Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1912-03-30

President Taft gave to the outlook
recently u notable interview on his
tariff views. which has aroused great
interest in Hawaii on account of its
direct bearing ON the free sugar bill
nov In Congress. The President de-
ClarCs his belief In an organized, sci
cntinc method of tariff revision and
his opposition to the hnphazard method
such aS has characterized the House
Democrats and their work with the
sugar schedule
In part President TAFT said:
"Nut that wish to see the tariff
question made the mere football Of
politics." he explained; we have had
too much Of that already. But |
should like to have the people ur the
United States pass their deliberate
Judgment on the issue rs It has been
made up within the last year--thc
difference between the Cummon-scnsc
way and the haphaa,.rd way of making
u tariff law As yea know. ! am
hclicvcr in tn" Republican policy Of
tnucd: but also Want to see our
party strengthen 1t Icy giving 1t an
which can not hc swept
away 10y the first passing Hood of pop
ulur sentiment"
And this purpose cold h" accom-
p'lyhcd how" asked.
FIRST, hy liking the ratcs ut figures
not dictated by group of domestic
producers for their own enrichment,
and granted in exchange for party
support. but based on the difference
between the cost Of projection here
aud the cost Of production abroad. as
10y means which preclude all
doubt of the substantial accuracy Of
the calculation.
Second. 10y establishing on a per-
manent foundation the machinery for
collecting the data of cost, so that II
can he in continuous operation and its
work ever more and more easily done,
This machinery, | need not tell you.
should he in charge of a tariff COM
mission or board. corresponding in
general way with the non partisan
Tariff Board we now have.
Il can't understand the Democratic
objection to continuing "A hOard Of this
character. As. I have shown you.
tb,r, IL M Inuitinut, r,ugnn having
It's root in politics: for the board not
only has no partisan bias of its own,
but has never raised n question as to
tn" party affiliations of any of its en-
plOyCs, or Of the persons from whom ii
extracts its facts and figures II sure
ly does not uSurp-it does not even
trench upon-the functions Of Con
grCss in merely gathering information.
II does not construct bills or procure
their introduction, or in any other way
dahblc with Legislation. II the Demo-
Gratis were to obtain complete control
of Congress tomorrow. and wished to
frame revenue tariff act, the same
data would Ic ut their command and
he equally useful. There Is nothing
than there Is about the letters Of an
HlprHhct: everything depends on the
lls" made of them. and their Comhi-
nation for this or that purpose IL en-
tircly at tn. win of whichever party Is
dominant in the government at any
time
"rhc law authorizing me To employ
such persons rs may be required to
assist me in adjusting our maximum
and minimum tariff rates against 9TH
"r countries went into effect in Au-
gust. 1909. appointed the Tariff
Board at once, and from then till the
end of March, 1910. II was Continu-
"uSly busy with Investigations. con-
IcrcnCCs with the officers of our state
Department and the foreign legations
In Washington, and the like. getting
this matter Strengthened out OF course,
every foreign country was anxious not
I" lose the advantage of our minimum
rites. but to this end It had to con-
vince Us that 1t WAS not discriminate
ing In any way, direct or Indirect,
against American products. or. II 1t
had been discriminating. to make con
ccssiOns which would set 1t right 1t
was IN this line that the board through
Its familiarity with the tariff systems
of other countries and with the de
vices sometimes adopted to disguise a
hostile policy, did splendid service.
Why, the money it has saved to Amer
lean producers by it, cooperation with
the Department of state would alone,
unqucstiOnably. pay its expenses and
great deal more.
And this task was only II starter
As soon as 1t was finished the board
settled down to its broader duties. and
began to map out its inquiry into the
costs of production in this and other
countries and to gather its STAFF Of as
sstants.
Nothing could do more to prevent
a fcrment than the very plan we are
now considering. Hitherto. we have