The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-28
fcontinued from Page l.,

When we came to the making of the tariff of 1909 that corollary of pro- lection which Hamilton, Clay, Blaine, and Mckinley had said would save the American people from monopoly competition between protected indus tries-had been wiped out by consoli- dation, agreement and mbinatioi.. We faced a new problem. The diff ference in views on the tariff between the progressive Republicans and the standpat Republicans lies exactly here. The progressives have seen this vast have recognized the need of radical changes in our tariff revision, while the standpat Republicans have refus- ed to recognize the changed condf- tions. They believe in keeping the tariff wall as high as possible, not ate monopoly. They believe 1t more important to keep up the profits Of the combined manufacturers than to keep down the prices
 The passage of the Payne-Aldrich bill was the most outrageous assault of private interests upon the people recorded in tariff history.
 In order to place the tariff on a scientific basis it is necessary to know:
 What is the nature and use of a given commodity under consideration; what are the raw materials used in it's production and manufacture; what is the amount of its production and consumption in this country; how manufacture; who are the principal producers; what are the ruling mar. kets in this country; then we must know the ruling market prices of this commodity in competing countries; v-hat is the cost per unit of produc- tion in this and competing countries; what is the percentage of labor cost to the total cost Of unit of product, in this and in competing foreign countries; what is the cost of trans ~o~tet'"n to the principal markets from the points of production in this and competing foreign countries; what part of the proposed duty represents the difference in cost of production between this and foreign competing countries; what part of the proposed duty represents the' reasonable prof. it's of the American manufacturer, if he is to be given a reasonable profit.
 Business would not be disturbed, tariff legislation, if it were made on these correct economic principles. With the excessive duties we have maintained so many years, It might produce too great shock to come to the proper level at one step. But we SnOUIQ pIOc0GQ W1LH Ill pOSSlUie Spetu considering financial and economic conditions. to reduce step by step. un- til we reach a basis measuring the difference in cost of production. Then there should be constantly in the field a body Of experts Investigating the dustrial and economic conditions, and commission which shall recommend to Congress what transpires to cheap en the cost of production. so that the people of the country may quickly se- cure the benefit of such changes.
 It has been the policy of those in control of the tariff legislation to re- wise only when there arises such a clamor. such a demand from the peo- pie that 1t cannot be resisted. And it is revised without reference to economic conditions and without any informat tion upon which to base ac- tion. The business of the country is placed in periodic suspense. It does not know how to calculate. There would be no business disturbance if there were scientific basis for tar if changes. The notifications of some particular rates in any given schedule would make no very great upon the current business at the time.
 No other great country revises it's tariff without thoroughly investigat- ing, or orders revision to go into ef- feet immediately upon the passage of a bill, as is done in this country.
 In the tariff legisla tion of the last two sessions of Congress. the progress sives have not claimed that they had the knowledge for a thoroughgoing, scientific revision. but they hst.ded together. determined to analyze the complicated things, and find out, the hest they could. what was fair and just to the 90,000, 900 consumers of this country. They called in experts, worked day and night, exposed in1- uuities, and offered amendments. Their work was a great education and enlightenment. But the progressives stood. first, last and all the time, for the creation of a permanent tar if commission. non-partisan, composed of men of standing representative of husiness interests agricultural inter- ests, manufa curing interests. men who have made a study of commerce and transportation in the United