Of ne
9 year reflect President Taft and sho
e. their approval Of ibis proposition f
h. tariff revision fallowing the possessi
of data secured in an alleged scienti
manner. If the Democrats win IL
4. presidential Eight they are likely
Il carry on tariff revision by the old S.
TEN, through the ways and means a
re finance committees OF house and 81
TX ate, respectively.
ed New Life Preserver.
o. A new life preserver which has bt
IT. successfully tried may be introdut
is into the German navy. The apparat
ed which weighs five and a half poun
20 $~>o> H.,