Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-01
TAFT ON COMMON
SENSE IN TARIFF
President Declares Himself op.
posed to Haphazard Way of
Dealing With Question.
PUTS FORTH IN PUBLIC
Favors Approaching Important Ones
ton Calmly and Carefully,
Avoiding Mistakes.

New York, March President
Taft has given an authorized inter
view on matchmaking. 1t is en-
titled Common Sense VS.. Haphaz-
ard Methods" and appears in the
current issue OF the Outlook. 1t
was secured by a special representa-
tive of the Outlook and is in part
as follows:
mot that wish TO see the tariff
question made the mere football of
politics" President Taft explained.
I'VE have had too much of that al
ready. But should like to have the
people of the United States pass
their deliberate Judgment on the is
sue as 1t has been made up within
the last year-the difference between
the common sense way and the hap
hazard way of making a tariff law.
AS you know, ! am a believer in the
republican policy of protection.
want to see IL continued; but / also
want to see our party strengthen 1t
by giving It an underpinning which
cannot be swept away by the first
And this purpose could be &C
omplished-how?" I asked.
ACCURACY DEMANDED.
First, by fixing the rates at fig
ures not dictated by a group of do
nestle producers for their own en-
richment. and granted in exchange
for party support, but based on the
difference between the cost OF pro-
dpction here and the cost of pro-
duction abroad, ascertained by means
which preclude all doubt of the sub
utantial accuracy of the calculation.
Second by establishing on a per-
manent foundation the machinery for
collecting the data OF cost, so that
II can be in continuous operation
ano its work ever more and more
easily done. This machinery, I need
not tell you, should be in charge of
a tariff commission or board, CORE
spending in n general way with the
nCn-partisan tariff board we now
have.
"A good many persons evidently
think that the whole purpose of a
tariff board is 20 collect material
for a single tariff bill or series of
bills; and, not unnaturally, those
who wish TO see the government eco
nomically administered question the
wisdom Of spending so much money
and employing so many experts for
the preparation OF the tariff legisla-
tion OF 1912. in view OF the posi-.
bi!ity that all this work may be torn
up and done over as soon as a new
set OF hands take charge of our pub
lie affairs.
Is ONLY FIRST STEP.
Now, It is Just such a contin-
gency that the tariff board is design
ed TO avoid. The collection of data
to guide this years legislation is
only a first step. From now on, II
congress consents TO prolong its ex.
istence. the board will continue col
lecting data through the channels II
has already opened and with the ait
Of men trained in their duties"
After reviewing the work OF tho
beard at considerable length the in
tcryiew continues:
TO return to the broad question
OF tariff revision, you are not dis
heortened by what some critics sa!
about the danger OF keeping th'
country in a perpetual ferment o
nervous apprehension regarding
coming changes?"
Nothing could do more to pre-
vent such a ferment than the yer.
plan we are now considering. Hith
erto we have seen the whole tarif
structure torn to pieces and rebuilt
whenever there has been a change o
parties in control at Washington an,
even sometimes when the same par
~ has remained responsible. Blu
the personnel OF the group in com
mand has changed. Such overhaul
ings are always accompanied by
more or less violent CONFUSION o
business. followed by a state of stag
nation protractsd through the Who'll