The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-03-07
Are Advocated by President
Taft as against Hap
hazard Ways.
POINTS OUT REASONS
Why the Tariff Board Should
Not Be Done Away with
h. by Congress,


view on tariK-making. 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:
Not that wish to see the tariff
question made the mere football Of
politics." President Taft explained.
"we 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 issue as it has been made UP
within the last year-the difference
between the common-sense way
and the haphasard way OF making a
tariF law. AS you know. am a
believer in the Republican policy Of
protection. want to see IT COR
tlnued; hut 4 also want to see our
party strengthen 1t by giving It an
.undefpinning which can not be
swept away BY the first passing Hood
of popular sentiment"
"And this purpose could be &C!
compllshed-how?" l asked,
"Firat, by fixing the rate at fig
ures not dictated by 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-
duction here and the cost of produc-
ton abroad. ascertained by means
which preclude ali doubt ofsthe SUBJ
staatial accuracy Of the calculation
Second, By establishing on apper-
mul,atnent, foundation thesa machinery
for collecting the data 'ofseost, SO
that, it can be in continuous opera
ton and its work ever more oand
more easily done. Tfis machinery.
/ = need not Tell you, should be in
charge IL a tariff ts6Hfnmission or
board. corrrrespp6ndlhg In general
way with the partisan altart6
board ge now havs..' stU!% Pc n
"A good many persons 'aevidently
think that the Whole purpose Of a
tariff board Is to Collect material
for a single 81 tariff Silla o. series OF
bills. and. not dnnaturaliyg' 9 those
who wish to See the. government
economically administered question
the. Sisd str"'oi spending so ,Rmueh
money ns;;,$a and employing SO many ex-
perts forsthe preparation Of the tar
in Legislation OF 1912, in view OF
the possibility that all this WORK
may be torn up and done over as
sooh as a new set of hands takes
charge OF our public affairs. Now
II il lust such contingency that
the tariff board is designed to avoid :
The collection of data to guide this
years legislation is only firs'
step. From now on, II Congress
consents to prolong IT'S existence the
tariff board viii continue COLLECTING
data through the channels it has al,
ready opened, and with the aid OF
man trained in their duties" r
After reviewing the work of the
board at considerable length the IN
terview continues:
ITO turn to the broad Question Of
tariR revision, you are not dis
hcartoned by what some critics say
about the danger of keeping the
country In perpetual ferment Of
nervous apprehension regarding
coming changes?"
Nothing could do more to pre-
vent such a ferment than the very
plan we are now considering Hith'
erto, we have seen the whole tarih
structure torn to pieces and rebup
whenever there has been chang
of parties in control at Washington
and even sometimes when the sam'
party has remained responsible ou
the personnel of the gro. in com
mand has changed. such overhaul
ings are always accompanied by
more or less violent CONFUSION Q
business, followed by a state .
stagnation protracted through IN
whole period while the outeom
continues at all in doubt! the neE
bill is talked about for a long tim
before 1t is framed; there are eS
tended hearings in committees, an
atterward series Of secret session
behind barred doors and denate
at some length on the floor OF Con
gress: and after all of these there J
a possible interval of ten days op'
ing which, il the bill is suspected 9
being distasteful to the presiden
its fate at his hands remains ur
certain. at the committee hearins
ex parte statements are presente
a