The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-28
American Markets for Amer
leans 50 Long as Fair
Prices are Charged. &>a
TAX The lUxUR|E Of LIFE
BUT LET NECESSITIES N FREE
Present Tariff too High to Produce
Revenue and Schedules Should bo
Revised in Conformity with the
Platform of the Democratic Party.

New York. Nov. 2S.-The New York
American publishes statements from
Speaker Clark and Representative Un-
derwood on the subject of the tariff.
Both are for revision, as promised in
the platform Of the democratic party,
Speaker Clark says:
Washington. Nov. %.
Editor New York Americana: An
swering your far-reaching inquiry
touching the duty Of the party to the
people in reducing the tariff, will say
that. while I have no disposition to
the public, It IL my individual opinion
and settled conviction that promises
made to win an election should be re-
ligiously carried out after the election
Is won.
Men should say what they mean and
mean what they say: and they should
speak the plain language Of the plain
people SO that all may understand.
The voters Of the land have a right
to be treated honestly. candidly. fair
ly and courageously. They are entitl-
ed to that square deal Of which we
hear so much and see so little.
Tax Llxuries. Not Necessaries.
Robert J. Walkers report on the
tariff remains to this day the greatest
paper on that subject. In it he laid
down this general principle: "The
the lowest or none at all on the neces-
saries Of life." That should be the
basis Of our revision or the tariff to
which We are solemnly committed.
The rates should be arranged so az
to produce the maximum Of revenue,
while taking from the ultimate con-
sumers the minimum Of money in the
shape Of tariff taxes. That statement
may appear paradoxical. but what 1t
10 maximum revenue-producing
tarin rate on each particular item
which can be ascertainea. ana which
should be ascertained. The moment
the rate on any article goes above the
maximum revenue.producing rate the
revenue begins to fall off. and the
more the rate 10 increased the more
pears entirely. and, the rate becomes
prohibitive.
Huge Tax on Blankefa
Such Is the case with blankets nine
feet long. worth not over forty cents
per pound. an article or prime neces-
sity on which the compound specific
and ad valorem tariff rates when re-
tariff tax Of between les and 1924
per cent.
Without going into wearisome de-
tails, 1t is safe to say that three
fourts Of all the tariff rates Of the
Payne-Aldrich-Smoot tariff bill are
above the maximum revenue produce
ing rates and should be reduced at
least to competitive point
The truth is that the words "a COM
petittve tariff" are more easily UNDER
stood than the words "a tariff for rev.
enue only" "A competitive tariff 10
one which would give Americans the
American market SO long as they sell
at fair prices. but would let in for
eign products II Americans undertake
to gouge Americans. "A competitive
tariff" would in practice be "a tariff
creased more frequently by reducing
rates than by increasing them.
The present tariff, II thoroughly
overhauled. could be made to produce
a great deal more revenue and at the
same time not cost the taxpayers one
fourth of what they now pay. for un-
der the present system where one dol
or five dollars go into the pockets Of
the tariff barons.
Rates Should Be Low.
The rates in new bill or new bills
should be fully as low as the rates in
the bills which we passea during this
congress. and in some cases lower.
All the talk about the democrats
wanting to injure business Is absolute
1y preposterous.
What we want to do is to give every
man an equal opportunity in the race
of life. an! not pamper few at the
expense Of many. That plan would
foster every legitimate industry in the
land and tnjure none. That is one
way in which congress can aid in re-
ducing the exceedigly high cost Of
living, which is really the most press
ing. vexations. and important problem
with which we have to deal. What the
people demand is cheaper food. cheap
er clothing, cheaper necessarIes of life
generally, and any cuts III tariff rates
which do not accomplish that are not
worth the trouble and labor of maxi
ing.
cally and in harmony with democratic
promises.
Champ Clark.
Mr.. UndervE0od's Views.
Birmingham. Ala. Nov. %.
Editor New York American:
Sir--Answering your telegram the
democrats should carefully 1--we up to
its principles and its pledges In the
These should he the compass that
guides our actions in writing the new
tariff.
The position Of the party has been
clearly expressed in detail on most Of
the important schedules to be revised.
in the bills that were passed through
the house in this congress. They were
approved by the democratic national
convention and ratified by the people
in the recent election.
Details. of course. can ne cha nged
40 long as they do not trench upon
our principles and pledges.
In my judgment. the members Of
the ways and means committee should
give an opportunity for all to be heard
before they draft their bills. These
hills should then he submitted to the
democratic caucus for amendment and
approval.
In the mea ntime. I think IL the part
Of wisdom for the democratic MEM
bers Of the ways and means commit
tee not to rush into any expression
Of their individual opinions as to de-
tails. BY r"fraining from doing SO at
this time they will he In better po-