Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1911-09-27
WOOL VETO JUSTIFIED
TALK OF INCONSISTENCY OF
PRESIDENT TAFT ABSURD.
Fair and Just Schedules Cannot Be
Determined Until the Tariff
Commission Has Made
Its Report.

Free trade and Democratic newspa-
previous condemnation OF the existing
wool schedule In an effort to prove
that he has been guilty OF inconsist-
ency In vetoing the wool bill. But Mr..
Taft has not changed his position In
the least When he said that the
wool schedule was '.indefensible" he
was already planning to find out as
soon as possible what the tarirf on
wool ought TO be and then to make
rates accordingly. He did not declare
In favor Of a haphazar6 cutting OF
the wool duties. but In favor Of a
scientific revision OF them based up
perts. He would indeed be in an alb
surd position II after doing his UTMOST
to have tariff commission created
and to obtain an adequate appropria-
ton from congress for the purposes
OF tariff investigation and after ap-
pointing such body of experts and
having them at work for months up
on the wool schedule, when they were
Just about to give the country the re-
suits OF their labors he should have
ignored all that had been done to put
basis and had accepted a rate made
in exactly the way he had said rates
should not be made. namely. without
sum information, by guesswork
and legislative logrolling.
IL n long delay were necessary to
secure the information required to re-
wise the wool rates In accordance with
the facts there might be some reason
for impatience. But the delay is
slight. The tariff commission will re-
port at the beginning of the next ses-
sion, as congress itself asked. and
congress will then have the facts and
figures before 1t. Suppose the report
should show that wool manufacturing
could stand considerably greater
cut In the tariff rates than that made
in the bill vetoed. Would those who
censure the president for not signing
this bill have had congress after re-
vising the wool schedule now revise
1t all over again at the next session
In the light OF the tariff commissions
figures just made available? Or,
would they have the country after
employing experts at considerable ex-
pensc and keeping them busy for
months simply ignore their findings
and recommendations and go ahead
with tariff revision In the old way. by
guesswork and compromise?
the work OF the tariff commits
sion is TO be treated as lightly as
they would have II treated who urge
that the revision OF an important
schedule should be effected without
waiting for the commissions report
upon that schedule although that re-
port is just about ready to be handed
down. what will become OF all that
has been done to put tariff making
upon scientific basis? II the COM
mission were treated with contempt
at the outset by the president who is
responsible for its existence. what in
fiuence would II ever be, likely to gain
IN the future over tariff making? And
We believe that the very persons who
are now finding fault with Mr. Taft
for not ignoring his commission were
loud In praise of the appointment OF
such a commission on the ground that
it's studies would put an end to the
making OF tariffs in the dark. the vir-
tual allowing OF the beneficiaries of
Tariff to fix the duties to suit them
selves. The Inconsistency Is theirs.
not Mr.. Taft's.