The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-20
TARIFF REVISION.

To revise or not to revise the tariff during the
extra session. that is the question before the
Democratic leaders in Congress, There is some
difference of opinion between them and President
Taft on this score. The Democrats will probably
compromise by revising.
There can be no doub, that revision OF the
outrageous Payne-Aldrich tariff measure is I'M
peratiye Even President Taft and the people
admit il The present Chief Executive was elect
ed as much on the strength of his campaign
promise to revise the tariff schedules during his
administration as anything else. The si&ty-hrst
Congress did revise the tariff but it would have
been better had the schedules been left un'
touched
After the Payne Aldrich monster had received
the finishing touches from the hands OF Congress
an unsophistica,ed judicial President and cred
uious people learned that revision can work two
ways President Taft. it will be remembered,
signed the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill. not because
he believed IL fulfilled the Republican party
pledges to the electorate but because he regard
ed it as the best he could get from the sixtyfrst
Congress. He must have known that it would so
infame the people that they would repudiate the
trainers of it. and elect men who would revise the
tariff downward
II this was Mr.. Tafts belief and motive in
signing the PayneAldrich measure, it has most
certainly come true, and there is now in Con
gress majority which must heed the public will
and clamor for surcease from oppressive tariff
schedules If ii wishes to remain a majority.
There are two ways to go about tariff revision,
a right and a wrong way The Republicans
chose the wrong way hence the landslide in
the Democrats favor last fall The Democrats
are now giving the most serious thought and ear
nest consideration to tariff revision. There can
be no doubt that downward revision Of the tar
i'll by the Democrats would make the presidential
prospects OF the party next year almost certain
of fruit 1t is the desire of some OF the Demo
cratic leaders to begin working on the tariff as
early as possible, that the already favorable i'm
nresson prevailing may be made the stronger.
President Taft, while realizing the necessity
for a downward revision of the schedules, par.
ticuarly those relating TO wooens is anxious to
have Congress postpone its tinkering until the
tariff commission has been made a permanent In
stltutfon and some OF It's labors laid before the
representatives and senators for their informa
ten and guidance.
The Democrats reception of this suggestion
will be awaited with interest. There seems little
doubt that il will be rejected by the Democratic
leaders II is not that President Taft believes
the majority in Congress incapable OF framing
tariff measure but he has idea, which Demo
+ oerats would do we'll TO bear in mind. that
,arin bill framed along the lines suggested by
the tariff. commission would be perhaps a better
tariff more scientific tariff more equitable
tariff and a more satisfactory tariff not only to
the people but the Democrats tariff measure
based scientific data, compiled by body OF
disinterested and politically unbiased men, would
be infinitely preferable to one in which politics
was the dominating feature. Whether people
live die eat or go hungry. are properly clothed
or shiver with cold pay exorbitant or reasonable
prices for the necessities of life. is not primarily
political question. tariff should be levied
on incoming goods first to create revenue with
which TO run the general government, and sec
ond, TO safeguard the interests of real infant in
dustries NOT the gigantic trusts and monopo
lies of to-day. but branches OF business in which
this country is Just budding Once industry
is established on paying business and it is the
duty OF this government TO encourage it to that
stage, IL should be given protection aid
but left TO its own resources like all other bust
nesses.
There is crying need for the Immediate revi
sion of some of the most oppressive schedules
aud they can be lowered without disturbing bust
ness or working any injustice on anyone. The
visest policy for the Democrats TO pursue dur.
ing the extra session is TO revise only those sche.
dulles affecting the necessities of life, and post
pone general revision until the tariff commits
sion has made its recommendations
DOLLAR DINNER.
Sometimes joke is serious thing. Witness